Traditional Meaning: Talk, gossip
The Birds card in the Realms:
Spiritual: Messages from beyond
Emotional: Sincere conversations, argument
Mental: Internal monologue, racing minds
Physical: A bird or other flying creature
Correspondences:
Moon Phase: Waning – Expenditure of energy
Astrological Sign: Gemini
Element: Air
Motto: Unrestrained multitudes
The Birds speak:
“On fleet wings we come and go, carrying the news of the day. We sing our songs for all to hear, filling the countryside with news and information. There is no time to assess or compare, we simply carry what we hear from place to place, ensuring that all are informed. Our network is wide and what one knows soon all know. We receive and we transmit.”
Interpretation Advice:
The twittering of the Birds means talk – a lot of it. This talk can be constructive or destructive, depending on the situation. At worst, it represents character assassination — malicious gossip intended to destroy someone’s reputation. It might also indicate thoughtless talk that isn’t intended to harm, but somehow does. On the positive side, the birds can represent healthy conversations, information that needs to be transmitted or distributed, or thoughtful statements amplified by others. The Birds’ motto, “Unrestrained multitudes” reminds us that once something is part of the public discourse, it can spread to thousands of the blink of an eye.
A deeper look into the image’s symbolism:
Owl – stationary receiver of talk and messages with the wisdom to evaluate them
Multi-armed bird perch – networks and systems of communication
Different colored birds – a variety of types of talk, good, bad, and indifferent
Bird traps – the effort to isolate and understand messages
Field worker – someone out of the fray, watching what is going on