“Oh…” Suddenly, so much made sense…like, why the name of the resort was two words.
Evidently, it was too much to ask to go an entire day without turning into an overly ripe tomato. Except this time, rather than try to conceal the rapidly rising tide of the Red Sea that burned my cheeks, I embraced it.
That’s a lie. I ignored it.
“I got it now. You may carry on.”
He shook his head with silent laughter dancing on his lips and went back to cleaning. “Anyway, blackbirds have a very different implication. They can be a good omen or a message of bad news, depending on where you’re from. In England, they’re regarded the same as the crow—symbolizing good luck. But here in America, they’re perceived to be a warning sign that there’s danger ahead.”
“What if you just see a black bird, but you don’t know what kind it is?”
He shrugged without taking his attention off the glass case as he wiped it down. “I guess it would depend on the person. Although, I’m pretty sure anyone who takes their meanings seriously would know the difference between the different animals and species.”
As he moved on to another display case, I followed, enamored with his knowledge.
“So, usually, when Natives speak of an animal, they are referring to the spirit. I’m sure you’ve heard the term spirit animal…well, that’s where it comes from. It’s kind of like how we have astrological signs, or how the Chinese have their own zodiac. They just believed that we all take on the spirit of an animal, and each one means something else.
“For instance, the Cherokees believe that crows can see throughout time, which just means they can connect the past with the present. It’s also believed that they have the power of deep inner transformations. Meaning, they can recognize subtle shifts in energy, so they’re known for manifesting destiny, personal transformation, and alchemy.”
“They sound like a pretty good animal spirit to have,” I said as I strolled behind him, taking in the history that surrounded me. I felt at peace here, like I had somehow visited this place before. Or maybe I had seen these artifacts, though none were recognizable.
“Yeah, it’s not a bad one to have. Crows are actually very intelligent. Did you know that they have the largest brain-to-body ratio of all birds? They have a highly developed forebrain, which is where intelligence is regulated. But what’s even more interesting is that the anatomy of their brains is scarily similar to ours.”
That really was an interesting fact, though I wasn’t sure why he’d posed it by asking if I knew it. Considering he just had to explain the difference between a crow and a blackbird, it was a rather safe bet that I hadn’t heard about the size of a bird’s brain. “No, I didn’t know that.”
Drew smiled and then took his time putting the spray bottle and rag away. It was as if he wanted to torture me with his good looks before blowing my socks off with the knowledge that, along with being a gorgeous specimen, he was incredibly intelligent, too.
“Anyway,” he said when he came back with a broom and dustpan, “the Hopi tribe believed blackbirds to be their guides into the underworld, as well as their directional guardians for the higher realm. So, as you can see, both are perceived to move between time and space.”
I tried to follow along on the card behind the glass, but I eventually gave up when I realized that, rather than reciting memorized information, he had casually given me all the details in his own words, proving his intelligence.
It was my new favorite way to learn.
I continued to study the artifacts in the display cases, fascinated by the random pieces of lost history. “They don’t actually think people who relate to these spirit animals can literally travel in time and visit different worlds, do they?”
“No, but they believe they can spiritually, like in dreams and whatnot. They’re said to see visions and receive messages from the afterlife. They use the wisdom of their guardians to steer their lives and help with decisions.” The way his voice deepened, almost heavy with rejection, made me wonder if I had somehow offended him. He’d explained the Natives’ beliefs, but he hadn’t said if he agreed with them.
Taking my chances, I asked, “Do you know what your spirit animal is?”
“They have tests online that ask all sorts of things from how you spend your free time to what color you like best. So I’ve taken those, and regardless of when or how many times I take it, it always gives me the same answer. But I have no way of knowing how accurate they are.”
“And what animal did it give you?” The second I saw the smirk curl his lips, I said, “Let me guess…a crow?” before he even had a chance to respond.
“As a matter of fact, yes. How’d you know?” Sarcasm laced his voice and painted his face; his smile grew wider, causing his eyes to shine with amusement. “All jokes aside, though, it’s not a bad one to have. We are determined problem solvers who are strong defenders of our own domain, we fearlessly speak the truth, and we inspire tenacity.”
“Is that so? Sounds completely made up to me,” I teased.
At least he found that funny. Wisps of laughter eked past his curled lips as he moved to the garbage bin to empty the dustpan. “Trust me, if I were to make up superhuman traits, I’d say I can fly, spin paper into money, and predict the future.”
“Good point.” I slowly crossed the room, moving closer to him. “So, did you say that crows are problem solvers?”
“Yeah. It’s believed that crows are determined and can find their way around any barrier put in their path; they can find a way around any obstacle.” It was slightly amusing that, as he said that, he walked around the trash can that had been in front of him.
I wanted to listen to his every word, though I found it somewhat difficult when I came across information cards I really wanted to ask about. I didn’t want to appear rude by interjecting, but I found it impossible to control myself when I noticed a card titled: A Crow’s Song. “What does this mean?”
Considering he knew every piece of information posted in here by heart, he glanced up to see what I was referring to, not needing to read anything to know what facts to tell. “Have you ever heard that the term for a bird’s call is their song? Well, it just explains their song…if that’s what you want to call it. Personally, I think it’s misleading, but my dad won’t let me revise it.”
I moved closer, intrigued and wanting to know more, but at the same time, I didn’t want to read about it. I wanted Drew to explain it to me. “Why do you want to change it? What’s wrong with it?”
“Because this so-called song is a rather horrible sound. I don’t even think it can be called a squawk; most people refer to it as a cry, because that’s what it sounds like. I wouldn’t be surprised if people have heard it and thought someone was dying.”
Well, that wasn’t what I expected to hear, especially since the card described it completely differently. As he moved around, emptying trash and replacing the bags in the bins, I skimmed the information he claimed was incorrect.
It stated that a crow’s song could be heard by its tribe, even from far away, as a means of protecting their own. And at the very bottom, it explained that they were known to represent home and family, awareness and safety. There was something about that description that hit me like a smack in the face.