The Turkey Totem

The Native American Indians, among others groups, have something in their culture called totems. Read on, I promise I'll get there...

Yesterday after dropping my children off at school I took the dogs for a drive in the park (it was raining) and as I entered the park I saw a flock of wild turkeys. I know there are flocks of wild turkeys in this area but this was the first time I had ever seen them in the park. One turkey stood out to me especially, she wasn't following the flock (for more on collective nouns in regards to birds please see- http://palomaraudubon.org/collective.html

and we all know the old proverb "Birds of a feather flock together". Well this turkey obviously hadn't heard that saying because she was running all over the place (and yes, I can tell the difference, I'm sure it was a hen). At one point she ran in front of a car that was going much too fast for the posted 15 m.p.h. sign and I was sure there were about to be feathers everywhere. However she didn't get hit, apprently turkeys are smarter than they seem, and I watched her, how could I not? Call it morbid fascination if you want but I was drawn to her, as was my dog who was sure I wasn't letting him out of the car to chase the turkeys as some sort of masochistic dog plan, he really was disgusted when we drove home without a turkey of our own.

But I digress, back to my story, as I watched this renegade turkey- who so obviously stood apart from the rest of the flock, she ran, rose up and flew away. If only we all could follow our own path and not follow the flock, then we to would soar like the wild turkey in the park.

The definition of totem from www.dictionary.com (see actual link below):

Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[toh-tem-ik] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation, adjective to‧tem‧i‧cal‧ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1)Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

The image above and much of my totem information come from the webpage listed below. There are many totem sites on line and I strongly urge you to search out your own resources regarding totems of many different kinds.

http://www.linsdomain.com/totems/pages/turkey.htm

Shared Blessings
The Turkey is the symbol of sacrifice. It give life so others may live.
Many saints and mystics have Turkey as a totem. With a Turkey totem, you have transcended self. You act and react on behalf of others. This act is not a sense of moralism or guilt, but a deep knowledge that all life is sacred. What you do for others, you also do for yourself.

To have a Turkey totem is a true gift. Its gift may be spiritual, material or intellectual. Through giving to others will you reach your own goals.
The Turkey is linked to the third eye, the seat of feminine energies within us, and the center for higher vision.
Turkey is also the symbol of the Mother Earth and her abundant harvest. All of Earth's blessings and the ability to use them to their greatest advantageare part of Turkey's teachings.

May you soar like a turkey~