Beautiful days do not come to you. You must walk towards them.— Rumi
Sunset Walks
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Gifts From The Sky
I found this incredibly beautiful hawk tail feather in my garden. Recently, I’ve heard a mated pair; maybe Cooper’s hawks, calling to each other from my backyard trees, so I assume it’s from one of them and that makes me very happy! It looks a bit bedraggled because we had some rain last night and it was lying on the ground.
A little research informed me something I didn’t know — that it’s illegal to pick up ANY feather, so I guess I’ll just leave it there. But in my own garden? Look, but do not touch? Did you know that?
I thought that this treasure was a sign from my spirit guides. A hawk tail feather is often seen as a symbol of power, courage, strength, and the ability to see things from a higher perspective.
I knew it was illegal to possess an eagle feather but I had no idea that the same law applied to hawks and other raptors.
Here’s what I learned:
Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA): This act prohibits the possession, sale, purchase, or transfer of feathers of migratory birds, including hawks, without proper permits.
Broad Coverage: The MBTA protects over 800 bird species, making it a wide-reaching law.
No Exemptions: There are no exemptions for feathers that are naturally shed, or from birds killed by cars or other means, unless you have a permit.
Permits: Permits are required for activities like taxidermy, scientific research, or educational purposes.
Penalties: Violations of the MBTA can result in fines and imprisonment.
Exception for Native American Tribes: Federally recognized tribes may possess, carry, use, wear, give, loan, or exchange migratory bird feathers and parts without compensation among other Indians.
Still, finding a hawk’s feather is a profound event, rich with spiritual and cultural importance. Regarded as a divine symbol, it embodies strength, foresight, and can convey messages and blessings of divine guidance, reassuring physical health and decisiveness.
The white tip, often called the “tip of life,” represents spiritual focus and clarity. The intricate patterns, like those found in snowflakes, symbolize our unique life paths.
When a feather appears on your property, near your garden or home, it symbolizes comfort and protection. This occurrence is not just an incidental find but a key spiritual message. They’re believed to carry wisdom and the ability to see what is hidden.
But DO NOT pick it up, no matter what!
Backyard Birding
It’s been raining but I was able to snap a few pictures between storms.
In one day, Casa de Enchanted Seashells was visited by a bevy of gorgeous birds.
I don’t think I’ve seen these guys before, but I’m so happy they stopped by! They look like an Eastern Bluebird, but that’s not likely here in SoCal. I’m pretty sure they’re not a Scrub-Jay because they’re too small. Whoever you are, welcome! The rain droplets on the mulberry’s bare branches look super cool.
A bunch of yellow finches love to eat the sumac seeds.
I didn’t post the video, but this guy was calling out to his mate, and he’s VERY loud!
True Love
It’s time for the return of the mallards, a sweet reminder that spring is nearly here. These guys stayed close to me, finding things to eat while I snapped a few photos.
Duck sightings are good luck!
The duck symbolizes clarity, family, love, vigilance, intuition, nurturing, protection, feelings, self-expression, balance, adaptation, grace, and strength.
Spiritually, ducks are revered for their symbolism of balance, unity, and wholeness.
To see two ducks indicates inner reflection, balance, and unity, acknowledging efforts to integrate inner and outer realities, reassuring movement towards wholeness.
The encounter encourages emotional intelligence, making holistic decisions that align with values and intuition, and trusting inner wisdom to navigate life’s challenges.
Two ducks symbolize spiritual growth and evolution, pursuing a higher perspective, and accessing cosmic insight, revealing the intricate web of connections.
Ducks, especially in pairs, are often seen as a sign of good fortune and positive events on the horizon.
That all sounds good to me:)
A Thousand Ways
There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the ground;
there are a thousand ways to go home again.
Rumi
“There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the ground;
there are a thousand ways to go home again.”
Rumi
Photo credit Enchanted Seashells
Sea Heart
“Heart is sea,
Language is shore,
whatever sea includes,
will hit the shore.” Rumi
Shades of Twilight. Colors of Dusk.
“It is almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream.” Bernard Williams
These photos were taken before we had a few days of much needed rain. There was no flooding around here but I saw video of devastating mudslides in the fire-damaged areas around Malibu — in addition to a medium-sized 3.5 earthquake in the same same general vicinity.
Today was super sunny and warm, a perfect time to spend hours in the garden cleaning up from the storm and getting the raised bed ready for spring planting.
I haven’t had any visits from my coyotes or bobcats in about a month and I’m not sure why. Hopefully, they’ll return soon because I miss my animal family!
Little Ghost Cat
I’m trying to distract myself from all the horrible events going on in this country — too many to talk about — with memories of beautiful Bandit, who still visits me in my dreams. She was the real princess, not me.
“Hello, my love…”
Little Ghost Cat,
Sometimes, I hear your gentle purr
And feel the soft touch of your fur.
Then, late at night, old memories stir
Of the friend I loved and lost.
Little Ghost Cat,
By moonlight, now you come and go
Unseen and like moving water flow
O friend I loved and lost.
(I believe this poem is attributed to Barbara Parkhill Hall)
Out of Body Experience or Astral Projection?
Whew! Something strange happened to me as I embarked on a late afternoon walk around the lagoon, about three miles or so.
As I was walking and walking, the sun began to set. I took a photo of the sky even though I know the colors resulted from a couple local brushfires.
As I walked up the hill, I guess my mind wandered; at least I think it did. I’m actually not really sure what happened.
At some point I realized that I had lost a chunk of time.
In one way, it seemed like time stood still, and in another way, it seemed as if I had been walking for HOURS, and yet I felt like I wasn’t even really in my own body, or even in my own specific reality.
I was somewhere else, or more accurately, I had BEEN somewhere else; again I’m not sure where.
When I came back from that nowhere land, it’s not that I became dizzy or lightheaded, but I definitely felt a sensation of a jolt back to my physical body when I looked around and realized that I was still walking but I’m not sure how I got to where I was — which probably makes no sense at all.
I said out loud to myself, “Well, that was really strange. Where did I go?“
Where was I? Did I enter a portal to a different dimension? Did I unintentionally astrally project somewhere? A different time and space? I can’t rule out dissociation, but there had been no Immediate preceding traumatic event. I was simply walking.
Was it astral projection? A meditative experience? Did I really enter a portal?
I can’t remember that ever happening before. It wasn’t unpleasant, but I didn’t learn any earthshattering truths about the universe or receive any profound messages from beyond.
If it was a gateway to different spiritual planes or realities, I guess I prematurely returned HERE too soon to retrieve any memories.
Maybe I entered Leon Russell’s “…place where there’s no space or time…”
Have you ever had a similar experience?
Winter Surf + Dolphins
Surf is forecasted to be more than eight feet today, but this is what I saw early this morning.
I hope you can access this video because that’s where I was lucky enough to capture the jumping dolphins!
Surfers having fun!
Enchanted Seashells | Princess Rosebud 