Fall equinox and a blood moon and lunar eclipse (which we didn’t get to see here because of cloudy, rainy weather) bring along physical and tangible changes (shorter days, cooler weather, change in clothing and eating patterns) and metaphysical and intangible changes we will only be able to identify later, through the rearview mirror.
Das Herbst-Äquinoktikum und ein Blutmond und Mondeklipse (die wir hier nicht sehen konnten wegen des bewölkten, regnerischen Wetters) bringen physische und greifbare Änderungen (kürzere Tage, kühleres Wetter, Änderungen in der Kleidung und dem Essen) und metaphysische und nicht greifbare Änderungen mit, die wir erst später durch den Rückspiegel sehen können.
The Gods of Change wasted no time in sending their messenger.
Die Götter der Änderung vergeudeten keine Zeit mir ihren Boten zu senden.
A few days go, I saw this large bird sitting on a crooked pole in the big garden. Even though a flock of crows tried to chase him (or her?) away, he remained on his lookout post. The crows finally let him be, their screeching fading away into the morning fog…
Vor ein paar Tagen, sah ich einen grossen Vogel auf einem krummen Posten im Garten sitzen. Als ein Schwarm von Krähen versuchte, ihn zu verjagen (oder war es ein Weibchen?) blieb er trotzig auf seinem Ausguck-Posten. Die Krähen flogen endlich weg, ihr Kreischen verklang bald im Morgennebel.
He disappeared for a while, but then he was back, sitting in a nearby tree, with small prey in his talons.
Er verschwand eine Zeit lang, aber dann kam er zurück, und setzte sich in einen nahegelegenen Baum mit einer kleinen Beute in seinen Krallen.
I asked my husband to drive me down there, hoping that the bird would allow us to get closer in the car than we could if we were approaching on foot. So he drove very slowly and I kept taking pictures which got clearer and sharper the closer we got. Finally, I got out of the car fully expecting the bird to fly away – at least I’d get some shots of his wing span! But, he didn’t budge and just kept tearing pieces from the little furry thing that served as his breakfast. Holding my breath, I walked right underneath the branch he was perched on and kept shooting. I even talked to him and introduced myself.
Ich bat meinen Mann, mich da unten hinzufahren, in der Hoffnung dass der Vogel uns erlauben würde, näher an ihn im Auto heranzukommen, als wenn wir uns zu Fuß näherten. Er fuhr sehr langsam und meine Photos wurden immer klarer und schärfer, jemehr wir uns näherten. Schließlich stieg ich aus dem Auto heraus, in voller Erwartung daß der Vogel wegfliegen wuerde – mindestens würde ich einige Bilder von seiner Flügelspanne bekommen! Aber er bewegte sich nicht und riß Fleischstückchen aus dem kleinen Tier heraus, das als sein Frühstück diente. Atemhaltend ging ich direkt unter den Ast, auf dem er saß und nahm noch mehr Photos. Ich sprach sogar mit ihm und stellte mich vor.
When he was finished eating, he hopped along the branch, stopping to get a good look at me. He was entirely fearless! And he seemed as curious about me as I was about him.
Als er mit dem Essen fertig war, hüpfte er am Ast entlang, und hielt an um mich mal gut anzuschauen. Er hatte überhaupt keine Angst for mir und schien ebenso neugierig über mich, wie ich über ihn war.
What a magnificent creature – this young red-tailed hawk.
Welches prachtvolles Wesen – dieser junge rot-geschwänzte Habicht.
I felt deeply moved by meeting this bird, giddy at first to come so close to him, more thoughtful later on (especially after he came up to the house and perched in a nearby tree for a while).
Ich fühlte mich tief bewegt diesen Vogel zu treffen, und sogar ein bißchen schwindlig, ihm so nahe zu kommen. Später wurde ich noch mehr nachdenklich, als er sich in einem Baum in der Nähe des Hauses niederließ).
What is hawk symbolizing, what is his teaching?
Was symbolisiert der Habicht, was will er uns beibringen?
My favorite animal symbolism resource is Ted Andrew’s book Animal Speak. And here, I learned about the hawk being a messenger bird (exactly what I had felt) who “teaches how to fly to great heights while still keeping your feet on the ground.” Hawk also indicates a readiness to move towards one’s soul purpose in a more deliberate fashion (ha, I am so ready for that!).
Mein Lieblingbuch der Tiersymbolik ist Animal Speak von Ted Andrew. Und hier lernte ich über den Habicht, der ein Bote-Vogel ist (genau, was ich gefühlt hatte), der ‘uns zeigt, wie man zu großen Höhen fliegt, aber die Füße auf dem Grund haltend.’ Habicht zeigt auch eine Bereitschaft an, sich absichtlich in die Richtung seines Seelenzwecks zu bewegen (ha, dazu bin ich doch so bereit!).
In my meditation on the personal significance of meeting this bird, I gathered that it was time to focus and be fearless about the path I choose. I am ready for the next big thing and I know it’s coming. The hawk said so…
In meiner Meditation zur persönlichen Bedeutung die dieser Vogel für mich hat, kam ich zu dem Verstehen, dass ich mich voll und furchtlos auf meinen gewählten Kurs konzentrieren soll. Ich bin auf das nächste große Ereignis bereit, und ich weiß, daß es bald kommt. Der Habicht sagte das…
Oh, and another change: as you will have undoubtedly noticed, I am attempting to reclaim my mother tongue by practicing bilingualism. I know my German relatives and friends will appreciate the translation, even if it’s a bit awkward at first.
Oh, und noch eine Änderung: wie ihr zweifellos bemerkt habt, versuche ich meine Muttersprache durch die Praktik der Zweisprachigkeit zurückzugewinnen. Ich weiss dass meine deutschen Verwandten und Freunde die Übersetzung schätzen werden, selbst wenn mein Deutsch zuerst noch ein bisschen ungeschickt ist.
The theme for the Weekly Photo Challenge is Change.
Great photos and experience with the hawk!
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Thank you, Brad. I loved that bird!
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It’s great to commune with nature and be open to messages.
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There are so many messages available – if we only hold still long enough to hear and see…
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Agreed. I could do with more slowing to listen. 🙂
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Red Tailed Hawk is my very favorite bird. Love that you had such a wonderful experience!
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It’s such a powerful bird, isn’t it.
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very nice closeups!
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I was thrilled to come so close as the original distance was about 150 yards, too far even for my zoom lens to get a good picture.
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it’s cool when nature lets you come close, isn’t it? 🙂
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It’s thrilling!
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What a magical moment and your photos are gorgeous! Lots to ponder for you 🙂
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You are so right, Barbara; a lot more is happening than I was able to write about….
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You have indeed been blessed! Wonderful!
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Thank you, Michael. The hawk will be my totem animal for a while.
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The red tail hawk is common here, and magnificent to see. Your photos are remarkable, especially the last.
I’m passing your blog along to some friends in California who are in the process of learning German. I think it will be very helpful to them — at least a creative addition to their resources.
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That will motivate me even more to continue my bilingual effort. It is an effort as it takes me at least twice as long to write a post. Happy you like the pictures…
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what a lovely post, Annette! 🙂
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Thank you so much, Lola.
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Hi Annette! I’m one of those who knows that change can be either a blessing or a curse and it is up to us to decide. Good for you for being open to the “message” this magnificent bird seemed to bring you. And good luck on the translation aspect too. I think that is an interesting addition to your blog. ~Kathy
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Thank you, Kathy, on both accounts. Perhaps I’ll remember that change can actually be a blessing the next time I go into major resistance to it….
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You got some really great shots! I think the last is my favourite.
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Yes, that last one is a hauntingly beautiful presence… thank you.
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So awesome! If the hawk said so, then so be it! This is a fabulous post. To get so close to such a magnificent creature is a real treat. Thanks for taking us on your adventure. Although my great grandparents immigrated to the USA from Germany, I still can’t speak much German after years of German in high school. But, I can read and understand a little of your post. 🙂
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Thank you, Debbie, this felt like a real initiation into “something.” Glad you still remember some of your high school German. I feel compelled to “practice” my German before I totally lose it, after decades of speaking and writing only English. And I have relatives who don’t speak sufficient English to understand everything I write about. Google translator is notoriously bad for translating entire paragraphs.
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The photos are breathtaking! I love that you are doing this as a bilingual bird. Is this type of hawk common in Germany?
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Elana – I actually don’t know whether this hawk is common in Germany, I haven’t lived there in many decades. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
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Love your pictures..
I just know about hawk from this post
Thanks anyway..
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Thank you for stopping by, Vizon; glad you enjoyed your introduction to hawk.
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What a blessing! To be able to get so close and take such magnificent photos!
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Thank you, Jo. Yes, it was very special and felt like an initiation of sorts….
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Great photos! What a wonder to get so close. 🙂
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Thanks, Nancy. First time I ever got this close to a free, wild bird like this…
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Fearless indeed he looked. Wonderful meditation. And I love the bilingual post. =)
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Thank you, Diana. do you speak German, by any chance?
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Really wanted to do independent study in high school. I ended up minoring in Greek and Latin in college. =)
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Those are great languages – they provide so many root words for most of the European languages. I, too, learned Latin in high school. After Latin, all the others were easy….
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=)
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What a soulful treat. I’m urban and you take me into your other worldly paradises.
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Thank you, Susana. I just found your comment in my spam folder, not sure why it ended up there….
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