Hummingbirds date back 22 million years. These tiny creatures have spiritual significance in many cultures, appearing in ancient Greek mythology to Native American folktales. The Hummingbird was named for its “wing-song”, the humming sound created by their wings as they move in a figure eight pattern. This remarkable characteristic allows hummingbirds to fly backward and sideways. It is distinct to their species. They communicate with each other by the sound of their humming wings.
The special “song” of the hummingbird reminded me of Psalm 40 as interpreted by Stephen Mitchell:
You put a new song in my mouth
And gave me the power to praise you
You opened me to the truth
Suddenly my eyes could see it.
Hummingbirds symbolize hope and good fortune. They are believed to be spiritual messengers signifying the spirit of a loved one who is near. Some believe that a hummingbird can signal that a difficult time is ending and that the healing can begin.
Hummingbirds signify joy and happiness for me. I get excited when I see one feeding on the honeysuckle in our garden, or drinking from the spouting fountain. Our garden is designed to attract hummingbirds, and their subtle thrumming announces their presence in the early morning or evening. They were a favorite of my mother’s and I enjoy a shared moment with her memory every time I see a hummingbird.
The corner mandalas of my hummingbird icon are from Greek symbolism: the spiral sun (from upper right/ clockwise) is the sign for spiritual healing, the trifecta of waves is the Greek and Celtic symbol for love, the Greek Fortuna symbolizes good fortune, and the double infinity denotes happiness.
In place photos:
