Birds as messengers from Heaven

If you’re like me and countless others, you are spending January in a time of reflection. Whether it’s starting a New Year’s resolution, setting goals and intentions or slowing down after the holidays to create space for remembrance — or even grief — the post-holiday season and the idea of a fresh start invite us to pause. 

Lately, I’ve been thinking about remembrance and have been fascinated with research on birds regarded as “messengers from Heaven,” symbolizing a closeness to God as they soar freely between earth and sky. While many animals, such as butterflies, deer, dragonflies and birds, carry a universal spirit across many cultures, some are especially meaningful in Armenian folklore.