One summer afternoon I was hiking through a marsh on the edge of town and came upon this great blue heron wading gently in shallow water. It was like a mini-omen.
The heron towered above me, its long legs moving with such grace of purpose to infuse me into melted relaxation.
Not only do they tower in size compared to the other species of birds that are found across North America, but also these birds have come home with spiritual importance for more than just those who study birdwatching.
Great Blue Heron – Spiritual Meanings:
It is about patience
The most incredible thing about this bird is its hunting method.
Patience and precision are required to watch a heron hunt. It sits perfectly still for extended periods until the right moment when it attacks.
When it is time, it acts at breakneck speeds and laser-precise strikes toward its desired kill.
Its not even a survival technique for the heron, but rather an insightful metaphor of life.
In my personal experiences, I frequently need to spring into action — be it starting a new project, taking an important decision or dealing with everyday troubles.
More than anything, the great blue heron’s slow way of hunting has taught me how much patience is a virtue.
In this on-the-go society, we exist in, the great blue heron teaches us the value of patience while he waits for his next meal.
It stands there, sometimes for what feels like hours at a time, looking in waiting.
But this stillness is not stationary, it is an active silence when one feels all of oneself fully and waiting for that right moment to make a move.
You see, when I think about where my life has taken me the last few years of it have been born out of these seasons waiting. Such grace in action and non-reaction.
The great blue heron epitomizes this wisdom.
The patience of an eagle – at rest, conserving its energy and focusing further shocks us that timing is everything.
Moving too early can translate into missed opportunities, latterly waiting could mean lost possibilities.
The heron demonstrates his patience in waiting for the perfect moment to make a move.
Equally insightful is the timing in which the great heron strikes when it hits.
It’s not wasting time; it even seems to stride purposefully, like making the best use of its power and doing so with field calculations.
This inspired me to treat my actions the same way.
When I finally do choose to advance, I strive to direct my actions more purposefully so that each effort has a greater effect.
Thinking like this has allowed me to become more efficient and less all over the place with my projects.
Basically, the waiting game and intentionality of a blue great heron can be transferred to many other areas in life.
Personal development, career success or relationships come down to the same rules.
Doing things intentionally may well result in more meaningful, desirable outcomes. It is quality over quantity, focus, not frenzy.
The great blue heron is an extraordinarily adaptable bird, occupying habitats as diverse from one another as freshwater lakes and rivers to coastal marshes — even urban settings.
The ability to adjust is a clear example of the heron’s survival and life skills.
It can hunt for food and refuge in various circumstances, behaving as necessary to its environment. But watching this bird has reminded me of important lessons about adaptability.
I have ever been impressed at how the great blue heron can fit into so many habitats as if it was designed to however suit each environment.
The capacity of the heron to carry on in so many settings, from trawling predators through a quiet lake for shrimp or something as requiem-like along busy edges, seems miraculous.
It’s being able to not just survive but thrive in a time of uncertainty.
One of the most important things I have learned on my spiritual path is that adaptability has served me well.
Life will throw many unexpected changes your way, and how we cope with those shifts is ultimately what brings about success.
The great blue heron has always been there to remind me that sometimes I need to slow down and get some perspective on my situation.
It has shown me that too much rigidity can hold you back, but being flexible enables new avenues to open up.
Much in my life had changed, some things forced me to reconsider where and how I live.
The great blue heron’s tenaciousness has been something of a lesson for me in that way during these moments.
As the heron leaves its overgrown pond, I have learned to get real about changing what stands in my way and adapt how I think and act given new conditions.
That flexibility has allowed me not just to survive but also to learn how to live better.
The adaptability of the heron also shows us that we need to be resourceful. It never just gives up and walks away when the going gets tough.
It adapts and discovers innovative new ways to provide for itself.
I have learned this lesson in my own life. I work to approach my challenges creatively as often as possible in order not to feel so powerless.
It is about solitude
You may always see great blue heron alone, standing silently in the waterside or flying effortlessly through the sky.
Solitude is essential for us (especially in this world where we are bombarded with information and constantly connected), as through it, growth to a new level; spiritually.
Whenever I see a great blue heron doing just that – standing alone there in the pond (or perched up somewhere), looking so calm and present every time my way of life goes through all this, explaining to me how important it is for us humans to be by ourselves.
We must listen to the whispers of our soul in solitude, away from outside world noises and demands.
These are the times of loneliness when we find ourselves and find a purpose.
The great blue heron so slow and alone leads me to find such moments more deliberately.
The solitary life of the heron invites us to do more for ourselves, to stop and meditate (even if only very briefly) as well.
Taking time to vent, decompress and breathe means we create enough head space for our own experiences.
When you do this kind of inner work, it is something beautiful and that helps grow with part of your personal development.
It helps us to check ourselves, understand what makes us tick and get back in touch with our purpose.
In my experience, I have received the deepest breakthroughs during solo journeys.
This is a time to unplug from the outside world and replug into yourself.
The solitary, patient stance of the great heron is an important lesson for us all and brings to mind that loneliness and alone are not always synonymous.
It is not something that always tears us down, but it can actually be a nourishing and enriching experience to bring in the beauty of life.
The solitude also helps you to learn how to rely on yourself and be stronger within.
Being alone forces us to conjure up from within our resources, which ultimately strengthens our confidence in ourselves.
The solitary nature of the heron indicates independence, and we can learn from this image that our inner resources enable us to remain self-reliant with respect to anything in life.
The symbolism of water
Great blue herons are nearly always found near water, either wading through the shallows or standing along a lake or river’s edge.
Water is the element of emotions, intuition and subconscious.
I take the heron’s pure stillness near the water and bring to it my own emotions purified by their abstraction.
Spiritual growth is all about emotional intelligence – knowing one’s feelings and managing them.
The great heron is related to water, which stands for this emotional awareness.
This awareness not only aids in our personal growth but also helps to improve our interpersonal relationships as we start becoming more empathetic and understanding.
I’m Bulgarea Candin Stefan and I have started Spiritual Whirlwinds to pass my learnings from my spiritual journey. Spiritualwhirlwinds.com provides a space of spiritual awakening with guided meditations, e-books, mantras, and pendulum readings.
