Teachings of the Phoenix

Copyright: Maryann Sterling

The only one of her kind, Phoenix lives in isolation. Greeting the dawn, She spreads her shimmering wings, and sings beautiful songs in praise of the Sun. When her feathers become drab, Phoenix gathers up herbs, and flies to a wild desert place. There She builds her pyre, and waits for the Sun to ignite it. Once engulfed with flames, Phoenix dies only to be reborn, three days later.

Invocation
“Ancient Phoenix, renewed by fire,
Beloved of the Sun sing sweetly to me.
Grant to me, your gift of a New Beginning.”

To contact the Phoenix, who lives beyond, first ask the Golden Eagle to help you.

Voice of Golden Eagle:
 
“Come with me to the Sun. As we fly higher and higher, feel the fire in your body. Touch the searing flames without harm. Smell the sweet herbs – sandalwood mixed with frankincense. Hear the mystical song without words. Watch the Phoenix greeting the Sun from the tallest tree of the highest mountain in the Land of the Dawn.”

“Dear Phoenix, we are here to accompany you into the Dark Night.”

The Phoenix sings to you.
 
“Come, greet the Dawn with me. Bathe in the Spring of Life. Drink the Dew of Generosity. Eat the Dates of Sweetness. Share this glorious day with me!”

“Come Dusk, I will build my funeral pyre. As the setting sun strikes my tree, the flames will rise up to consume us both. Ashes we will be, dead, waiting to be reborn.”

Comes the Night -- the unending darkness, the infinite blackness, the unrelenting bleakness. Nothingness are we, waiting, waiting. Oh, how we long for Daybreak.”

“Look the Bright Sun comes! Behold the Glorious Light bathing all with its golden hues! Embrace the Light! Let the Cycle of the Cosmos renew itself in you. Become life, death, and rebirth.
“Be reborn! Sing songs of gratitude to the New Dawn! Embrace the Rainbow! Become the Prism of the Universe. ”

“Now reborn, it is time for you to return home. Golden Eagle will take you back to the Spiral Tree. When you are again facing the long, cold night, call upon Golden Eagle. She will bring you back to the Land of the Dawn. Back to me -- back to our cycle of renewal.”

OSPREY (SEA HAWK): Choices

Often mistaken for an immature Bald Eagle, Osprey is the only raptor with a reversible outer toe. However, this “Fish Hawk” is neither a Hawk nor a Falcon, but instead is classified in her own family of Pandianidae. With her special toe, Osprey is perfectly adapted to capturing and securing her elusive prey-Fish.

As a fish eater, Osprey has one of the widest ranges for Birds, and can be found worldwide. Her opposable toe gives Her wide latitude also. For example, when Osprey is perching on a tree, her three toes remain in front while the fourth one grips the branch from the back. In catching a Fish, her toes line up with two on either side of her prey. Flying low over the lake, Osprey grabs her prey with her feet. Moreover, the spiny soles on her feet help Her to keep a firm grip on the slippery Fish. However if Osprey grabs a particularly large Fish, She stands a chance of drowning since She cannot let go easily.

People around the world respect Osprey and her mythic powers. The Pueblo People of North America named Her, “Water Eagle". Meanwhile other Native Americans regarded Osprey to have good powers since She often warned people of impending danger.

In Europe, Osprey was the “White Eagle” of heraldry, for She caught Fish through hypnosis. Instead of escaping, They would simply turn belly up in surrender. Because of this myth, people believed that killing an Osprey would cause the Mackerel and Herring to leave the nearby seas.

Anywhere Fish live, there you will find Osprey. With her special toe, She is highly adaptable. Wherever She dwells, Osprey employs her consummate skill at fishing. So good is Osprey that She is considered an honorary Eagle.

Osprey shows how having a skill allows you to adapt to life most anywhere. With a skill, you can thrive in any place of your choosing. Just do not become so overconfident that you grab a Fish large enough to drown you. “Choose wisely,” counsels Osprey.
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Copyright: Virginia Carper (2010), Animal Teachers, animalteachers @ gmail . com