It’s possible that when author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said, it is only in the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye, that he was speaking about the swan.
For the swan knows that what we see is not as important as how we feel when we see it.
As we all can agree by now, appearances are deceiving.
Yes, it’s true. The world is full of illusions disguised as social norms. They play tricks on our eyes and leave filthy smudges that obscure the windows to the soul.
But, the swan reminds us that there is more than one way to approach the creature within.
There’s a threshold in our sensitivity. Our empathy. Our selflessness.
However, there’s also a catch. Our admittance is contingent on how well we learn to lead with the heart. This seemingly simple task is one that the swan has mastered, but some humans struggle to recognize.
Luckily, the swan arrives when we need her the most. So long as she knows that she is always welcome, she will come when called upon.
The swan represents our moral compass. Our knee-jerk reactions when facing injustice or staring into the eyes of the oppressed.
The swan is graceful. The swan is courteous. The swan is the voice of reason in an irrational climate.
Yet, how can it be that the swan is so noble in the face of corruption?
Partly because, as one of the largest flying birds, the swan, in all of her feathered glory, embodies the most famous group of divine messengers—angels.
Like angels, the swan isn’t here to judge our mistakes. But she does ask that we take a look at our ethics, our actions, and our conscious.
When we speak, is it a reflection of our true character or the ego?
If we extend a helping hand, are we expecting something in return?
What steps do we take (large or small) to help humanity as a whole?
Do we have the courage to recognize, admit, and learn from our mistakes?
The swan is calling for realignment if we’ve stumbled. Or, revolution if we’ve fallen off course.
So long as the swan arrives (and most of the time, she will), you are not lost for good. The swan is a beacon of light that will steer you into the next phase of life.
Messages from the swan:
- You cannot experience transformation if you are afraid to let go of who you used to be.
- There are lessons in suffering. Find them. Grow from them. Share them.
- Rid yourself of the things (people, beliefs, possessions) that you once held dearly but are no longer serving you.
- Knowledge is power. Read books, study history, and journal your emotional response to the subject matter.
- Educate, explore, and experiment, but be wary of dogmatic thinking.
- Surround yourself with people who listen to you, challenge you, and lift you up instead of dragging you down.
- Disconnect from your routine. Without our habitual expectations, it’s easier to find subtle messages that we would have otherwise overlooked.
- Get ready for change. It’s coming. Embrace the shift instead of resisting it.
