Spiritual Symbolism - The Blue Jay

I thought my first article after the welcome post would be about why I chose Hypnotherapy, or about one of the specialities I offer. But as life shows me over and over, nothing goes in a linear fashion, and most often what you need is something else entirely.

The other night, my husband and I were in the living room talking when we happened to look out the window. Perched up on top of a tree was a Blue Jay. This is the first year we've seen one in our yard. As we continued to watch, we saw that there were at least three of them, and yet not all of them had the complete bright blue feathers most Blue Jays have. We realized we were looking at younglings whose feathers were still a bit grey with some blue on the wings. We had a family close by which is such a treat. As I always do when I encounter an animal that isn't common to see, I Iooked up the spiritual symbolism, and here's what I found:

Blue Jays symbolize fierce protection, strategic intelligence and devoted motherhood (parenthood). They are a symbol of heightened intuition and awareness, trusting your maternal or creative instincts, and speaking your truth. Seeing them in a tree is a reminder that your yard serves as a protective blessing, and that we must always assess our energetic boundaries. A front yard in particular, represents your public face, how you present yourself to the world, and the barrier between your private life and external influences. Blue Jay sightings in your front yard symbolize that your home and family are protected from negative energies.

Trees represent growth and a higher perspective. Observing a Blue Jay high up in a tree asks us to reflect on what is allowed in your personal space? What is allowed to cross your threshold? It is also a reminder to stand tall and speak your truth confidently in your professional or personal life without judging others, or want to bend others to your will.

Baby Blue Jays represent a fresh start, awakening of your personal voice, and a need to nurture your inner child as we learn, adapt, and speak truth while navigating a new chapter of our lives. We may need to strengthen our home life, it could be about revisiting the innocence of the family unit - our expression and truth, speaking up in a developmental stage of our lives. Where did we give our power away? When did we feel we couldn't speak up? Baby Blue Jays remind us to be inquisitive and curious, light-hearted, and nurture our personal growth. Feisty and protective in nature, these little birds remind us that we possess the inner strength and resilience to defend boundaries when needed even when stepping into the unfamiliar.

These birds arrived at a timely point in my life. I am venturing into new things professionally. I am expressing myself in ways I hadn't considered before. I am learning to go back to the innocence of my childhood and see where I lost my expression in order to reclaim it. I am continuing to decompress from divorce, children moving out, and being a parent of adult children which requires a slightly different skill set at times.

Parenthood isn't always about parenting others, but parenting ourselves in order to nurture our creative side. As I create a new website that expresses more of who I am, I am also writing a book, sharing courses and meditations with others that I've created. I am falling in love with more of who I am, and feeling more confident to share it with the world. In the past two years, I've changed and shifted more. Sometimes the energy changing on the planet is a lot to keep up with. I am adjusting to viewing reality through a different lens, developing a higher perspective. Reality is like a kaleidoscope - shift it slightly, and you have a different view altogether.

The Blue Jays reminded me that I am and always have been a fierce protector, and yet there have been times I haven't extended that to myself. I am learning to love me the way I love others, and that it's okay for me to say 'no' when necessary, and say 'yes' to things that make me feel joy, passionate and alive. I am reminded that I have spiritual protection, and that all I need to do is ask for guidance and assistance. As I create a new life for myself outside of motherhood, I can let some boundaries go while I know which ones to maintain as I show the world more of who I am. My instinct tells me who to let in, what to share, when to share it, and what needs to remain private.

Speaking my truth isn't about convincing others it is true. It is about expressing what I feel so others may resonate with it. One ripple outward affects many drops in an ocean. As I step out into the unfamiliar, I remind myself that my strength and resilience brought me here, and that I can do anything I set my mind and heart to. Who wants to join me?

~Kellie