Every Life is a Precious Gift

We share our house with a pack of cats and since each and every single one of them is an accomplished hunter. We are provided for with a fair share of birds, mice and other critters. 
 
Today our eldest hunter caught a small bird, a great tit. It escaped her and started to fly around in our living room. After the bird had sat down behind vase on top of one of the bookshelves, I climbed on a ladder, calmed the bird down, took it in my hands and brought it outside. It took flight and then sat down in a nearby bush to rest. 

I collected some of the feathers and felt their energy.

It had not been the first bird that I had taken care of that way, so I knew what to do. Getting caught by a predator, no matter what ilk, is traumatizing, so observe their prey, the victim, closely. The bird was no longer in complete shock, but its head was moving quickly in all directions, its heart was racing and it had a small breast wound. Some feathers were missing and one of its feet hurt. It was alert and had been able to fly, so its wings were ok.

Here is the little bird.

I have placed the feathers of the little bird on my altar.

When trying to touch a wounded animal, never touch them with your hand coming from above them. They will mistake it for a bird of prey or an attack. So gently offer your hand and move slowly. I touched its breast with one finger and waited. Patience is important. 
 
When its heart had stopped racing, I put my left hand loosely behind it and let it get used to the situation. I did not touch it. When it had calmed down completely and was looking into my eyes without fear, I moved my right hand, embraced it and carried it out of the house and said thank you. 

It had not been the first bird that I had taken care of that way, so I knew what to do.

Back in the house I collected some of the feathers and asked felt them. I placed them on my altar in my ceremony room, next to feathers I had gotten as a gift from a shaman whom I had gifted tobacco seeds to. 
 
Ilaannigooq angakkup tunissut tunivaanga. Kiinneraarpoq. Annersinngilaanga. Oqaluttuat oqaluttuarivai. Tusarpakka. Arriitsumik ilaannikkut sukkasuumik ilaannikkut ilinniarpunga. Paasiartulinnguatsiarpara. Qujanarsuaq.
 
Every life is precious and a gift.