This lesson includes an introduction to ornithomancy and an index of interpretations of commonly spotted or popular birds. If you have a specific inquiry about a bird not listed here, feel free to drop me an ask and I'll reply with the details and meanings of the bird.
Ornithomancy--from ornis (Greek for bird) and manteia (Greek for divination)--is the ancient practice of divining by the actions and behaviours of birds. This was practiced and revered by the Greeks and the Romans, as well as many other cultures throughout. It was, and by many still is, believed that the gods/god conveyed messages through the birds. The flight patterns and song of the birds, as well as how and when they appear were interpreted. It was a highly respected practice.
Ornithomancy is a practice that is very easy to take up. It's likely that you see birds every day of your life. Now all you need to do is stop and pay attention to them. What kind of bird is it? That's your first question to ask. Different species of bird carry different meanings, and those meanings may differ from culture to culture, as symbolism usually does. Identifying the birds around your area can also vary in levels of easiness depending on where you live. For instance, living in the city, you might see between three and twelve different species of bird, which would make it easier to remember and identify them. But for someone living closer to nature, it would be more difficult, with the possibility of a great many more bird types passing through. I, fortunately, work around a lot of birds, so it's not uncommon for a peacock to cross me path or a macaw to argue with me. I've had the luck of being around a variety of common and uncommon birds and being able to study them and their behaviours and compare that to the superstitions and auguries I was taught and I have studied.
However, not every bird sighting or experience is significant.
Sometimes you see a bird and that's all. You've seen a bird.
Sometimes there is more to it. You read the bird's actions and behaviours. How was it flying? Where was it heading? Was it singing? Was it alone? Did it have prey? Was it prey? All of these things and more are to be considered in interpretation of this old form of augury.
So remember,
Identify the bird
Pay attention to its behaviour and actions
Not every bird is an omen, so don't stress about interpreting it too much.
Let's get started with some common bird types and their meanings.
Blue Jay (cyanocitta cristata)--a bright and bold member of the Corvid family, the blue jay is a bird associated with energy, creativity, and life. Blue jays symbolize spiritual awakening and purity.
Seeing a blue bird in general is sign of good things.
To see a blue jay flying evenly and horizontally by denotes that through dedication and positive outlook, a time of success, joy, and profitable dreaming is on its way.
The blue jay flying south from north tells of the opposite. This means that now is the time to keep your positivity in abundance, because a time of standstill is assured. Use this time for preparation, but anticipate stress and a general downtrodden feel.
The blue jay flying north from the south assures a speedy, unexpected happiness to come.
If a blue jay perches upon a sill or tree on your property, maybe on a porch rail even, it is a sign of a pure household and spiritual peace for those that reside there.
The blue jay is a bird known especially for its call. Blue jay's cry out, almost like an alarm, when an intruder or a threat enters their territory, alerting the other jays and birds of what's coming. To hear the blue jay's scolding, loud cry denotes a threat to come that portends to your spiritual life and the balance of your personal life and home.
Northern Cardinal (cardinalis carinalis)--the red of the male cardinal is associated with passion and energy, like fire.
The male cardinal (as pictured above), if calling from somewhere on your property, promises advancements in friendship and love.
If the male cardinal crosses your path, by hopping or low flying, expect news pertaining to a shift or change in your life (i.e. a new job, a prospect of travel, the growth of your family).
The female cardinal (above) seen perching nearby symbolizes news from a close friend or family member.
When the female cardinal crosses your path it is considered a favourable omen, particularly if you have an event or task coming up that you are nervous or unsure about. Her presence boosts the spirit and energy and denotes a pleasant outcome.
A rarer sight, the albino cardinal is a particularly favourable sight. If you are lucky enough to be visited by an albino cardinal consider yourself particularly blessed. It's a sign of happiness, full energy, and renewal, as well as changes in your fortune and a boost in pride. This bird visits those who are worthy of pride, not those who are unseemly arrogant or prideful with no reason to be.
Hummingbird (trochilidae)--With over 300 species of hummingbirds, their variations in colour and size and appearance are obviously staggering in number. These birds are native to the western hemisphere.These birds are symbols of joy, healing, vitality, and longevity of happiness and peace.
To spot a hummingbird feeding a new time of joy and prosperity is about to begin.
If the hummingbird feeds on your property it's a symbol of loyal friends close to you, who can be trusted and who guarantee love and happiness for the remainder of your days, a life-long friendship that benefits both parties.
Just to spot a hummingbird denotes a happy change in your affairs.
American Crow (corvus brachyrhynchos)--Of the various species of corvus, the American Crow is one of the most easily recognized. This bird, a large bird associated in many cultures with secrecy, death, and ill fortune. The crow is a protective bird, and a highly intelligent creature.
To spot a single crow not in flight is said to be a promise of loss or sorrow. It is also said to remind of a secret best kept secret.
A pair of crows denotes a need for strength, fearlessness, and perseverance.
Three crows is believed to a most auspicious sighting, reminding of the importance of self-sacrifice and meditation. Open your ears and eyes and look to spiritual growth to come.
If a crow makes itself comfortable on your property it's believed to be an omen of a death or loss in your family.
The cawing of crows warns of an enemy (or enemies) near you in your life. Take caution and don't be too open or trusting. But if the crow caws three time, no more and no less, it's meant to be a sign of victory over enemies and your success in difficult endeavours.
Jackdaw (corvus monedula)--This bird is known for being extremely territorial and protective, particularly those mammy birds. They are a glossy black (sometimes deep blue or purple) bird, and wear a grey mark around their neck, like a scarf. They are admired by many, particularly for their striking light silver, grey, or blue hued eyes, a strikingly beautiful contrast from their otherwise dark appearance. Jackdaws are, like the rest of their family, incredibly intelligent. They are also prone to tricking and thieving and are incredibly fast learners.
If a jackdaw hangs about your property heed the warning of a bit of gloom to come your way.
If the jackdaw crosses your path in flight guard your possessions and protect that which is important to you, as it's seen as a warning of a hefty loss on a material level or being stripped of something you're incredibly prideful of.
Quarreling jackdaws prelude unrest an tension in your life and quarrels to face of your own. It was seen as an omen of war by augurs of old.
If a jackdaw flies in your window or down your chimney it warns of sickness or death to the family.
To happen upon a dead jackdaw bids you be cautious and weary, for great enemies lurk near and your misfortune is most certainly guaranteed.
A jackdaw perched upon a roof promises a new arrival to someone inside that building or to the house.
Hooded Crow (corvus cornix)
Spotting a single hooded crow perched or sitting serves as a symbol of an important man with high rank who appears in your life. If the hooded crow takes flight you should be warned of deception from that man, be it by adultery or some other form.
Magpie (pica pica)
There's an English verse about spotting magpies, the original version was printed in Observations on Popular Antiquities by John Brand. There have been a few versions to follow with adapted language, but the same meaning in all of them. The original only counted tot he sighting of four, a later version extended it to ten. The common modern verse counts to seven.
One is for sorrow.
Two for mirth.
Three for a wedding.
Four is for birth.
Five for silver.
Six for gold.
And seven's a secret not to be told.
If you spot two magpies in a tree together, it foretells of joy found in union or partnership, usually pertaining to lovers.
A single magpie crossing your path warns of lies and secrets uncovered. If a magpie follows you it's believed to be a warning of some dishonesty coming from someone particularly significant to you, a lover or close friend or family member.
American Robin (turdus migratorius)
If you spot a robin in the morning, expect visitors later that day.
If a robin crosses your path while you're out and about, you'll hear from/recieve a visit from family or a family-like friend when you return home.
Robins nesting on your property denotes a harmonious home.
Robins hopping along the path to your house or in front of your door promises good news on its way.
A robin pecking on your window promises a baby to be conceived by someone inside.
Raven (corvus corax)
If a raven flies overhead it's an omen of victory.
For a raven to perch near your property bids you to prepare for a struggle or battle to come, but it also promises an outcome in your favour.
Ravens spotted in cemeteries are believed to be a symbol of restless souls of those buried there. It's an old belief that ravens can communicate with souls, so for every raven in a graveyard it's said that there's a soul there in need of company, as they aren't yet at rest.
While I could go on for much longer with other types of birds, there are still other areas to cover int his lesson, so I'll end this bit here. If you have a bird or birds you'd like to learn about that weren't listed above, I invite you to drop it in the ask box and I'll reply in a fashion like the index of birds above. For now, let's move along.
Another part of ornithomancy is finding omens in the feathers left behind on your path. While it's not always easy to identify the type of bird by the feather, the colours of the feather are really where the omens are to be found.
Red feathers promise good fortune and prosperity to he who spots it.
Brown feathers are a sign of good health.
Black feathers are believed to foretell of sickness, death, or bad news.
Yellow feathers warn of liars and false friends in disguise.
Blue feathers remark of love in your life.
Brown & White feathers denote joyful experiences to come.
White feathers are good luck to whoever finds them.
Green feathers tell of a journey to come or an adventure to be had, a change in your stars.
Black & White symbolize growth through strife and happiness through trouble.
Black & Green feathers foretell wealth, fortune, and notoriety.
Grey feathers are marks of peace and spiritual energy.
As I said before, if you have any questions or anything you wish to know, please just ask. I'm more than happy to share what I can with you.
i was trying to take a nap earlier and i had just fallen asleep when I dreamed I was in a room with a man who was covered in black cloaks. All he said was "stop" and I woke up immediately.
There’s no dream symbolism here, but there is quite possibly an omen, though it could also be a spirit making contact with you.
If it is an omen, it is a bad one. It is a warning. The black would be a colour of either discipline or mourning, but in most omens it is discipline, which would mean that you are lacking that. Keep yourself reigned in and in control or your future omens will not be warning, but promises, and they won’t be pleasant.
