Bird Kin
Thoughts on a Shifting Season and Our First Collective Card Reading of the Month
We had the first warm day in months here in Massachusetts—a sign that the elusive false spring is around the corner. If you’ve lived in New England, you know what I mean. A week of sunshine and fifty-degree temperatures that brings a kind of elation and has us wondering whether we’ve all been quietly negotiating with seasonal affective disorder. How else could a few hours of warmth change our entire outlook?
Soon enough, we’ll dip back into bitter cold. Maybe even a snowstorm. As if nature is saying, hang in there just a little longer. Spring is near.
The intermittent squawks from the ravens who live in the cell tower behind our townhouse will soon be joined by a fuller chorus of birdsong. I’ve noticed that I can almost decode my own mood by which birds I’m paying attention to. They seem to mirror something in me.
I have always loved ravens. Coincidentally (haha), when I was a kid we lived on Raven Road. I was enamored with Maleficent’s raven accomplice in Sleeping Beauty, “Go, and do not fail me.” And if you’ve been here for a while, you might remember that our dog Jubilee is named after one of the ravens at the Tower of London who followed me around and even brought me a stick.
But the first time I remember being fascinated by ravens was in religious school, hearing the story of Noah’s Ark. After forty days at sea, Noah sends out a raven to search for dry land. When it doesn’t return, he sends a dove. And then another dove, who finally comes back with an olive branch—evidence that life is beginning again.
My child’s mind assumed the raven had simply taken off. Too clever to be used by a human so willing to replace him as a messenger. I once had a dog like that—never fully trusting that, if given the chance, he wouldn’t wander off and start a new life. Some beings don’t belong to us. They coexist beside us. Like the ravens outside my window. And maybe that’s what I’ve always loved about them.
Today, I pulled cards from The Bird Kin deck for our collective reading. It feels fitting this time of year—when we are between seasons, listening for signs, watching the sky, noticing what is stirring.
Let’s see which bird is calling our attention this week.
Here is our collective card reading:
(Scroll slowly if you don’t want to see the cards revealed before you choose.)
How this works: I invite you to take a slow, grounding breath and let your attention settle. When you’re ready, look at the three cards and notice which one, two, or three, you feel most drawn to. Trust your intuition. Then scroll below the photo to read the message connected to your card(s) and let it support you over the days and weeks ahead. As always, please take what resonates and leave the rest.
If you chose card 1:
Blue Jay
The blue jay is intelligent, vocal, and deeply attuned to the well-being of its group. Jays do not shrink for the comfort of others. They call, signal, and make their presence known.
If this card is finding us now, it may be asking: Where have you been quieter than you need to be?
The blue jay reminds us that speaking up is not aggression—it is participation. In the wild, their calls alert others to danger. They even mimic hawks when necessary, creating protection through sound.
This week, notice where your voice could serve the greater good. Not from reactivity, but from clarity.
Blue jays also prioritize family and the strength of the group. There may be something here about community—about remembering that you are not meant to do everything alone. Intelligence shared becomes wisdom. Protection shared becomes safety.
Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the oil, and sometimes the clear call keeps the flock alive.
Let your voice be clear and timely. And let it support what matters to you.
If you chose card 2:
Woodpecker
I often hear woodpeckers before I see their tiny bodies snaking along tree trunks. These birds do not strike once and walk away. They return to the same place again and again, trusting that what they seek is beneath the surface.
When a woodpecker appears, it may be asking you: What are you working toward that requires steady, repeated effort? Not frantic action or force, but rhythm.
Woodpeckers are built for impact—a stabilizing tail, two toes forward and two back for grip, a thick skull, and strong neck muscles acting as shock absorbers. Everything about their design supports sustained effort.
Consider the structures that support your persistence, the boundaries that stabilize you, and the practices that strengthen you.
Woodpecker energy reminds us that progress is often incremental. The hollow inside the tree does not appear all at once. It is revealed through repetition.
If something in your life requires patience, trust the process. Keep showing up. Adjust your stance if needed, and protect your energy while you work.
Remember that breakthroughs are often carved quietly, one strike at a time.
If you chose card 3:
Peacock
The peacock has a reputation for showing off. Its plumage is so striking that “peacocking” has become a verb—a way of describing someone who draws attention to themselves.
And yet, this display is not accidental. It is how the bird is built. The feathers are not decoration added on top, but part of its design.
When a peacock feather appears, it may be inviting you to examine your relationship with visibility.
Where are you dimming yourself to avoid being misunderstood? Where are you holding back your gifts because you worry they will be perceived as too much?
Peacocks are highly social birds. When they feel safe, they can be affectionate and engaging. Under stress, they may react quickly or dramatically. There is something here about environment. Confidence flourishes in spaces where we feel secure.
This card may be less about ego and more about permission. Permission to take up space in the ways that are natural to you.
Permission to let your work, your voice, and your ideas be seen.
Thanks for being here.
With Love,
Sheryl
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What kind of stone was the middle card? It was fitting, given my dissertation work and my favorite number is 2, the card is 22, and yes, I have been hearing a woodpecker outside my house for the last month. Dedication and persistence in deed to reach the finish line. It resonated very well, thank you.
🙏