Why The Blue Heron Is My Totem
A totem is any natural object or being that you feel especially close to. For me, it's the blue heron. I have had the privilege of having blue herons visit the ponds of two country properties where I lived. They visited so regularly that I often looked out and saw them while I was coaching clients. I've also been blessed to see them nesting deep in the woods - an unforgettable experience for me.
When I learned about them from the totem knowledge shared by North American Native tradition, I knew that the blue heron would continue to be present on my website in the years to come. On my first web site, the heron was my logo, and on this site I honor it with this page.
The blue heron is a totem (symbol) of someone who has chosen to claim their life as their own. According to North American Native tradition, the Blue Heron brings messages of self-determination and self-reliance. It represents an ability to progress and evolve. The long thin legs of the heron reflect that even though we must be able to stand on our own, we don't need legs that are great massive pillars to remain stable.
Blue Herons have the innate wisdom of being able to maneuver through life and co-create their own circumstances. Blue Herons reflect a need for those with this totem to follow their own unique wisdom and path of self-determination. These individuals know what is best for themselves and need to follow their hearts rather than the promptings of others. Those with the Medicine of the Great Blue Heron may sit until the rest of us lose patience. And, when they choose to follow the promptings of the heart, they are one of the most magnificent when they soar.
This is the message that Blue Heron brings.
(Andrews, Ted (2003). Animal Speak: The Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small. St.Paul, MN: Llewellyn Worldwide.)