Great Blue Heron

solitude  |  patience

Quiet ancient samarai, patiently you wait, then strike in a flash piercing your prey.

Herons are generally solitary birds, the introverts of the bird world. You don’t see them flying in flocks all in the same direction. More often one wades knee-deep in water, in search of silver slivers of fish, or sits silently hunched over like a sentry in the mist.

In early spring however, they build their nests in proximity to other herons in what’s called a rookery or heronry. Together they can stave off predators, as the adults fly off in search of nesting material and food.

Heron can teach us about patience and timing as well as the wisdom of finding solitude, but being open to collaborate in win-win situations.

Reflection:

If Heron has come squawking into your view wings stretched wide:

Draw a circle, then make a pie chart for how much of your day is spent alone and with others. Does it need adjusting?

Write a list of all your relationships: Which ones are win-win? In what ways? Are you using any relationships simply to avoid being alone?

What areas of your life can use a little more patience, to contently wait in expectation, knowing that the right thing is bound to come along soon?