The Hummingbird Totem
Finding the joy in simple things
The flash of iridescence, the hum of tiny wings moving so fast that they look like the glow of an angel, the squeal of delight as the hummers dive through the air, as well as their acrobatic flying skills, always brings a little tickle of delight to my heart.
Hummingbirds are said to represent happiness and free-spiritedness, as well as the ability to find the joy in simple things.
A flock of hummingbirds is known as a glittering, a shimmer, a bouquet, a hover, or a tune — all very fitting names for a group of these glimmery, chatty, little birds.
I keep six jumbo-sized feeders going all year round, two of them right outside of my office door, so that I can glance up from writing or editing photos to be mesmerized by these little jewels throughout the day.
Weighing no more than a nickel, some birds, such as the tiny Rufous, can travel as far as from Mexico to Canada and back again each summer and fall. They show up at my feeders absolutely ravenous and fearless. Their presence brings pandemonium to the…
