Symbolism, Terminology and Practices
Birds
Birds are the bridge between humans and the Divine, Heaven and Earth, symbolising transcendence of our lower nature as we attain higher states or reach greater levels of awareness. They represent the quest for union of the subconscious and conscious, and the release from any pattern of existence to a superior one. We gain clarity and a new perspective as we are able to rise above any situation, and see it from a ‘birds eye view.’
Ba – The Winged Soul
Imperishable and eternal, the soul (winged as a bird), flies with the chen/shen symbol of protection and Eternity. ‘Ba – soul: Dwells in the Ka. The power of incarnation, the power of becoming corporeal or incorporeal at will, with both substance and form. Power to leave the tomb, and to visit the body in the tomb, by reincarnating and conversing with it. Spiritual aspect of the individual – able to move through the Underworld and visit the Earth by day.’
The Bird Tribes
I can only describe my own experience and I’m sure there are multiple expressions of how they appear or commune with us. A ‘Council of Light’, of Elders, with the form of birds of many species yet akin to man when communicating – a circle around the fire set for storytelling, welcoming an equal (feathered) participant to share their counsel with love and infinite wisdom permeating and holding the space – infusing the guest with the all-encompassing energy that resonates as truth on every level, yet is expansive, adding another dimension to our own perception as we are introduced to a new experience in answer to our own childlike wonder. ‘Return of The Bird Tribes’ is a wonderful book to read.
The Language of the Birds
The green language – the langue verte. See Wikipedia: ‘In mythology, medieval literature and occultism, the language of the birds is postulated as a mystical, perfect or divine language, or a mythical or magical language used by birds to communicate with the initiated. In Kabbalah, Rennaissance magic, and alchemy, the language of the birds was considered a secret and perfect language and the key to perfect knowledge, sometimes also called the langue verte, or green language (Jean Julien Fulcanelli, Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa de occulta philosophia).’