Snow and ice covered the ground outside of my home when I pulled the Flamingo card from my animal oracle deck. I laughed when I turned the card over because the absurdity of this card appearing in the middle of such circumstances was as ironic as it was symbolic for what’s happening in my personal and professional lives. It is as reflective of my new adoptive name, Sparkle Noir, as it is a message of encouragement for anyone who comes across this.
To start out on the shallow end of the pool of Flamingo spiritual symbolism, let’s take a look at the color scheme. Pretty much all the flamingos I’ve seen are bright pink birds with long legs. They are known for being able to stand on one leg for long periods.
Brightness and balance are what I immediately think of when I see this card. A widespread snowstorm has covered half of the United States, yet here is this card sent as a reminder to remain optimistic even in the cold and dark days.
While many of us have been forced into a period of time off, we have the opportunity to decide what we want to do next, even though most of us don’t realize it. This is a point I will circle back to shortly.
However, to stay in the shallow end, some of us need the extra days off. I know I did. My stress manifests itself in the strangest parts of my body, so when weird aches and pains begin, I know I need to change something about my life.
A Little Bit Deeper
Many cultures consider this bird a symbol of fertility and transformation. They can also be seen as symbols or representatives of love due to their colors. All of this is lovely, right?
Well, here are a few things I notice.
In all of my research, I haven’t come across any sources that say that flamingos are aggressive. They are social, they have elaborate courtship rituals, and efficient feeding systems. They’re not aggressive, though. When they get tired of standing on two legs, they stand on one. When they get tired of standing on that one leg, they switch to the other.
While the pinks, reds, and whites that are seen in the flamingo’s plumage are typically associated with romance, I see it being associated with passion, as well. Passion goes hand in hand with creativity and desires beyond romance and sex. This is energy that you can use to make life the way you want it.
Personal Reflections
One more thing that stands out for me is that flamingo parents are great parents.
Not only do flamingoes engage in elaborate courtships, they also practice monogamy and build nests in communities. Both parents of an egg take turns incubating it. Both parents have a fairly equal say in the rearing of the offspring.
In my life, I am in a period where the work I normally do for my “day job” is slow. This isn’t unusual for this time of year, but some of the other circumstances in my life have made the work aspect a little different from what is normal. However, like the timing of the flamingo card showing up in my world, while there’s cold, snow, and ice outside of my window, my creative energy feels bright and new. This isn’t just me making a new YouTube video here and there, or adding a new blog post for the first time in who-knows-how-long.
Without going too far into my personal life, I can see this energy reflected in a relationship I have with someone very close to me. This is energy where we both show up in ways that are more equitable than what we’ve had in the past. The scales still aren’t totally balanced; however, if the flamingo is any indication, that will be achieved soon.
If I had to compare this energy–the flamingo–to the tarot, I’d say it is akin to two of cups with a dash of Empress vibes. It is energy that knows how and when to shift literal or figurative weight and maintain balance and boundaries. It is rife with opportunity for creative juices to flow or even sensual connections to thrive.
This is your reminder, no matter what time of year it actually is, to stay bright and warm when the world outside of you is cold and dim.
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Love,
Sparkle.
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