Green Woodpecking
Last week unexpected cat-sitting and then caring for a friend who’d had an operation happened. I’d already seen a dashing spotted woodpecker rising and falling in its unique undulating pattern, but - as I was prepping to welcome my friend home - a green woodpecker kept appearing on the lawn. Right in front of her front door! What a magnificent sight.
It wasn’t pecking hard at the trunk of a tree. It was gently feeding. It was on the ground.
Hmm… might be a useful message there…
Now, this post could live happily on Legs from the Dregs (the blog waiting in the wings) but this could give us a further insight into how Love verbs, and I’m learning a few of my bear buddies are into birds so here goes.
First a warning: there’s a danger in reading symbolism into every creature that graces our lives as a fixed thing – a bit like making assumptions with people! Easily done, since Lizzie not only loves verbing but LOVES symbolism. I could almost quote Ted Andrews’ Animal Speak verbatim. Woodpecker instantly brings analytical focus, discrimination and being free to beat out your own rhythm to heart. But this woodpecker wasn’t pecking. It was feeding. It was green. It wasn’t flying but on the ground. What might appreciating it closely say?
Ha! I learned that the green woodpecker is altogether gentler kin. ‘Green woodpecker signals that healing is either underway or available…It also represents the balance between rest and effort, a reminder that recovery requires both action and stillness.’ [via auntyflow.com and myspiritanimal.com] What a beautiful message to pass on to my friend as she flew back home.
And reminded me of the balance between rest and effort too.
May green woodpecking be included in your day today!
#symbolism #nature #woodpecker