December 13, 2012

Vultures

As Martha and I chatted while spending time with Willow in the outer pasture, I noticed some large dark birds in the old barren tree branches above us.  As they came and went, I noticed that these were the same birds that were circling overhead as I wrote in my journal on the front barn steps waiting for Willow to arrive that first day.  I mentioned it to Martha and told her how there must have been 20 or 30 of them just circling overhead just moments before their trailer arrived. In my mind I came up with the pretty thought that they were eagles or hawks, but Martha said, "Vultures... they are vultures."   "Ohhhh..." I said, somewhat disappointed (picturing nasty vultures eating dead animals).  "No, that's good, Shana... vultures are good."  And Martha proceeded to tell me how the vulture symbolizes hope... death and rebirth.  Then she read from her cell phone about the vulture and what it means:

The vulture is a reminder that we must shed past negative thoughts before we can proceed with the birth of new ideas. ... Life is lived in stages and new ideas are often born out of old experiences....

The preoccupation of past sorrowful events can lead to a period of negativity and mental turmoil. If allowed to escalate, the emotional injuries can inhibit your ability to nurture new, fertile ideas. It can also prevent you from allowing yourself to open up to people, thus leaving you suspicious of those who attempt to enter your lives. But out of negative experiences, you can learn to become wiser and more intellectually astute. This is the time to rethink your situation and allow the negative burdens of your past to become a source of self-empowerment....

"If something from your past is hindering you; you may feel sad. Be careful not to let the past affect current relationships. There may be lack of communication, and possible relationship troubles. However, always see the good in the bad, as this may be the time that can inhibit your ability to nurture new and fertile ideas...

The vulture can help teach you how to accomplish this through patience and vision. Vultures teach you how to soar without using much energy, how to ride the thermal winds instead of flapping. Go with the flow. Use your own energy powerfully and efficiently. The Vulture promises us that no matter how difficult things are at the moment, rescue and change are imminent."******


******(I searched and found that these excerpts came from or are based on "Animals Divine Tarot" by Lisa Hunt.  Martha assures me as God is the creator of animals and all living things, he put them here for us to learn from...  I will write more on Martha's amazing faith in a later post.)


As Martha read to me, we both couldn't help but look at each other in awe... so many parallels, and this advice is so fitting for me at this point in my life.  I need to let go and be at peace with a very sad experience from my past; but I also need to find a way to be empowered by it.  I need to have more faith and less fear... And I need to find my way toward finding  "patience and vision".  I need to, and Willow needs to... we both need to learn to trust again.  

"... Rescue and change are imminent."   I love that part. Perhaps this new perspective will help.

6 comments:

  1. Hi there, I've followed your blogs for many years... I first became interested in your story when we were in the process of adopting our daughter from China. Our Ainsley is now 6 and has been home for over 4 years! Anyway, I just wanted you to know that although I don't know what painful experience you are referring to, I can tell you that I remember one that broke my heart for you and your family. I have prayed for you and the others involved often. I am sorry that you have pain and I hope that Willow and your experience with her will healp you heal:) Take care.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stacy, thank you so much. yes, that is the one... Big hugs to you and your precious family....

      Delete
  2. Love it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I really love how intuitive you are and how easily able to see and understand everything around us. It's so nice to see because I'm similar and also received my education from horses! I was used to working with Spanish stallions, kept stabled mostly and used for shows. I knew they were unhappy, and felt bewildered that nobody seemed to notice, not even when I made noises about it. I was confused so their answers that everything was perfect and the horses were happy, made me even more confused. I left there, and one day followed my instincts which led me to an area populated with wild horses. Over the next few years, the wild horses would unpick all my beliefs about horses and taught me who they are and their simple needs, and how very wrong us humans get it! As a result I'm so much more in tune with nature (and I thought I was before!) Horses are great teachers. Listen, they tell you everything :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sian, thank you so much... Yes, I am trying so hard to listen and to learn. Willow spends most of her time in the pasture but comes into the barn for many of her treatments. I love her very very much... I totally understand what you are talking about when you describe the show horses in the stable. I've visited many farms and ranches here and am often saddened and bewildered as to why they are locked up in their stalls for so many hours in the day...

      Delete
  4. So poignant . I never thought of vultures that way. As you know, learning to trust God and release my fears is exactly what I am working on too. Thank you for inspiring me as well

    ReplyDelete