Every day, sometimes more than once, I hear, and sometimes see if I happen to be outside, flocks of geese flying over my house and yard. I often see dozens of them in the field next to our house searching for morsels of food to consume.
And each time I hear and see them I pause and smile, and sometimes tear up. And I wonder…..
My grandmother’s favorite living things were birds….especially geese. Each day her routine consisted of eating breakfast at her kitchen window and watching all the birds in her yard. No matter where we were with her, she would stop and pause in her tracks every time a flock of geese flew overhead and she would exclaim, with hands clasped to her chest "Oh, aren’t they just beautiful. Listen to them. I just love them!". Grandma put an intimate meaning to the phrase "goose bumps".
I found this information on goose symbolism in native american culture:
If you want something done – give it to the Goose. Persevering, dogged, and ambitious to a fault, the Goose sets goals for accomplishment, and always obtains them. The goose is determined to succeed at all cost – not for the approval of other – but those with this Native American animal symbol competes with his/her own internal foe. Driven is the watchword for the Goose’s dominating personality trait – which makes them excellent in business and competitive sports. When tempered with supportive, nurturing family and friends, the Goose excels in all things he/she attempts. In a loving environment the Goose can be very passionate, humorous, gregarious, and even sensual.
Here are some attributes of the goose:
* Communication
* Determination
* Fellowship
* Teamwork
* Confidence
* Protection
* Bravery
* Loyalty
Geese are incredibly gifted navigators and instinctively know the way across the long haul to warmer climates. They forge ahead with confidence and bravery.
Lessons we all can learn from our totem geese include:
* Remember your roots – don’t forget the people who helped you along the way
* Follow your gut – rely on intuition and instinct in order to get where you need to be
* Communicate your needs to others – no one can help you if you don’t speak out
* Protect that which is most valuable, but make sure you have your priorities straight (meaning, be sure you’re protecting that which is worth protecting)
All of this is very fitting for who my grandmother was. She was confident and brave (always forging ahead no matter what the risks or obstacles), driven by her confidence to succeed. She was very good at business affairs and definitely was a communicator (in many ways….). She was a protector, always stating that she would defend anything or anyone who came in harm’s way of her "babies". She had an uncanny sense of intuition that led her – and us – on many creative and adventurous paths. Grandma was definitely a leader and inspiration to everyone who knew her.
So each day when I hear these flying beauties I wonder if my Grandma is among them. I wonder if she is watching over me and protecting me and my "babies". And each time I hear them fly over, a sense of peace comes over me. And somehow I know that she is indeed with me in many ways more than just my memories of her.
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 