Feeling Iced Out? Duck Spirit Animal
Duck spirit animal helps us weather icy people and situations, and find warmth in times of scarcity.
Good news! There is space remaining in Find Your Spirit Animal workshop next week on 11/13 at 4:30pm Mountain. Each student receives a personal spirit animal reading. This comprehensive workshop contains everything you need to know about Spirit Animals and comes from over 20 years of Stacey’s research on the topic.
Bringing Warmth
Ducks have super snuggly coats of waterproof feathers filled with an insulating layer of down. These birds are no ninnies. Duck symbolism brings the power of insulation from the outside world helping us brave the hazardous weather in our own lives.
When you are in a situation surrounded by icy people out of touch with their emotions (or just plain mean ice queens), duck spirit animal can help you find the warmth and love you need. If you are in a “winter” in your own life emotionally, materially, or otherwise, call on duck spirit animal to help insulate you from the harsh climate.
A great tarot card to study in relation to duck spirit animal is the Five of Pentacles (aka coins or disks). This card is about feeling left out in the cold and the prompting to find warmth either from spiritual sources or from within.
Winter? No Problem.
Ducks do extremely well in bitterly cold climates. In my mountain town, they swim in the little bit of open water in frozen lakes all winter long.
Ever wonder how ducks can stand on ice without their feet freezing? Ducks have a counter-current circulation system in their feet that allows their feet to stay just above freezing with very minimal heat loss. You can learn the mechanics of this ingenious system here: https://birdnote.org/podcasts/birdnote-daily/why-birds-feet-dont-freeze
When asking "What does duck mean?" it is important to remember that conservation of your own inner fire can help you thrive in cold environments. Symbolically, a cold environment is one where others are not open to your ideas, you’re given the cold shoulder, or there’s generally not a lot of interest in what you’re passionate about.
With the help of duck spirit animal, it is easier to make progress (the feet represent forward momentum), in a figuratively cold place. For example, if you work in a business that has a tight budget (the money is essentially frozen), duck can help you gain traction and move ahead on your creative projects despite the scant financial support.
Sitting Ducks
The phrase "sitting duck" originated in the context of World War II to indicate a poorly defended or unsuspecting military target that was easy to take down. Dabbling ducks, such as mallards, sit on the top of the water and dabble with their beaks below the surface. They are easy targets for hunters.
Why would I bring up such macabre conversation? This language is in all of our psyches. Regardless of if we want it to or not, we associate vulnerability and danger with duck symbolism. Even before the term sitting duck came into use, the word "duck" has always had the alternative meaning of avoiding a blow, hiding from sight, and departing quickly. Think "duck and cover" and "duck out".
What are you ducking in your life right now? Are you bracing for a possible crisis? The instinct to duck is a strong, survival impulse that has saved countless lives. There is a time to duck down and evade the either literal or symbolic blow. If you know your pocketbook is about to get hit, bracing yourself and preparing mentally for the blow may be what gets you through it.
Trouble arises when we duck from illusory fears. Fears like "What will other people think?", "Will I end up homeless?", and "Will he leave me?" - those kind of fears. Soon we are paralyzed with fear and cannot move. That is when we become true sitting ducks.
Duck Spirit Animal Helps Us Evade
Duck spirit animal reminds us that we have webbed feet and, even better, we have wings. We have the power to lift out of the watery emotions that threaten to drown us. We can swim into the depths and find inner silence.
We may be rendered physically powerless to do anything in a situation and feel like the victim. Nevertheless, we always have power in our interior. We can always lift off in our mind’s eye and get a broader view. Duck symbolism teaches that we can also dive down into the truth of who we are. Some diving ducks swim rushing torrents of class five river rapids with ease.
Meaning of Duck Molting
With all of this talk about flying out of danger, I am obligated to mention that in the late summer / early fall all ducks are rendered flightless. They drop and replace their flight feathers (called "molting") in a matter of weeks, which means they are grounded. During this time, ducks hunker down in the reeds in the marshes or they band together in the middle of a large, deep lake.
Leveraging the power of being grounding and tending to matters close to home will help you take advantage of this aspect of the meaning of duck. It is no use ignoring the fact that the to-do list needs doing and the laundry needs to be washed. By choosing the right time to do these tasks, you take less risk of things going awry. It’s okay to hide in the reeds of your life, and avoid things by getting busy for a time. That is until you get your feathers back, of course.
Tribes of Ducks
There are over 130 different species of ducks worldwide, which means there’s no way to offer the unique symbolism of each species here. However, there are different tribes of ducks and each has its own unique symbolism that we can easily tap into.
Dabbling Ducks
These ducks sit on the top of the water and dip their heads into the water to forage. The classic view of a duck rear in the air with feet paddling, is of a dabbling duck. One well known species is the Mallard. They are not able to dive and feed only at the surface. They walk well on land and take flight quickly.
The spiritual meaning of dabbling ducks relates to the ability to navigate between the physical, mental, and emotional/spiritual (symbolized by land, air, and water) planes seamlessly. This is being in touch with one’s emotions, being grounded, and thinking things through. That cute little waddle masks great versatility.
Diving Ducks
The diving ducks relate to the ability to go below the surface and into the depths. Water represents both the emotional and spiritual realms, and by diving deep to forage, these ducks remind us of our own ability to find nourishment in our emotional and spiritual lives. To find safety, they can disappear below the surface or take flight. However, they do need a bit of a runway to lift-off, so your go to in times of stress may be to head into your emotional and spiritual life.
Perching Ducks
This tribe is not closely related genetically, but it is a grouping of ducks that perch high in trees. A great example is the Wood Duck. If you see a duck perched in a tree, this could relate to connections with your own family tree. It could symbolize branching out from your usual way of doing things, or to finding ways to connect heaven and earth.
Sea Ducks
Arguably some of the hardiest of duck species, sea ducks inhabit far north and far south latitudes. They have specialized salt glands above their eyes to excrete salt from their systems. This allows them to drink sea water. Salt stings the eyes and open wounds, it purifies and dries. Salt relates to old wounds and our fixation upon them.
In their ability to desalinate sea water, sea ducks bring the message that we too can transform old hurt into nourishing experience. They are great divers and have rapid wing beats. This speaks to agility in navigating deep, oceanic emotions and to having quick thinking.
Find Your Spirit Animal Workshop
4:30pm MST
Wednesday Next Week!
Have you always wanted to find your spirit animal? Is there an animal you really connect with, but aren't sure if they are your spirit animal? In this small-group workshop, you find your spirit animal, receive confirmation of your bond, and connect on a soul level with them to receive guidance. Learn the what a spirit animal is, and how to relate with them in your daily life. Get answers to all your questions about spirit animals.
SAVE the DATE!
Creative Refuge Hour
Our next meetup for PAID subscribers is February 13, 2025 at 4:30pm Mountain Standard Time. Hopefully those of you in AUSTRALIA will be able to attend given that this is morning for you. And, this should be a good time for those of you who work weekdays.
We will be alternating between mornings and evenings for me to make it possible for people in different parts of the world to attend. This is an hour set aside for a contemplation, meditation, and creative pursuits such as journaling, drawing, or collaging! Stacey leads the first 15-20 minutes with a reading and guided meditation. You get to choose how to spend the rest of the time in a quiet creative space with a beautiful group of soul seekers. This is a fulfilling way to invest in your creative self.
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About the Author
Stacey Couch is a Spiritual Advisor who supports creative seekers learning as they go on the spiritual path. She serves beginner and life-long students of the soul. Her compassionate and collaborative approach honors the humanity and value of each person. Through meeting with Stacey, lost souls find refuge. Connection to the Divine is realized. Belonging comes. She is the author of Gracious Wild: A Shamanic Journey with Hawks. Learn about working with Stacey
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