herons
I didn’t realize it’s been so long since my last post - too long by a measure. I suppose that’s the price of a busy life. Anyway, I was at the gardens Thursday evening for the first of 5 Rhythm & Blooms events. Being in the gardens at night is always a treat for me, and I made the most of it.
I sat for a while listening to the band play Sinatra songs and other jazz standards, and after the sun went down a bit I ventured onto the woodland trail. I passed a couple of people and reached a point where I wanted to take some pictures, so I setup with my tripod. The people I had passed a couple moments ago asked me about the river, as they had never been there before, so I told them what I knew, and that despite there being a river overlook, they wouldn’t be able to see much of the river since the undergrowth blocked most of it. They went on about their way and I took my pictures and leisurely strolled down the trail. Reaching the fork leading to the river overlook, I decided to go down there anyway, just for kicks.
In all the time I have spent at the gardens, I have never seen the river as high as it was that night. Not only was the river visible, but it was flowing closer to the overlook than I had ever seen. I would have wished for more light, though, for my entrance startled not one, but two great blue herons fishing in the river’s pooled overflow. They took wing, one after the other, before I could produce my camera and turn it on. it is the first time I have seen heron in the city, for they are creatures of shallow pools and wetlands, and the gardens typically has neither.
I did not take this for coincidence, for only a few days earlier I had been to plantations in the Charleston area where the herons are numerous, and now they have followed me home. Once again I consulted Ted Andrews’ wonderful book, Animal Speak. Heron represent self-determination, self-reliance, balance, and the ability to explore other realms while still remaining grounded. I really can’t think of a better way to describe my life at the moment - that’s what it seems to be about for me - exploration and learning to balance, which I don’t always succeed at, but try to achieve.
During my evening garden visits, I have seen an owl, a hawk, and now a pair of herons. Interestingly, these have appeared to me at times when I needed to hear the message they symbolize. I consider myself fortunate that I have the ability to recognize that a message is being given, if not the immediate understanding of it. I wonder what other messages are in store.
May 8th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
The Rhythm and Bloom events sound lovely, and you should count yourself lucky for seeing those particular animals for they are ones that are especially good at camouflage. Surely they were there to communicate a message… Lately I have seen a heron, I think it’s the same one each time–standing in the shallow water of an inlet near the route I walk. I was pleased that you have seen two together because I’ve not seen a “couple” and I had begun to think of herons as solitary loners.