Birds: July 13 - 19

House Sparrow in my DC neighborhood

I'm a third generation bird lover. My grandmother delighted whenever hummingbirds hovered at the feeder outside her window. My mom puts out grape jelly on the back deck for the orioles. My closest neighbor in Delaware is actually a cardinal that frequents the tree next to my home. Paying attention to the sound of birds has become a measure of mindfulness for me. I often meditate on the front porch or by a sunny window. Whether I'm at home in the city or the beach, birds accompany me throughout the day. If I'm tuning into the present moment, without a doubt I can hear birds. A tree full of birds serenades me with a never-ending song. Most of the time I am deaf to it. How do I miss something so constantly present and beautiful? Because I'm too busy listening to the chatter in my head. Birds have so much to teach me.

Practice

Yesterday, a friend told me that the sound of birds has been proven to calm the body. This totally makes sense when you think about it. When humans lived in closer harmony to the earth, we gleaned important information from the environment and the animals in it. Birds stop singing in rain or wind storms. Their silence warned us of potential danger. On the other hand, the presence of their song signaled safety. This memory is still tucked away in our bones.

Your assignment this week is to either open a window or get outside and pay attention to the birds. Allow their song to resonate in your ears and fill your heart. What does it feel like in the body to be surrounded by the music of our winged friends? Sit in stillness. Sit with the birds. You don't have to follow the breath or note your thoughts as they drift by. Today, allow the birds to do all the work as you simply acknowledge their presence.