This was so lovely. Thank you for bringing so much depth and many dimensions to a very boring holiday. There are so many pockets of meaning to find and celebrate. A murmuration of starlings paid a visit two days before Valentine’s Day—my daughter kept running outside to view them whenever they’d land on a nearby tree. I look forward to sharing this piece of Valentine’s Day with her.
I love that your daughter was entranced by the starlings--such a beautiful thing to see. Happy you can share the story of valentine's day and the birds with her. 💜
‘a day where Nature honored those who wished not to mate, as much as those who wished to pair.’ I am sure most amongst us wouldn’t know about this fact if you didn’t write about it. Thank you Freya for bringing this perspective into picture. I am in awe with the true meaning of valentine’s day! Birds, freedom and the first light of the spring all come together to cast a beautiful spell. 💜🌼
Wow. Wonderful. The history about V-day and groundhog day previously being later in the year is fascinating. And I love that story about the eagle's choice and your beautiful reflections on that. Perhaps I think I'll think of the 'V' of some of the spring migratory birds for future Valentine's day. Thank you for this piece. I will save and share it, and reflect on it.
I shall try to remember this association as I listen to the birds sing next year; I much prefer it. You had me at “It’s a sound a bit like a drop of water being thrown across the air and returning, sounding like their voice has found its own echo.” by the way; lovely writing.
We just read a picture book about Esther! Her father/brothers owned a paper company and she wanted to try a “little project” of card making and it took off!
I went on a walk today and heard so many birds - and most of them singing across the street to each other in pairs. Two jays, two cardinals, two robins. Thanks for drawing my attention to it!
That's so cool that you had just read about Esther! I love that! And love that the birds in your area were calling to one another too--spring will come sooner than later. 💜🪶
"It it is very much a story of love—of a single female [bird] who loves herself enough to listen to her own voice, rather than those of others, and of her voice being honored by the goddess Nature."
This post is so good. “Too old and too tired,” lol! Your description of that card, wowee. So much beauty here, especially “a single female [bird] who loves herself enough to listen to her own voice, rather than those of others, and of her voice being honored by the goddess Nature.” Faggedaboutit! 💞🦅💞
I am catching up on your older posts. The story of an eagle-esse who chooses no mate has an interesting "mirror", in Murphy the eagle dad raising an orphaned eaglet: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/eagle-who-thought-rock-was-an-egg-finally-has-a-chance-to-be-a-dad-180982034/ 😀
Love nature love birds. Thank you for sharing this history of Valentine’s Day.
This was so lovely. Thank you for bringing so much depth and many dimensions to a very boring holiday. There are so many pockets of meaning to find and celebrate. A murmuration of starlings paid a visit two days before Valentine’s Day—my daughter kept running outside to view them whenever they’d land on a nearby tree. I look forward to sharing this piece of Valentine’s Day with her.
I love that your daughter was entranced by the starlings--such a beautiful thing to see. Happy you can share the story of valentine's day and the birds with her. 💜
‘a day where Nature honored those who wished not to mate, as much as those who wished to pair.’ I am sure most amongst us wouldn’t know about this fact if you didn’t write about it. Thank you Freya for bringing this perspective into picture. I am in awe with the true meaning of valentine’s day! Birds, freedom and the first light of the spring all come together to cast a beautiful spell. 💜🌼
It is a spell isn't it? How lovely to find something that seems so trite to have such hidden beauty of a meaning. 💜
Absolutely!
Wow. Wonderful. The history about V-day and groundhog day previously being later in the year is fascinating. And I love that story about the eagle's choice and your beautiful reflections on that. Perhaps I think I'll think of the 'V' of some of the spring migratory birds for future Valentine's day. Thank you for this piece. I will save and share it, and reflect on it.
O I love thinking of the V being a skein of geese or migrating birds--that's beautiful! Yes! 💜
"That is something that feels worth celebrating: a day where Nature honored those who wished not to mate, as much as those who wished to pair.
The world in the year of our lord 2024 could use more models of honoring such personal choices."
Yes! To! That!
This whole piece was gorgeous, Freya. ❤️🔥
Thank you so much friend. 💜
Love this. Thank you
💜🙏
I shall try to remember this association as I listen to the birds sing next year; I much prefer it. You had me at “It’s a sound a bit like a drop of water being thrown across the air and returning, sounding like their voice has found its own echo.” by the way; lovely writing.
Thank you--so glad that we can think of that day being something far more than trite commodification. 💜
Loved this! Also shared that Too Old and Tired segment to my IG. Great piece!
I thought that was just such a perfect, telling line... 😂💜
I've never been a fan of Valentines Day, but I do love birds, and will think about it differently from now on because of this!🦅❤️
Thank you so much for this, Freya!😍 xo
💜🪶🙏
Love this! I just started reading Bird By Bird today 💖🕊️
how wild--it's such a good read. 💜
We just read a picture book about Esther! Her father/brothers owned a paper company and she wanted to try a “little project” of card making and it took off!
I went on a walk today and heard so many birds - and most of them singing across the street to each other in pairs. Two jays, two cardinals, two robins. Thanks for drawing my attention to it!
That's so cool that you had just read about Esther! I love that! And love that the birds in your area were calling to one another too--spring will come sooner than later. 💜🪶
Found at our librarians amazing valentine picture book display 😍🥰
"It it is very much a story of love—of a single female [bird] who loves herself enough to listen to her own voice, rather than those of others, and of her voice being honored by the goddess Nature."
"Hear, Hear!"
xx
💜🪶
This post is so good. “Too old and too tired,” lol! Your description of that card, wowee. So much beauty here, especially “a single female [bird] who loves herself enough to listen to her own voice, rather than those of others, and of her voice being honored by the goddess Nature.” Faggedaboutit! 💞🦅💞
😂💜🙏 thank you so much friend--and agree--the too old and too tired is so hilarious!
Just seen after posting my comment you resonated with the same. I think many will! 😊
💜