Last week I was given another glimpse into the wholly unexpected beauty of the natural world. It was early morning and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed an odd shape perched on the balcony railing -- a roundish sort of puff-ball. Moving closer, I discovered there was not one, or two, but four beautiful mourning doves assembled peacefully near my window.
I've always loved the plaintive call of these birds, their subtle coloring and monogamous nature (rare for birds) but to see four of them at one time prompted a quick google search - "What is the significance of seeing mourning doves?"
Here's what I found:
"Their distinctive 'wooo-oo-oo-oo' sound may evoke a feeling of grief over the loss of a dearly beloved, but far from representing death, the symbolism of mourning doves gives us optimism with its spirituality."
"The mourning dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, of Peace and Hope."
Needless to say, this brought an unmistakable LIFT to the launch of my day. I love to find meaning in what I see and experience, as it brings to light the wonderment and magic of childhood. And, with all the uncertainty in the world, this sighting was a gentle reminder to take a deep breath, be grateful for life ... and take time to experience beauty. Lots of time ...
As the Holidays approach, here's my wish for all:
May you be graced by the gifts of Nature.
May you pause for a moment to see, hear, smell and feel her Beauty.
May you know, that you are that.
Sending Blessings for the Holiday Season.
Beautiful, Annie.
Happy bountiful Thanksgiving to you.
We have lots of mourning doves in our hood and they love the bounty I feed them, along with cardinals, bleujays, finches, woodpeckers, sparrows, juncos and squirrels. Now I will enjoy those doves even more.