A Prayer to Gaia and to Hummingbirds

Summary

The web content is a poetic reflection on the beauty and spiritual significance of hummingbirds, invoking a connection with nature and the divine through the imagery of their flight and the author's personal reverence.

Abstract

The article titled "A Prayer to Gaia and to Hummingbirds" is a meditative piece that celebrates the ethereal grace of hummingbirds. Through vivid imagery and a sense of wonder, the author, Erika Burkhalter, captures the essence of these delicate creatures as they dance through the air. The poem reflects on the freedom and sensuality of flight, drawing a parallel between the hummingbird's effortless movement and a spiritual release from earthly concerns. The author expresses a deep yearning to connect with the natural world on a profound level, likening the experience to a prayer to Gaia, the Earth personified as a goddess, and to the hummingbirds themselves. Accompanied by a photograph and a sound recording, the piece invites readers to appreciate the sacredness in the fleeting moments of nature and to embrace the wild, free spirit of these winged messengers. Burkhalter, a yogi and neurophilosopher with a passion for nature, uses her multifaceted background to infuse her work with a sense of awe and devotion, encouraging readers to subscribe to her stories and support the creative community on Medium.

Opinions

The author holds a deep reverence for hummingbirds, viewing their flight as a form of divine expression.
There is an expressed desire to transcend daily cares and connect with the natural world in a way that mirrors the hummingbird's freedom.
The author believes in the power of attention and observation to foster a devotional relationship with nature, suggesting that such moments can be spiritually transformative.
Erika Burkhalter values the support of creative work, prompting readers to consider subscribing to her writing and to contribute to the sustainability of artistic endeavors on platforms like Medium.
The author conveys a sense of awe and gratitude for the "sacred things" in nature, emphasizing the importance of noticing and cherishing these moments.

A rising song composed of light

“Ephemeral.” Photo ©Erika Burkhalter

“Attention is the beginning of devotion.” — Mary Oliver

A swoop, a dive, a tumbled rush, a flash of fire, ephemeral, the hummer’s there and then he’s gone, a rising song composed of light.

What is it like to fly that high and then to sigh into a fall so free that only trust in wing and breeze protects you from earth’s gravity?

Oh, the sensuality.

I’d like to feel that release, to know what it is to simply be a creature of the wind and air, to, just for an instant, forget what binds me to my earthly cares.

A trill, a screech, a flutter of wing brushing against eternity, it brings me to my knees.

Here is my prayer to Gaia and to hummingbirds: let us never forget to notice the sacred things, the flashing of light upon a jeweled breast, the breathless breeze, the tiny wild moments when a winged creature can transport our souls to a shivering instant of untethered intoxication, a glimpse into the expansiveness of immortality.

Erika Burkhalter is a yogi, neurophilosopher, cat-mom, photographer, and lover of travel and nature, spreading her love and amazement for Mother Earth’s glories, one photo, poem, or story at a time. (MS Neuropsychology, MA Yoga Studies).

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