Grouse Wings Fans

October, 2005: I had a most remarkable beginning to last week. On the 3rd , this past Monday, I saw a total of four Hawks, plus a Butterfly that was literally floating along..no wing beats..for at least 50 feet Since my Shaman Name is Four Hawks, I found that quite an honor in its own right. But it turns out that was just an announcer message.

The next day, as I was driving my route, I saw a large mass on the side of the road, right next to where I was driving. It looked like a large, dead Bird, so I stopped and backed up to it. Sure enough, it was a dead Ruffed Grouse! I couldn’t believe my eyes. I wondered if I was supposed to take it or not, and decided not to, instead just taking some gorgeous Tail Feathers to use in Ceremonies. I prayed over the Bird as I did so, to help release its Spirit. The rest of the day, though, I kept thinking I should have taken the whole bird. I have never picked up a dead animal or bird before, but it had been 5 years and perhaps it was finally time. I kept thinking I had missed a chance to receive a great gift from the Spirits..after all, the Bird was literally right in my Path. When would this ever happen again?! So, after work, I went back to see if it was still there, and it was. So I put it in a plastic bag and came home. For the first time in my life, I cut off both Wings and have stored them in salt for the next 6 weeks to dry and decontaminate them. After that, they will be superb and powerful Smudge and Aura Cleaning Tools. I was so awestruck by this tremendous gift! I then placed the rest of the Bird out by my Altar and Smudged it with Sage, leaving it for the Animals to take.

The next day, I again saw 4 Hawks and the soaring Butterfly. This time, two of the Hawks were a Mother (or Father) and child. And that next morning, the Body of the Bird had been taken. But during prayers that morning, I felt the Spirit of that Grouse move into me as a new Helper and Guide!

This was a first for me. To receive a full Grouse Body, freshly killed (it was very loose still when I picked it up), in order to have my first set of Raptor Wings as Shaman Tools, placed right in my Path..what a wonderful and humbling event.

December, 2005 While putting up my Christmas lights in the front yard, I happened to look up and saw a huge Hawk fly right by me into a Tree next to my House. It sat there a few Seconds, then took off for the back. On a Hunch, I went out back slowly, and sure enough, there she was..sitting in a Tree. She sat there with me for at least 5 Minutes, not more than 20 feet away. She hopped from Branch to Branch, and looked around, at me at Times. This is the longest and closest Visit I have had with Hawk. My Epiphany Visit (10/19/01) lasted only about 10 Seconds. When she finally took off to the West (Spirit Direction for me), I realized she was calling on me to release the Wings from the Salt Cleansing Period. I did. Grouse is a wonderful Totem and Wing Fan for a Shaman to have. Grouse is both the Drummer and the Dancer..what could be better? A few nights later, Grouse came to me as a female Spirit in a Dream and merged with me. I’m very honored. In a subsequent Journey, I found out her name: Sendinal. Almost like Sending All, or Sentinel. She will be a tremendous Companion for me now, and her Wing Fans are simply gorgeous..and powerful!