On my way to work a few weeks ago, I beheld an unexpected sight; a winged wonder running down a suburban Philadelphia road during rush hour. White with brown spots on its feathers; the wing span was a good several feet wide. It likely suprised other drivers as well; all who avoided hitting the feathered phenomenon. Since my friend Kathy Davis lives nearby, it occurred to me that it could be one of her swans that generally are quite content to leisurely enjoy the pleasures of gliding across the pond. Then, I wondered if it was a snow goose since I had never seen a brown spotted swan.

After it looked for all the world like it was being guided by air traffic control down a crowded runway, it took a leap and sat down in the middle of the road. I laughed as I drove past, wishing I had thought to whip out my handy dandy iphone and videotape the scene.

A few days later, I emailed Kathy to ask if one of her birds decided to take a road trip. I could hear the laughter in her response as she affirmed that one of  the young male swans had indeed taken off on a great adventure and thanked me for driving carefully.

Since I am a believer in messages and being at the right place at the right time, I decided to look up the meaning of the swan. Here is what I discovered about the magical messenger who happened to cross paths in perfect timing:

“The Swan is one of the most powerful
and ancient of totems.

As you begin to realize your own true beauty,
you unfold the ability to bridge new realms and new powers.

Swan can show you how to access the inner beauty
within yourself and in others.

A Swan totem heralds a time of altered states of awareness
and the development of intuitive abilities.
Swan people have the ability to see the future,
and to accept the healing and transformation
that is beginning in their lives.
Accept your ability and go with the flow.
Stop denying you know who is calling when the phone rings.

Pay attention to your hunches and inner knowledge,
and Swan medicine will work through you.

The Swan’s call teaches the mysteries of song and poetry,
for these touch the child and the beauty within. “

www.linsdomain.com/totems.html  

Ted Andrews, author of Animal Speak had this to say:  the swan teaches us to awaken to our inner beauty and power which is love.

An apt description of where I am in my life in this moment, as I spread my wings in mid-flight.