The White Heron, My Spirit Totem

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Nightmares.”

This morning I had a nightmare right before I woke up. The first thought that came to me was “I actually went back to sleep” a difficult thing for me sometimes. I had a period of insomnia before this nightmare. I have all kinds of techniques to make sleep return, and this particular time I was talking in my mind to my deceased daughter. As the day progressed the dream kept bothering me. I couldn’t let go, it was still fresh in my mind. It was a nice dream also, with a beautiful white Heron in it. Only in a dream could it seem like a normal occurrence that a Heron would be in my bed which I discovered when I entered my bedroom. I walked over and was petting it when I was called away because I had a visitor. The person visiting was a neighbor that my daughter used to babysit for. I was showing her my Villa and said “there is a White Heron in my room” and we proceeded to go to my bedroom, while I explained to her birds often flew into my house. The Heron lay dead on the floor and my dog had killed it. You would think that would be when I would wake up, but I continued showing her my house.

Later in the day I checked my email and there was The Daily Post’s writing prompt: Nightmares. I was a bit taken aback. First of all, I never have nightmares. I rarely remember my dreams at all, and now here was a push to make me find out what this strange nightmare could mean! I sought help through a private group I belong to on Facebook called The Messenger. What I found out really shook me to the core as I had been ‘chatting’ in my head to my daughter about all the things that this White Heron represents.

Kim the administrator and natural-born psychic reader responded to my post. First she sent me this article about the Heron. She then went on to say that life fly’s right into my home, and that the death of the Heron reminds us that life does end but can suggest a rebirth. That my daughter was mothering this woman’s child and now she is coming back and mothering me in my grief, and she uses the Heron to show this to me. Kim also said that life comes to me like it is in flight(if you follow my blog or Facebook page you will know hummingbirds and butterflies are always finding me), that the Heron’s demise represents how my daughter’s death set me back in life. My daughter wants me to know she is happy I am moving on, thus the continued showing of my house to this former neighbor even after I saw the Heron was dead. My Villa is my new business and this makes complete sense. I replied to Kim that I see a Heron many mornings fly by my glass walls when I am in bed. It sometimes sits in the tree outside my windows. It is always alone and comes so close that I can see the eyes. Kim said that this is Misha shape-shifting to show me she is always around me. Then she sent me this blog to read.  From this blog came the quote “To see a heron in your dream represents self-reliance, stability, tactfulness and careful forethought. You will achieve much success through your efforts. Alternatively, dreaming of a heron signifies your ability to explore and delve into your subconscious.”

This dream is just another time my daughter has come to me when I need her. While I lay awake before this nightmare I had contemplated many things. From these articles I discovered the Heron represents lovely attributes, and is a solitary creature except when nesting. I prefer solitude because my whole adult life I was constantly surrounded by people while working as a flight attendant. I enjoy company, but am perfectly fine entertaining myself through my love of nature and my beautiful surroundings. The Heron is at home in three elements: Earth, Water, and Air. I am at home in the mountains, I have always loved the mountains which all three of these elements are plentiful and clean. The Heron represents living in the NOW. I often post my thoughts about living in the now, it is so important because we never know what the next moment in our life will bring. I learned this through the death of my daughter, it is life-changing when you live this way. I no longer care what others think or say about me, as I am completely happy with myself and my life these days. I only wish I had learned to live this way when I was younger.

As you can see by this blog, sometimes our nightmares are really not nightmares but a teaching experience through our subconscious. I can only hope those of you who read this will take notice of your dreams, especially if you have something bothering you. You should think about the problem as you are falling asleep and you could get your answer in the way of a dream. If only all of us could open our minds to things we know nothing about and just accept the unknown. If any of you want to join the group on Facebook led by Kim Feeley you can send her a friend request and ask her to add you. The group is secret and she takes all requests seriously, as she expects you to take her work serious also. I feel my daughter sent Kim to my page as she wanted me to have this connection with another person who can help me with the constant signs she sends to me.

Now when I see the beautiful White Heron outside my bedroom windows, I will always think of my daughter. I am sure Misha is smiling as this was her message to me through a dream that turned out to not be a nightmare.