Cardinals and Love

Cardinals are beautiful birds. In my eyes, they seem regal and majestic. For the past 13 years, they have seemed to find me. Or maybe, it's the inverse and I seemed  to have found them. Nearly every day I have a “meet cute” with one of them whether it be in my backyard, flying past my car while driving or on a morning walk or evening stroll around the neighborhood.

My paternal grandmother had a lovely and quite extensive porcelain collection of cardinals displayed on a table outside of her kitchen.  As a little girl, I remember looking at each one with awe and wondered why she loved them so. Now, as an adult, I suspect they meant more to her much like they do for me.  

Some say cardinals carry messages from our loved ones that passed on. Maybe, they are offering a glimpse into the invisible? 

My grandmother passed away recently at the wise age of 96 years old. That day while driving home, I asked her for a sign that she was at peace. Outside my home, I was greeted by a symphony of chirps that I gratefully know all too well.  Looking up, there were four perfect male cardinals in the trees. Over the next few days, a female and male were sat on the telephone wire in my backyard. Even as I type this, I’m listening to a single cardinal chirping. 

My teacher, Grand Master Nan Lu speaks a lot about the invisible and intuitive mind- what is behind the reality that we see with the rational mind.  He teaches that above all; there are no accidents. 

For me, the vibrant red color of the cardinal symbolizes the Fire Element in the Five Element framework of Chinese Medicine. The Heart and its energetic frequency belongs to the Fire element and perfectly enough, matches the frequency of the summertime season that we currently entered upon.  Sitting quietly thinking about the Heart energy, brings a rush of feelings that I recognize as love. Times I felt love, observed love. Those I love. Those that love me. The gifts of love that Nature and God have given to us. 

I’m reminded of my grandmother’s face that would light up, as the expression goes, every single time she saw me throughout my life. Even in the end, when it was hard for her to speak to me, she was still able to beam with that light. I know she still felt it and so did I; pure, simple … Love.
 
May those that have gone before us fly free in the love that we shared together.