I was walking my dog, Magic, the other day, and a green headed (therefore male) mallard duck seem to keep flying in front of me, rather closely. I was a little surprised since the ducks in the park are more wild then tame. Yet, it persisted. When animals act out of the ordinary, then it is a clue that they have a message for you from Spirit and from Mother Earth.

I thought about all I knew about ducks. They flock together when they travel north and south, however, they are more solitary as a family unit (mother and father) when they nest. As the ducklings hatch and grow, the ducks become more social. The male is very protective of its mate. Generally, though, the male leaves when the eggs are laid. However, I have seen males stay near the female into the hatching time. The female is a good, nurturing parent, although not above pulling a duckling or moving it along if the duckling does not "fall in" with the agenda. The female gathers all the ducklings under her wings at night or when there is danger. The ducks eat insects, fish eggs, green plants, berries, leaves, tadpoles, little fish, and grain. Minus the insects, the duck diet is not too dissimilar to our diet.

What then, is the message? As I thought about it, the duck is associated with water, and does not move all that gracefully on land, although its flight is compelling. A duck coming in for a water landing is a marvel. The message seems to be about moving gracefully through one's emotions. Letting all that is come to the surface, and simply swim through what ever comes up. Part of the message is about flying above the reality to see the beauty of the emotion in the context of reality (the ground). The message is also about finding one's wings so you can rise above the emotion, and not get weighted down by the story that brings the emotion to the surface. A duck also dives deeply into the water. So, it is a guidance that sometimes one really needs to go deep into the cause of the emotion to get to the mud or sludge before one can rise above it.

There is also a reminder that just as we cannot live without water, we cannot live without emotion. Even plants and animals have emotion as revealed in "The Secret Life of Plants" and "Why Elephants Cry". Our natural environment as we move through life is one full of emotion. Just as duck protects its young or its mate, one is reminded that we must sometimes protect ourselves from life when we are in an emotional state. As duck takes refuge on an island in the water when it is hurt or minding young, so too must one isolate themself in times of turmoil. If the duck doesn't isolate, it is much easier for predators to pick off a tasty meal. For humans, they are more vulnerable to bullies and control types who will use the weakness to manipulate.

I am grateful for duck's message. I will enjoy my time of joyfulness, and yet guard against those who would try to deflate the joy.