How Swallows can show us how to navigate life's journey in 2023

To 'find our Swallow's wings' is to feel completely tuned into ourselves and the world around us in a harmonious and pleasurable way. When we feel like we are alive, flying high, invincible and fully enjoying living life in the moment.

It can be fleeting, like walking on the beach taking in a beautiful sunset, or it can be longer lasting, when we are engaged in something we enjoy doing and time melts away. We all know how good it feels when we are living life in the flow. 

It reminds me of the Swallows and how graceful and skilful they are in all their tasks and activities. Their seasonal migration has always fascinated me and I have read some wonderful books about these marvellous birds.

At the start of a New Year, I've been thinking about how our lives compare to the journey of Swallows and how this might help us to 'find our Swallow's wings' in the coming year.

Let's start with the Swallow's journey and what this involves.

A Swallow's journey

Every year in late Autumn, British Swallows set out on their 6,000 mile migration to South Africa.

These tiny passerines, hardly bigger than the size of a matchbox, travel 200 miles a day at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour to spend Winter on the other side of the world. Here they roost in the warmth of the sunshine along with flocks of thousands of fellow birds. This is where they stock up on energy to build their strength for the coming breeding season and where they find themselves a mate.

Swallows stay together to breed for life. They return to the same ground or nest year after year to raise their young. Both parents defend the nest with the male taking on the task of defending the wider territory.

On the outward journey from the British Isles, Swallows fly over western France, the Pyrenees, eastern Spain into Morocco, and across the Sahara Desert where, despite high risks of starvation, exhaustion, and extreme weather, they will keep going; eating and drinking on the wing, resting only at night, then setting off again, every day for six long weeks until they reach their destination. Sounds familiar, don't you think?

Returning home

On the return trip before the beginning of our Spring season, Swallows know when to fly home, navigating the same 6,000 miles against all weathers to arrive at their original nesting site built the previous Spring.

As soon as they arrive home, Swallows work together to attend to their nest. Each partner makes a further 1,200 journeys to gather beaks-ful of mud before tying the layers together with strands of dried grass. Completed nests are very secure and finished off with a fine lining of soft feathers. This remarkable construction is built to house three to five chicks twice during the Summer months which is why nests have to be made to last with never any time to waste.

Life's journey

Beaking down the different stages of a Swallow's journey helps us to appreciate what these tiny birds achieve instinctively in a remarkable set pattern year after year, and how this relates to our own life journey. It provides a way to see the bigger picture so that we can put things into perspective and work out how to navigate our lives more effectively.

This is the perfect time of year to think about these things and make plans so that we can take full advantage of the first Full Moon of the year on 6 January. This will give us the energy we need to take action and now is the time to prepare.

The following checklist follows the Swallow's journey and brings to light the things we need to focus on in 2023.

1) EPIC MIGRATIONS - VIsioning

A Swallow instinctively knows where to go, how to get there, when to go and when to return.

• Where are we and where do we want to go?
• Who are we and who do we want to be?
• What do we do and what would we rather be doing?
• How can we best enjoy life doing the things we love?

2) TAKING FLIGHT - Preparing

A Swallow instinctively starts building muscle in the nest and learns what is needed to fly when the time comes.

• What do we want to learn and put into practice?
• What can we improve and what skills do we want to master?
• When will we make a start and how will we make it sustainable and enjoyable?
• What do we need to reinvigorate, put right or let go?

3) ON THE WING - Actioning

A Swallow instinctively learns how to catch tiny insects and drink water in flight and which dangers to watch out for.

• Are we learning new things and unlearning things that are no longer helpful to us?
• Are we putting ideas into practice and endeavouring to perfect our skills?
• Are we making sure everything is in place so that we can get into the flow?
• Are we spending enough time being active, creative and productive?

4) OPTIMUM LIFT - Nourishing

A Swallow instinctively knows what nourishment it needs to remain healthy, when and where to find it.

• Body - are we doing all we can to achieve optimum health and wellbeing?
• Mind - are we developing our heart intelligence, intuition and critical thinking skills?
• Spirit - are we exploring our spirituality to learn more about ourselves and our life's purpose?
• Soul - are we living in harmony with our higher consciousness and true purpose?
• Whole Being - are we building meaningful relationships and making a valued contribution to humanity?

5) FLYING SOLO - Organising

A Swallow instinctively knows how to survive on its own, how to work with a partner and how to play with other Swallows.

• Routines - are we finding ways to make important everyday activities fun things to do?
• Resources - do we have all the things we need to learn and live our lives well?
• Administration - have we established effective systems and processes that help us to get things done?
• Communication - have we established the best ways to connect with people and share information?

6) REMARKABLE DISPLAYS - Playing

A Swallow instinctively carries out activities and acrobatic performances beautifully and with supreme confidence.

• Performance - are we perfecting our skills, recognising our achievements and building our confidence?
• Enjoyment - are we living life in the moment with gratitude and doing the things we love to do?
• Fun - are we being spontaneous and playful, spending time with loved ones and being happy?

7) COMING HOME - Grounding

A Swallow instinctively knows when to return home and how to navigate their way to familiar and hospitable territory.

• Homework - are we learning about ourselves, understanding our true value and making a contribution?
• Assessment - do we reflect on our lives and think about how best we can adapt and grow?
• Lightwork - do we resonate our light as kind, loving beings in a limitless multi-dimensional world?

Thank you for reading to the end. I am sure you can think of other questions to ask that might be more relevant to you and your journey. I hope it has been helpful and appreciate being able to share my thoughts with you.

At the onset of this New Year, thank you for your support in 2022 and I hope you find your wings to fly with the Swallows in 2023.

Sue Cartwright

Spiral Leaf