Expert: Christine Zimmerman - 5/21/2009

Question
For the past 2 weekws, maybe a day or two longer birds have been coming to me.  There isn't a specific type more than the other.  There is no set direction they come from or go to.  I noticed it so much last week I even mentioned to some at work that I noticed there were more birds this spring than in the past.  No one else noticed this.  On Monday, a lot of birds appeared.  On Tuesday, the squawking was quite loud.  While at work, I mentioned it again to see if anyone else noticed or could shed some light because on my way to work it seemed like they were not getting out of the way of my car and I even had to slow down twice.  On my way home, it continued.  Then as I was going 60 miles an hour  down the road a bird hit my car.  I saw it bounce off the side (did NOT hit a window) and as it landed in a ditch another bird flew down to it, almost like this 2nd bird was checking to make sure the one that hit my car was ok.  I figure if the birds are going to this much effort to get my attention, I should ask someone.  I am not dreaming of birds. I rarely dream, any way.  Or, if I do I have absolutely no memeory.  Every now and again I will have a dream that I remember, or if I don't remember it, I do remember that I had a dream.  I am getting off topic here.  It's this bird thing that I am trying to find out about.

Thank you.

Answer
Merry Meet Laura,

Well the birds do seem to be trying to get your attention! In my belief system, everyone is born with an animal totem that at some point shows up in their lives and usually in a big way.  My animal totem is the Dragonfly.  Saw them everywhere and when one huge dragonfly died, it did so on my patio table.  It's now sitting on the glass shelf in my kitchen window.  This is what the bird totem means:

Birds in general are survivalists. They will first choose flight over fight. They instinctively know that fighting is a dangerous endeavor. Whereas flight is avoiding trouble: possible injury or death. Birds have superb reflexes. They teach us awareness and adaptability. Birds represent the air element and are also teachers of proper breathing. Song birds teach us about the healing properties of sound.

Each of us possesses a symbolic animal - a friendly guide to lead us into our subconscious and help with our spiritual discovery. These animal spirit guides will teach you the lessons of life. You may have more than one totem at different times in your life.

You can connect with the spiritual energy of your animal spirit guide to improve your quality of life. Use animal totems to learn something new each day.

Birth Totems

You may have an animal totem at your birth. Some of the pure of heart can see their totem, and children are usually the most pure of heart. We all know of children who talk to an unseen friend. They could be talking to their totem, the protector and friend. As we grow the birth totem is helping us. There may be a time as we grow and change that the birth totem moves in the background and another totem is drawn to us. It is possible to have several animal totems in one lifetime. It is true most of us have only one or two in a lifetime, but it is possible to have more. If your life takes on a drastic change by chance or choice another animal totem may be drawn to you. There may be a time when you feel very close to an animal, bird or even a fish or insect.

Here is an entire website dedicated to all bird totems-http://www.starstuffs.com/animal_totems/dictionary_of_birds.htm

I would recommend possibly buying a book on birds so you can learn to identify them.  Then see which birds are showing up in your life.  I truly believe it is a sign and that the bird has chosen you, but it's a great one to have (aside from the poor thing that hit your car!) Remember the bird has many lessons to teach you, so pay attention!

I hope you found this information useful.  

Many blessings to you and yours,

Christine