#ornithomancy

Part 0 | Introductions | Concept Art Dump | Ornithomancy | Memes | Trivia |

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ornithomancy is the ship name we gave to the Secret Third Thing that is Himawari and Celest's relationship. The sheer magnitude of doodles of them being unbearably adorable warrants its own post, to be honest.

honestly, not even they know what's up between them? they're both acespec– Celest specifically is some flavor of demiromantic and is uncomfortable with the concept of calling their relationship romantic, and himi is demisexual– and both complete idiots when it comes to any form of emotional intelligence. kind of like the base ISAT group, the bonds aren’t labelled explicitly in the conventional familial manner, but the sentiment of it is the same. when stuff that's traditionally romantic things do pop up between them the context is more about the need for intimacy and a way to deepen emotional connection rather than a romantic display. they actually do get bonded in postcanon, but like. five years after because– AFFECTIONATELY– they're SO BLINDING SLOW. i think about the specifics of their relationship a normal amount.

tldr: himawari and celest is that "couple" who everyone thinks is dating because they do more intimate stuff. really they're just two idiots in a qpr(?) and have been touch starved for years.

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various ornithomancy doodles!

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YOUR HONOR I FUCKING LOVE THEM.

(himawari belongs to @dasnercaret; orion belongs to @scramblecat; haruka and fuyumi belong to @aquakirb)

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Ornithomancy is the interpretation of bird calls, numbers, behaviors, and flight patterns for divination purposes. It was practiced in ancient times, but we, unfortunately, have very little information about the techniques used.

I recently started learning ornithomancy, but again, there are minimal resources, so I have put together a guide for learning.

Disclaimer: This is by no means the only way to practice and I would love to hear your takes! I'm also very much a beginner, so this is also a step-by-step plan for me to follow.

Step One: Identify the birds in your area.

Start with getting outside and watching/listening to the birds around you. I recommend downloading a bird identification app like Merlin (it's free!) to identify birds by their songs, calls, and appearances. Take notes about what birds you see/hear most commonly. I'd recommend getting binoculars, but you can absolutely do this without them.

Note: You do not have to be able to identify a bird without an app, but definitely start trying to! Listen to what calls you hear most frequently or what species you see often.

Step Two: Learn about the birds in your area

After you have your list of local birds, take to the internet (or guidebook) to do some research. I'm starting with the birds I can easily identify without an app, like blue jays, goldfinches, crows, ducks, etc. Research the birds' behaviors, habits, habitats, migratory patterns, and whatever else you find important.

Note: Go at your own pace; don't feel like you have to learn every single bird in a week. Let it take months or years! Revel in the joy of learning!

Step Three: Assigning meanings to the birds

Ornithomancy is a highly personal divination technique; there are no guidebooks to tell us what each bird means. You can assign meanings based on your research, deity associations, or personal experiences with the birds. Some birds, like crows, have folklore already tied to them, but absolutely put your own UPGs in there!!

Examples: Blue jays alert birds in their areas to predators with their calls. For this reason, I associate blue jays with warnings or alarms.

I grew up hearing chickadees everywhere, so I associate them with childhood, innocence, or youth.

Crows are often associated with the god Apollo.

In folklore, cardinals are seen as visitors from heaven or the souls of deceased loved ones.

Note: While going through these steps, continue to get outside and watch/listen to the birds! Keep a running list of birds to learn about.

Step Four: Figure out how you want to read the birds

I've said it before and I'll say it again, we don't know much about how birds were read in ancient times. From what I could find, seers would face north and read birds on the east side. But again, do what feels right for you. You can read birds directly in front of you, flying, just the calls, a combination, or however you feel is right!

I'm still developing how I want to read birds, but I'll update as I go!!

Step Five (optional): Learn basic numerology

If you're going the route of counting birds for certain messages, it may help to know basic numerology! Of course, do what resonates and feel free to assign your own meanings to different numbers.

Note: There are tons of resources online about numerology, but I have found some of the associations are vague or redundant of each other. Use your intuition to determine what is best for your practice.

Step Six (optional): Learn about flight patterns/behaviors

Pay attention to how birds around you are flying. How much are they flapping their wings? What direction are they flying in? Do they land? For how long? Where do they land? Do they take off again? Are they migrating? Learn the terminology for these behaviors. Determine how you want to read these behaviors and assign meaning where you see fit.

Step Seven: Honing your craft

Try to identify birds on your own, either by call, appearance, or both. This process will take time, and that's totally okay!

Practice, practice, practice your method of reading birds and become more confident in your skills. Tweak your methods when necessary and take notes about what works for you and what doesn't.

Note: One of the best things you can do is simply pay attention to the world around you. Become an observer of the natural world and learn from it what you can!

I’m happiest when I’m coming up with ideas for new Tarot decks. Like this, the Major Arcana for The Three Grackles.

Originally it was going to be Three Crows, but the moment I added colors they stopped looking like black crows and started looking like something else. Actually, grackles make perfect sense for me, since I credit a grackle with resorting my humanity after I was psycho vac’d while in Peace Corps.

Sitting on a park bench in Washington DC on my 27th birthday, numb, bleary, having just spent a miserable 22-hour flight from Armenia after being sent home in disgrace, and there, in front of me, hopping about was this bird … this little black bird with an iridescent sheen to its feathers. The first animal in almost two years that hadn't fled at the sight of humans. At that moment, at one of the lowest points in my life (my first day in AA was also a rather low point), I was transfixed: I had never seen anything so beautiful. And then I remembered what type of bird it was and began to laugh … and with that I suddenly knew I was going to survive this. It was a grackle, a bird people dismiss as ugly and bothersome.

Even in books on ornithomancy (divination by observing the behavior of birds, such as their flight or cries) has nothing good to say about grackles. This quote comes from Arin Murphy-Hiscock’s The Hidden Meaning of Birds--A Spiritual Field Guide:

A casual collective name for a group of these birds is a plague of grackles, which suggests their unwelcome presence. If you see a grackle, examine how you’ve been behaving toward other people. Have you been taking advantage of them? Have you been riding roughshod over them, unaware of the destruction you’re leaving behind? The grackle’s iridescent plumage can also be associated with illusion and the capability of dazzling or redirecting people. You have to concentrate to see past the shiny reflection into the grackle’s darkness.

So this deck is a shout out to all us lovers of the unwelcomed out there, all of us who can find beauty and grace in places where others wouldn’t even bother to look. That’s worth rolling out of bed in the morning for.

Excerpt from free article on Patreon.

Once you feel you have a good grasp of your local birds and their behaviors, you can start to develop your own personal avian "dictionary." Chances are you already associate certain birds with certain concepts (e.g. doves with peace or owls with wisdom), but you can expand upon these associations with the knowledge you gain through observation and research.

While it may be tempting to run to Google for traditional symbolic interpretations of birds, building your own symbolic dictionary will be much more rewarding as well as personal to you and your practice. Here are some suggestions on how to start developing your dictionary:

Consider rarity. An elusive bird will make a more compelling omen than a common backyard bird such as a chickadee or house finch. For example, pileated woodpeckers, while being resident birds in my area, are seldom spotted on my morning walks (though I do often hear their calls from a distance). When I see one cross my path or forage in my yard, I consider their appearance an omen.

Consider colors. This may not be as reliable for symbolism depending on where you live. Wetter/tropical climates will tend to see more colorful birds, whereas hot, dry climates (e.g. southwestern U.S.) will see more drab birds in browns, grays, and blacks.

Consider aesthetic features. Is there a unique feature about a bird that draws your attention, e.g. an erect crest or billowing tail feathers? Perhaps the cute face of a tufted titmouse inspires feelings of innocence or naivety, while the speckled iridescence of a starling puts you in mind of otherworldly realms.

Consider songs and calls. Perhaps a territorial song speaks to you of maintaining your boundaries, or the raucous cacophony of crows mobbing a hawk alerts you to imminent conflict.

Based on what you've observed and learned about a bird, what associations come to mind when you see one? Perhaps you've observed the darling courtship behavior of cardinals—in which the male often feeds the female—and you begin to associate cardinals with love and attentiveness. Or perhaps you've noticed how bold and fearless your chickadees are, even in the face of apparent danger. The acrobatics of a nuthatch might put you in mind of the Fool card...and so on and so forth.

Pay attention to your own emotional reaction upon seeing or hearing a certain bird. Which birds fill you with excitement? Which fill you with awe or even dread? These emotions are key for interpreting signs and omens.

Attribute archetypes to your birds for quick interpretation. You can use tarot for this. For example, perhaps you feel a great horned owl embodies the High Priestess, while a bald eagle represents the Emperor.

Consider position and location. Is the bird in flight? On a conspicuous perch? Sitting on your windowsill? In the middle of the road? What do you associate with these positions?

Consider other environmental details. Is the bird the only one of its kind in a mixed flock? Is it in light or shadow? What is the weather like? Is the bird surrounded by lush, blooming foliage or decay? You can glean additional meaning by reading the "scene" around the bird(s), much like you would with tarot or oracle cards.