Blue Heron Totem

As long as we've been together, we've been accompanied by Great Blue Herons. Whenever momentous things have been brewing between us or for us, the Herons have come and stood watching over us, or simply, stood watching us. Sometimes, when it seems things are less complex, or we simply need a reminder, they make a flyover visit.

When we first were getting to know each other, developing the foundations of friendship, visiting back and forth across the 1200 miles that separated Cincinnati and Denver, no visit ever passed without the blessing of the Heron. Quite often we would awaken on the first morning that we were all together and find the Heron standing calmly outside, looking in the windows, as if waiting for us to notice. And most often, once seen, the stately bird would lift into flight. Mission accomplished. Job changes, crises of one sort or another, shifts in relating to one another, new discoveries... each new challenge or event came heralded by a blue gray, feathered messenger. We came to believe that the Heron was our totem, our guide, our friend -- a powerful symbol of our family and the bond between us. So it was that, over time we adopted for ourselves the name of Heron Clan. Each of us wears a heron medallion on a chain around our necks. It is a simple token to remind us of yet another bond between us.

Actually, Herons are marvellous critters; strong and independent. One of the best places we've found to learn about the Great Blue Heron as a totem bird is this website: http://wolfs_moon.tripod.com/BlueHeronTotem.html

It has been a cold, bitter winter here in Cincinnati. The herons have been elsewhere all winter and we've not seen a one. It is late. Usually they are back long before now, but spring has been slow to arrive here this year. Yesterday, finally, was warm and sunny, and I got home before Master and T and thought maybe we could actually enjoy dinner on the patio. So, I set up the grill and prepared to make some of our favorite grilled chicken. I cleaned the winter's grime off the table, sauteed some vegetables and poured a nice wine. We sat and enjoyed a pleasant dinner just off the pond. It was a joy to finally be free of the confines of the house. Just as we were finishing up, the first heron of the season came flying across the pond and directly over where we sat. They are back! Spring has arrived and our Clan has survived another long and dreary winter.