I recently heard of the large woodpeckers in our area but have never seen them. Today I decided to go for a jog through the wooded bayou and on my way back I saw
two amazingly large red headed, black woodpeckers. I didn't take this photo, but this is exactly what I saw.
"The Pileated Woodpecker is one of the biggest, most striking forest birds on the continent. It’s nearly the size of a crow, black with bold white stripes down the neck and a flaming-red crest. Look (and listen) for Pileated Woodpeckers whacking at dead trees and fallen logs in search of their main prey, carpenter ants, leaving unique rectangular holes in the wood. The nest holes these birds make offer crucial shelter to many species including swifts, owls, ducks, bats, and pine martens."
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pil ... r/overview
I prostrated my self and implored the Woodpecker to impart its wisdom.
I thought about a friend and the lesson that struck me most is to listen. We aren't always teachers. For whatever reason I imagined my friend who is usually offering his wisdom, and told him to think of me more as a friend than a student. If every moment were a teaching moment, where's the room to grow?
So I hope my friends see me as a friend, and I hope to impart the same- I will find clever ways to impart the wisdom without the need to lecture. One day. Hahaha.
So let's see what's already out there for this bird as an animal totem:
"So, what do woodpeckers symbolize? In many ancient cultures, the symbolism of the woodpecker is associated with wishes, luck, prosperity, and spiritual healing. Other cultures consider the woodpecker to represent hard work, perseverance, strength, and determination. Woodpeckers are also among the most intelligent and smartest birds in the world.
When this bird enters your life, it’s time to unleash your potential and change any situation to the best of your advantage. From the woodpecker, you imbibe the skill of being resourceful and determined.
Understanding the woodpecker’s symbolism is important to help you welcome new opportunities, protect your loved ones in need, and offer you the power to unshackle your ingenuity and creativity. It also helps you comprehend the distinct patterns, cycles, and rhythms of the world.
Woodpecker guides you to master the art of non-conformity, thereby helping you attain complete awareness of your surroundings."
https://www.sonomabirding.com/woodpecker-symbolism/
