The hummingbird
may be the smallest of birds, but it is also the most fascinating. Anyone
who has ever seen this tiny bird is filled with a sense of wonder and joy.
Its name comes from the vibration of its wings as it flies or hovers. We
have all heard how good it is to whistle while we work, but humming is much
more effective. It creates an internal massage, restoring health and
balance. This the hummingbird reminds us to do. It reminds us to find joy in
what we do and to sing it out.
There are
over 300 species of hummingbirds. This is very significant. In the Hebrew
alphabet, the letter "shin" is given the numerical value of 300. This has
associations with fire and relationships, the past and the future. As we
will see later, this is even reflected in the wing movement of the
hummingbird. It has the ability to move its wings in a figure 8 pattern -- a
symbol for infinity and links to the past and future and the laws of cause
and effect.
Hummingbirds
have long bills and tongues that enable them to extract nectar from flowers.
In fact, they could not live without flowers, and many flowers could not
live without pollination by hummingbirds. Again this reflects the mysteries
of cause and effect that the hummingbird can teach so that you can extract
Your own nectar.
Hummingbirds
have knowledge of how to use flowers for healing. This includes their
fragrance, their color, and herbal qualities as well. They can teach you how
to draw the life essence from them and create your own medicines as in the
case of Bach flower remedies and other flower elixirs. They can teach you
how to use flowers to heal and win hearts in love.
The
hummingbird is the most skillful flyer of all birds. It can hover in the
air. It can fly backward, forward and sideways. In fact, it cannot walk; it
flies everywhere. It reminds us that if we truly enjoy what we are doing, we
become light as a feather, and life is rich with nectar.
The
hummingbird can reach high speed at its take off. It can also stop
immediately in flight from a high speed. It is such a skillful flyer and is
not afraid of any predator. Hummingbirds have even been known to chase off
eagles.
No other bird
can fly backwards. This reflects the hummingbird's ability to explore the
past and to draw from it the nectars of joy. The hummingbird can help you to
find joy and sweetness in any situation. Its swiftness is always a reminder
to grab joy while you can -- as quickly as you can.
Because of
its iridescent colors, the hummingbird has been named for jewels and
glittering stones -- i.e., the ruby-throated hummingbird. It has also come
to be associated with the Faerie Realm. One species has been called the
wood-nymph hummingbird and another the purple-crowned fairy.
The
iridescent colors have also caused it to be associated with rain. More
specifically, it is associated often with the rainbow of promise that
follows the rain. To the Pueblo Indians, the hummingbird's rainbow coloring,
its great strength in flying, and its hovering about flowers, has associated
it with various ritual practices. Prayer sticks and ceremonies were used to
bring the rain and to help with endurance.
Hummingbirds
are big eaters, and most of their food is comprised of the nectars (sugars)
of flowers, although they will also eat tiny insects. The hummingbird may
eat 50-60 meals a day. Because of its small size and its high degree of
activity, it loses body heat quickly, so it must digest food quickly.
Individuals with hummingbird totems should watch their own sugar levels. Are
you getting too much or too little? Are you hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic?
Are you not getting enough sweetness in your life? Are you not savoring the
sweet things of life?
Hummingbirds
are very playful. Even when bathing -- and they bathe often -- they play in
the water. They also seem to fight with each other, although no one seems to
get hurt. Now scientists pretty much agree that these are only mock fights
for exercise and fun.
Hummingbirds
are fiercely independent. Except when mating, they like to be alone and
free, seeming to revel in that freedom. During the mating ritual, the male
does anything he can to gain the attention and affection of the female. If
the female chooses to mate, she returns the attention, otherwise she just
flies off.
Mother
hummingbirds are hard workers. This is necessary, for they receive no help
from their mate. She will usually lay two eggs, again very symbolic. Two is
the number of the inner self, the feminine to which we must give birth and
expression to find our own joy. Hummingbirds are master architects. They
build their homes with great care and design. Some are very intricate, but
each is unique to itself. If the hummingbird has taken up residence in you,
you may wish to redecorate. It may be telling you to do something to create
joy in the home.
Hummingbirds
can also hibernate overnight. The body temperature will lower, its feathers
will ruffle up as insulation and it will assume a state of torpidity. It
will appear to have died on its perch. This is done to Prevent exhausting
the energy supplies necessary for it to live -- while allowing it to rest.
For those with the hummingbird as a totem, it is important to get regular
and deep sleep and rest. It will be necessary so that you do not burn
yourself out.
The
ruby-throated hummingbird is a wonder of migration. Every winter it makes an
amazing journey. For several days it will eat and eat, storing up food and
energy in its tiny body. Then it will fly for days and days to get to a warm
climate. Some have been known to make a journey of 2500 miles or more, from
Alaska to Central America. Scientists still are unsure how it is able to
store up enough energy to accomplish such a journey. But it does, and
because of it the hummingbird is a symbol for accomplishing that which seems
impossible. It will teach you how to find the miracle of joyful living from
your own life circumstances.
Excerpted from
ANIMAL SPEAK by Ted Andrews, Llewellyn Publications St. Paul MN. 55164,
800-843-6666. Used with Permission.
