Why the Hummingbird?

It’s a question I’m asked often, and one I never tire of answering.

My connection with hummingbirds began when I was eight years old. I was visiting California, where my adopted godmother had recently put up a nectar feeder in her garden. One warm afternoon, we sat together watching hummingbirds dart, dance, and play in the golden sunlight. There was something utterly enchanting about them. Even now, decades later, it remains one of the most magical experiences of my life.

At the time, I couldn’t have known that these tiny birds would one day become such an important symbol in my life.

More than thirty years later, I found myself studying Peruvian shamanism. As part of that tradition, we work with archetypal energies and walk what is known as the Medicine Wheel. The journey begins in the South with Serpent, where we learn to shed old skins, release outdated stories, and free ourselves from the patterns that no longer serve us.

From there, we move into the West, the realm of Jaguar. This is shadow work territory—a place where we are invited to meet the parts of ourselves we would rather avoid. Here, we witness our wounds, fears, and hidden aspects, bringing them into awareness so they can be transformed into wisdom and gifts.

The work of the South and West is powerful, profound, and often challenging. There were times when I emerged from these initiations feeling as though I had been hit by a proverbial truck. Yet there is something deeply necessary about this process. To truly hold space for others, we must first be willing to sit with our own wounds. We cannot guide others through terrain we have not been willing to walk ourselves.

So you can imagine my delight when my teacher finally announced, “It’s time to go North and meet Hummingbird.”

That day, I journeyed to meet her—and in an instant, I was transported back to that childhood feeling of wonder. The same magic I had felt at eight years old returned, alive and vibrant. It was as though Hummingbird had been waiting patiently for me all along.

That experience never left me. Instead, it became part of who I am.

The teachings of Hummingbird are deceptively simple, yet incredibly powerful. She reminds us to seek the nectar of life. Each species of hummingbird has evolved alongside specific flowers that nourish it most deeply. It does not waste precious energy on flowers that cannot sustain it. There is wisdom in that.

How often do we spend our time, energy, and attention on things that fail to nourish us? Hummingbird teaches discernment. She encourages us to seek the people, experiences, and pursuits that truly feed our spirit.

She is also a symbol of possibility. Despite her tiny size, the hummingbird performs feats that seem almost impossible. Hovering effortlessly, changing direction in an instant, and flying incredible distances, she appears to defy the limits placed upon her. In doing so, she reminds us that we, too, are capable of far more than we often believe.

In many traditions, Hummingbird is considered a great journeyer and messenger. She communicates through the mythic realms—through song, dance, creativity, poetry, symbols, synchronicity, and play. She invites us to remain curious, open-hearted, and willing to embrace wonder.

Over the years, I have adopted Hummingbird as a lifelong ally and guide. Her teachings have shaped how I move through the world and how I support others in their own journeys. She reminds me daily to look for sweetness, to trust in possibility, and to approach life with courage and joy.

It seemed only natural that she would become my mascot.

Whenever life feels heavy, I think of Hummingbird. I remember her resilience, her determination, and her unwavering search for nectar. I remember that even the smallest creatures can possess extraordinary strength.

And I remember that somewhere within all of us lives that same capacity for wonder—a heart as pure and strong as the mountains themselves, carried on jewelled wings.