Today, I am thinking of one very particular turkey who--through a remarkable visitation--taught me a valuable lesson over twenty years ago. You know, in the Native American tradition, the turkey is a symbol of "Give-Away," i.e., giving and sharing.
As a busy housewife in a gorgeous house with magnificent gardens and nature, I was in my snow-white kitchen, working away, as always. Lately, I had become a little tired of the abundant work with house and garden which kept me tied to the property almost non-stop. That day, occasionally, I was looking out the window above the sink which provided me with a view of a meadow extending to an original farm fence beyond. A very peculiar turkey sudenly caught my eye. It wasn't the turkey that was so peculiar but, rather, his behavior. He was running inside the fence, alongside, back and forth, as if trapped. He seemed to be getting more and more frantic, although there was plenty of space for him to get out of my garden, either by going underneath or between the wires. And, what about simply taking flight and go OVER the fence? I kept watching for some time, but the turkey's behavior didn't change. "How odd," I thought but had to get ready to leave the house for an appointment in town.
Soon, I was backing out of the garage in order to leave. Behind me was a turn-around space we had created with a huge do-not-park-sign" painted on it. I pulled on it to turn around to leave, when I noticed that the same turkey was now on THAT side of the house, again at the fence, running back and fro, as if trapped. I was shaking my head in disbelief and amazement and started to drive away. In my rear view mirror, I could then see that the turkey gave up his signalling, stepped right on the "do-not-park-sign" and...flew up high and away. So he DID know how to fly! He remembered, or was there something else going on?
On my way into town I kept reminiscing about these strange events and remembered that, when an animal visits you and tries to get your attention, IT IS BRINGING YOU A MESSAGE FROM SPIRIT. All at once, the message was clear: The one running back and forth, feeling trapped in my own, self-made glass-palace-prison... was I! I had forgotten that I once could FLY. I was reminded of my wings and invited TO FLY AGAIN. And, like the turkey, I was to go and share myself with the world beyond the confines of this house and property which had become somewhat of a burden to me, tying me down unduely. Voila. This was the message and gift from this magnificent bird.
Eventually, I followed the call I received that day which had started a countdown of sorts. Although I understood that day that I had to do this, leaving that life would still turn out to be the hardest thing I ever had to do.
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