Bird Medicine : The Sacred Power of Bird Shamanism

"Explores the living spiritual tradition surrounding birds in Native American culture"--Provided by publisher.;Cover Image; Title Page; Epigraph; Acknowledgments; Table of Contents; Part 1: What Is Bird Medicine?; Chapter 1: A Whistle and a Word to the Wise; Chapter 2: Bird Origins and Early Influences on Humans; Birds, the Real First Nations People; Birds and Burial Rites: Birds as Embodiments of the Soul; Why Are Birds Sacred to Native People?; The Earth Does Not Belong to Us; Bird Shamanism; Part 2: The Four Gatekeepers; Chapter 3: The Birds of the Four Directions; Broken Wing; Chapter 4: Eagles; Big Birds and High Fliers; On Eagles' Wings; The Linnet and the Eagle; The Heart of an Eagle Cover Image Title Page Epigraph Acknowledgments Table of Contents Part 1: What Is Bird Medicine? Chapter 1: A Whistle and a Word to the Wise Chapter 2: Bird Origins and Early Influences on Humans Birds, the Real First Nations People Birds and Burial Rites: Birds as Embodiments of the Soul Why Are Birds Sacred to Native People? The Earth Does Not Belong to Us Bird Shamanism Part 2: The Four Gatekeepers Chapter 3: The Birds of the Four Directions Broken Wing Chapter 4: Eagles Big Birds and High Fliers On Eagles' Wings The Linnet and the Eagle The Heart of an Eagle Pure in SpiritHeady Lifestyle of the Bald Eagle Eagles Answer Prayers Eagles Are Symbols of Freedom Letting Go of Fear Eagles Give Thanks Talking Feather/Eagle Phone Thirteen Grateful Eagles The Famous Eagle-Mating Ritual Welcome Home Eagle Marriage Feast Ritual The Great Elder in the Sky Mountain Eagles Chapter 5: Hawks Hawk the Protector White Hawk Spirit New York's Finest Bird Hawks and Their Dining Habits The Northern Harrier: A Messenger from Horus Red Tails Understand Mohawk Moon Hawk Hawks Love Drums Red Tail Protection from Above Food for Thought Dream Hawks The Prisoner and the PeregrineChapter 6: Crows Corvidae, Gatekeepers of the South Crow Councils: The Return of the Corvid Tribe Quoth the Raven The Brilliance of Black Birds Sharing the Banquet Crow Warnings, Crow Scolds Chapter 7: Owls Owl: The Night Eagle Owls and My Aunt The Voice of the Owl Owl as Oracle The Mystery of the Owl Platter Part 3: Mentors and Messengers Chapter 8: Messengers and Carriers of Spirit Birds as Oracles of the Dead A Club-Footed Messenger A Robin's Timely Message Bird Language Bird Dog Hummingbird: Courier of the Fallen Warriors Chapter 9: Birds as TeachersBirds Can Change Your Flight Plans A Change of Heart Bird of Four Colors Chapter 10: Birds as Musicians Dawn Song of the Birds Musicians of the Forest Blue Jay's Gift of Song My Wild Bird Migratory Songbirds and Their Struggle to Be Heard She Who Sings Like Birds Chapter 11: Birds Speak Our Language Blue Jay Answers a Prayer Twitter Messages Bird Dreams Chapter 12: Bird Warnings Magpie Burglar Alarm Rockin' Robin Storm Warnings Chapter 13: Birds as Role Models Role Models for Responsible Parenting Role Models for Choosing and Creating a New FamilyMessage from a Robin Woodpeckers Are Good Builders Chapter 14: Healing (and Humorous) Birds Nuthatch Saves Injured Girl A Grouse with a Heart The Grouse That Saved Me Partridge/Family Pigeon Club Life Is Worth Living Chapter 15: Peacemaking and Patient Birds The Peacemakers: Herons, Egrets, and Cranes Photo Insert Herons and Longevity Heron Traffic Herons and Cranes: Teachers of Patience Snowy Egret Dance Shorebirds and Synchronicity Geese: Heralders of Spring and Adventure Part 4: Other Bird Allies Chapter 16: Hummingbirds Explores the living spiritual tradition surrounding birds in Native American culture • Pairs scholarly research with more than 200 firsthand accounts of bird signs from traditional Native Americans and their descendants • Examines the legends, wisdom, and powers of the birds known as the gatekeepers of the four directions—Eagle, Hawk, Crow, and Owl • Provides many examples of bird sign interpretations and human-bird communication that can be applied in your own encounters with birds Birds are our strongest allies in the natural world. Revered in Native American spirituality and shamanic traditions around the world, birds are known as teachers, guardians, role models, counselors, healers, clowns, peacemakers, and meteorologists. They carry messages and warnings from loved ones and the spirit world, report deaths and injuries, and channel divine intelligence to answer our questions. Some of their “signs” are so subtle that one could discount them as subjective, but others are dramatic enough to strain even a skeptic's definition of coincidence. Pairing scholarly research with more than 200 firsthand accounts of bird encounters from traditional Native Americans and their descendants, Evan Pritchard explores the living spiritual tradition surrounding birds in Native American culture. He examines in depth the birds known as the gatekeepers of the four directions--Eagle in the North, Hawk in the East, Crow in the South, and Owl in the West--including their roles in legends and the use of their feathers in shamanic rituals. He reveals how the eagle can be a direct messenger of the Creator, why crows gather in “Crow Councils,” and how shamans have the ability to travel inside of birds, even after death. Expanding his study to the wisdom and gifts of birds beyond the four gatekeepers, such as hummingbirds, seagulls, and the mythical thunderbird, he provides numerous examples of everyday bird sign interpretations that can be applied in your own encounters with birds as well as ways we can help protect birds and encourage them to communicate with us. Explores The Living Spiritual Tradition Surrounding Birds In Native American Culture--provided By Publisher. Evan T. Pritchard. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 275-283) And Index.