The Flight Of The Geese
I hear the low wind wash the softening snow,
The low tide loiter down the shore. The night
Full filled with April forecast, hath no light.
The salt wave on the sedge-flat pulses slow.
Through the hid furrows lisp in murmurous flow
The thaw’s shy ministers; and hark! The height
Of heaven grows weird and loud with unseen flight
Of strong hosts prophesying as they go!
High through the drenched and hollow night their wings
Beat northward hard on winter’s trail. The sound
Of their confused and solemn noises, borne
Athwart the dark to their long Arctic morn,
Comes with a sanction and an awe profound,
A boding of unknown, foreshadowed things.
Roberts, Charles G. D. 1860-1943
One of Mother Earth’s most wondrous and profound spectacles is surely a skein of loudly honking wild geese flying overhead in one of their precision formations. The sight of wild untamed creatures behaving in such orderly and disciplined fashion seems to have fascinated those watching below for a very long time. Who taught them or rather tells the creatures to do this? Their instinct! Yes, but what is that? It’s their inner guidance that is part of the wisdom of the Great Mother of all life, as it expresses itself through the geese. Each time the moment for this has come, it takes care of their safe arrival and guides them to distant shores, where feeding and breeding is possible for them, when condition are no longer suitable for doing so in their usual summer habitat.
As studying the behaviour of wild geese is of particular relevance for our family relationships, we shall scrutinise it, especially with regard to the underlying purpose of their wonderful flying formation displays. As each one flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the birds that follows. By flying in a V configuration, the whole flock adds seventy-one percent greater flying range than if each bird flew alone. Applied to us, this means if we share a common direction and sense a community we can get where we are going quicker and easier because are then travelling on the thrust of one another.
Geese and some other species of birds migrate in distinctive ‘V’ or ‘U’ formations or in lines. This is because by taking advantage of the wing tip vortex of the bird in front, each bird can save energy by reducing drag. The energy savings in flight can be as much as fifty percent. When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front of it. Applied to us, this means that when we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.
When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position. Contrary to popular opinion, the lead bird of the V formation is not always an adult male; rather, the geese shift their relative positions frequently during the flight. This can teach us that it pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each others skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.
The geese make loud honking noises, called contact calls, to help them stay together. This can also be interpreted as meaning that the ones behind are encouraging those up front to keep up their speed. We need to make sure the noises we make encourage those who are walking up front. Research has shown that where there is encouragement, better production results are achieved.
When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock. Families of geese do not break up after the breeding season, but form strong family units that migrate and winter together until they return to their breeding ground. Geese families fly together and are very closely knit. If one drops out, the others family member follow and stay with the injured goose. Should this be possible, they will later re-form their own formation or they will join another formation when the injured goose gets well or dies. Those of us who are as wise as the geese stand by each other in difficult times, as well as when we are strong.
Birds as animal totems can assist us with acquiring higher knowledge. Air being the most ethereal of elements, the creatures inhabiting it are sent to help us find a new understanding of the hidden aspects of life that would otherwise remain invisible to us. Closest to the Heavens, birds are our best allies when it comes to transmitting our desires to the Angels on the highest levels of existence. Birds represent physical and mental strength and sovereignty. Very important traits, particularly during transitions in our lives and when we have to get used to new surroundings.
Whenever birds catch our special attention, they are sent to encourage and strengthen us, to boost our confidence and remind us that the highest powers are forever with us and watching over us, guiding and protecting every moment of our lives. Birds are good omens and their appearance is always some kind of a signal from the Highest. It is for us to decipher what its message could be.
Birds are the representatives of the Air element, the realm of thought and intellectual activities. They bring us the message that our spirit is free and that in thought we can indeed fly with any of the winged creatures wherever we please. That’s why it’s not unrealistic to send our love and good wishes into the farthest and remotest corners of the Universe. They are sure to be received there, for thoughts are living things that – in the right hands, i.e. God’s – can create and destroy whole worlds and everything they contain. We are on the Earth plane to learn how to master and take good care of our thought processes, so that they no longer create anything unwanted for ourselves and our whole world.
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The above is a chapter from ‘Astrology As A Lifehelp In Relationship Healing’.
If it has whetted your appetite to read more, please follow the link below:
‘Astrology As A Lifehelp In Relationship Healing’
