Faerie Tale In The Making!

  This morning as the Queen of the Small Gardens was exploring her vast realm, a single fluffy feather floated down to land at her feet.  Caught by surprise, she stopped to stare.  She searched for any sign of a bird overhead but found none.  At that point, the Queen gently picked up the feather and felt its softness.  Turning the feather over in her hand, she examined the fine markings.  Then, she decided that the feather was from her old friend, Owl of the Woods.  Owl of the Woods often comes to the Queen's gardens to offer his protection from the rodents that raided the fruit and vegetables grown there.  The Queen of the Small Gardens was thankful for the gesture and vowed to always allow her friend the freedom to come and go as he pleases.

 Ok, so enough fantasizing for the day.  Yes, a soft, brown feather did float from the sky to land at my feet and I am quite sure it came from an owl that visits nightly.  In fact, had I been looking in the treetops instead of at the ground, I probably would have seen the owl take flight as it headed back to the creek area.  There are several owls that come to the yard to snatch the mice and rice rats that raid the garden for their supper.  I consider all of the birds of prey as my friends as they do a huge favor in keeping the garden pest free.

  There is some symbolism surrounding the finding of feathers.  Most folks are familiar with the lore around a white feather as it is called an "Angel feather".  Many claim that the white feather is a message from a relative from the beyond.  Someone who has passed is sending support, love or good wishes.  It is a nice thought and brings comfort to those missing someone dear.  My brown feather also has such a lore behind it.  Finding a brown feather relates to home, roots and grounding.  Perhaps there is an unsettled feeling within the home and family and there is a need for peace.  Perhaps stress is weighing heavy and needs to be relieved.  Perhaps illness has fallen on a family member and encouragement is sought.  Whatever the case, finding a brown feather offers peace, comfort and love.  I will take it!

  I did want to point out the structure of the brown feather and why I tentatively identified it as from an owl.  The soft "fluff" that covers most of the shaft allows owls to fly almost silently.  This stealth is needed in their search for prey.  When an owl takes flight, there is very little sound to alert rodents.  A whisper on the wind describes their stealth rather well.  A whisper on the wind...Owl of the Woods...Queen of the Small Gardens...sounds like a faerie tale in the making!  I should work on that with my overload of time for the duration of my limitations.