Female House Sparrow
The Sparrow has been showing up for me in abundance and of course that would make sense for anyone as the Sparrow is one of the most abundant birds in my area. They thrive in harsh conditions and multiply like rabbits. So, is it a coincidence that the Sparrow has been flocking around me by the hundreds? I think not and I am a believer that there is no such thing as coincidence. So, I am paying attention to this Totem and her symbolism which is:
- Joy
- Inclusion
- Creativity
- Simplicity
- Protection
- Community
- Productivity
- Friendliness
Let me tell you about my Sparrow stories this week – Last weekend, I came across a sparrow in my garden and living in the underbrush underneath the bird feeder, her wing or wings were broken. I sprinkled some seed on the ground for her and had a major anxiety attack over how I could possibly help her and keep her safe from the throws of my dogs that would surely “get” her. There really was not much I could do and I just hoped that the underbrush would keep her out of harm’s way. Fast forward to Wednesday and she was still there, eating and hiding, but now I was worrying about what to do with her as a Hurricane was approaching and the weather people were calling for several days and several feet of rain, she would surely not survive this. I prayed for this little bird and asked “What should I do? How will she survive these storms? Please keep her safe”! Minutes later, my daughter’s Beagle came around the bend with her in his mouth. Was that my answer on how to keep her safe? What a shitty answer, but in my heart I knew it was the most humane way out of these storms for her. My heart was broken none-the-less.
The rain came, but not the torrential Hurricane that was predicted – that turned off course and away from the coast and out of my area, but a new threat to the Sparrow community had arisen. I had not filled the feeders and all that was out there, in the pouring rain, were the suet cages and the Sparrows were flocking to them. I kept looking out the kitchen window and watching them take shifts to find space to eat from the cages and the suet blocks were dwindling quickly. I went about my house chores and feeling bad that I did not have any seed to fill the feeders with and I really did not feel like going out in the storm to buy more – it was a Hallmark Movie Channel/Sofa/Napping kind of day and I just wanted to get my housework done so I could park my ass on that sofa and nap away.
I stumbled into the kitchen to grab a freshly brewed cup of coffee, impatiently waiting for the coffee maker as I looked out the window to see a little Female Sparrow eating from the suet cage. At least that is what I thought I saw. I took a closer look and it appeared that she was trapped inside the cage, but I really could not tell as the rain was teeming down and the wind was blowing hard. In my panic, I threw on my raincoat and boots and rushed out the back door to the feeder station. Sure enough, this little girl had her head trapped between two bars, her foot through another and her left wing through another. I quickly removed the cage from the Sheppard’s Hook and ran for my pliers; the same pliers that belonged to my Grandfather and were over 100 years old. Those pliers saved, fixed and repaired thousands of things during their use, they would surely save this little Female Sparrow from eminent demise.
I knew I had to be very careful so that I did not cause more damage and I had to work quickly. The pliers were not cooperating and not getting the cage apart the way I needed them to. It hits me that I need wire cutters and thankfully I had several for my crystal jewelry making. I left her, in the cage, while I bolted back into the house, up the stairs and into my tool drawer, rushing back as fast as I could to save her. Within minutes I had some of the bars cut open, but I could not completely free her without hurting her. I gently took her little head between my fingers and slipped it back through the bars, then I gently smoothed her wing down and through the other bars of the cage and released her foot. She climbed onto my hand, we looked at each other for a brief nano-moment and I said “There you go little girl- fly away” and she did!
My heart was filled with such joy and elation, I stood in the pouring rain crying and so happy that I saved her and I had no one to share this moment with except her and the Universe and that was great enough for me!
I have been ridiculed by my family and friends my whole life for my love and obsession with animals, but I feel in my heart that is one of my many callings. I had always wanted to be a Veterinarian, until I realized that death is a part of that job. I may not be involved on a large scale because I know that is not my mission, but these small little gestures of feeding and caring for nature is.
Of course Me being Me, I have to pay attention to the Totem Messages from Sparrow. It is a message of Self-Worth and believing that all adversity can be overcome with the help of the clan and community. She is always hustling and bustling to provide for the family. She reminds us to be creative and thrive. She is the master of flight and camouflage. She is of higher thought and ideals and reminds us to keep our thoughts and heart light, laugh more, smile more and be joyous. I will always remember that little Female Sparrow and her message that she brought to me and I will hold her forever in my heart and smile.