Bird of the heart

Today on my drive to an Apple store, a drive that is becoming a familiar one, I had the special experience of watching a red tailed hawk drop from the sky to land in the grass beside the highway. I was captivated by watching the wings pose for landing, the body of the chest tilting forward, claws outstretched. For a time I looked towards the red tail as a sign to pay attention to, a guiding post if you will, as my animal familiar. I noted their presence as providing both a sense of comfort and security, and magical to a degree. It seems as though it has been a long while since I have seen one and I like to think again that this sighting provides me with a message of something positive, or just a change in my path, a message to heed. If nothing else, it left me with the impression of once again being awed by that which is natural.