 "All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come; so this bell calls us all; but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness.... No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." This is a quotation from John Donne (1572-1631), and it appears in Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, Meditation XVII. The geese totem teachings fall in line with this quotation. It speaks of flying in formation; a coordinated group accompanying, watching out for, and helping each other on life’s journey. Not one bird is always the leader, and geese share the responsibilities of the flock. A reminder that one can’t go it alone in life. We need our support group, we need our family, regardless if they are blood relations or friends. Lead today and slip into the back row for a bit of a rest tomorrow, but everyone pulls their weight and gets the job done. If there is a lack of teamwork, the flock suffers. Individual birds will always help another bird in need. They teach us to lean on each other. The geese make no mistake about their migration and they network with the world around them, both vocally and physically in their effort to complete both short-term and long-term goals. The way they travel as a group can be in many configurations with a variable number of birds. We can take meaning from this. Although they are definitely in an aeronautical pattern "V", they are rarely perfect. Sometimes the formations are not balanced in number, and that number can range from two to many, in one or many number of flocks flying together. The pilot changes position to let others lead, and they always have a leader., even when there are only two geese. Sometimes there will be an empty spot in the formation, when perhaps one dies along the way. The spot is not filled immediately, which speaks of respect, like we humans observe with a moment of silence. We see that younger birds can be protectively positioned on the inside of double "V" formation, with the outside “V” occupied by the older geese. Sometimes the flock formation gets disarrayed, but working together and in unison, the flock can come back into formation. This teaching asks us to examine our own family ties, what that definition of family is, and is the formation of that functioning for what we need in life. There are many different configurations of family that can include the biological and those people whom we meet in life. Perhaps we are not drawing upon the family we need in our life. And once we designate those as family, we need to accept them as they are if they are ultimately helping us on our path. The geese herald a new day, whether it’s the spring migration North or the one to the South. The geese are very, very vocal about speaking their purposeful truth on their journey. They make quite a lot of noise! Many times you will hear them well before you see them, and sometimes their voice will be their only presence. They speak of exhaustion, defeat, and tiredness. But also of determination. Sometimes they are excited, encouraging and sometimes clearly joyful! They are always willing to say what they have to say, and very clearly. They tell us that we need to speak our truthful voice at all times. Gentle, yet strong, which commands respect. The geese also teach us about our individual qualities we may need to strengthen in ourselves on our journey in life. They teach us to have loyalty, fidelity, protectiveness and faithfulness in others that help us along the way. We must learn patience with ourselves to complete our tasks successfully. We need confident purpose to our chosen destination, and to build strength and stamina to get there. To seek support from those around us for strength and encouragement. Be prepared to have focus, perseverance and determination no matter how tired we get on our trip, which sometimes can be grueling. Be meek in that not any one of us reigns supreme or superior at all times. And we must not lose our sense of adventure! And finally, the geese teach us hope. Hope that comes knowing of the constancy of
the natural cycles of mother earth. We usher in a new season of rebirth and renewal,
which signifies the spring season. In the fall, we seek shelter for survival through
the winter months. This can fill us with a calming peace and contentment to know and
honor the ancient rituals of life. Native American Geese Totem Geese bring messages about the seasons, and they tell us when fall is coming or when spring is coming. In this sense they are a good sign. They also serve as reminders that we need to get our life in order, become more organized, and be more cooperative. They teach us the need for supporting one another and the need to assume the role of leadership when the existing leaders become too weak. For example, you can see them start to gather and fly south before winter begins, or hear them return to the north when spring is about to arrive. In such cases stop and study their behavior and you will see how they plan and cooperate in their flight patterns. Moonlight Mile Herb Farm © 2010 Susan Burek |