An annoyance of Grackles visit on a stormy October day

As I mentioned in my Tarot Tuesday post yesterday, I’ve had a few visits from an annoyance of Grackles (and while I don’t find them annoying at all, I can certainly see how fitting that moniker is!) over the past month or so. On a couple of those occasions, I was able to grab my camera and snap some shots before they disappeared (almost as quickly as they arrived).

I almost didn’t bother looking closely at the shots from October 28th, since it was pouring rain when they descended, so all of my photos were taken through our not-so-squeaky-clean windows. Plus, the gloomy lighting and the downpour made it a bit difficult to get a clean focus. However, when I checked them out this morning, I found seven shots that weren’t all that terrible after all, especially after I put the first five through a PicMonkey filter or two (making the semi B&W shots actual B&W).

Before I share the photos, I figured I’d share again (as I did in this post from just over a year ago) a little bit of the spiritual significance of seeing Grackles.

From Ted Andrew’s Animal Speak (page 142) (and this is just barely half of what he has to say about them, so be sure to check out the book for yourself if you’d like more info) –

[The grackle] is a large black bird with an extra-long tail. About its head and shoulders are iridescent feathers that change from blue to green to purple or bronze, depending on the light.

This coloring often reflects a need for those to whom the grackle comes to look at what is going on in their life differently. It says that situations are not what they appear to be and you may not be looking at them correctly–particularly anything dealing with the emotions.

Keep in mind that black is the color of the inner and the feminine. The purple and bronze coloring about the head especially usually indicates that emotions are coloring our thinking process. The grackle can help us to correct this.

During courting season, the male grackle will fold its tail, creating a diamond-like trough. This diamond shape is often reflective of activation. It hints at a need to become active in regards to emotional situations. Have we been too passive in our emotions? Are we simply rehashing and talking about them without doing anything to correct the emotional situations of our life? The grackle is a noisy, chattering bird and may be a reminder to quit talking and do something.”

Now for the pictures – these were taken with my my Nikon affixed to my tripod), pointing out of various windows towards my rain soaked (and yet still under drought restrictions) Durham New Hampshire yard.