Passer
domesticus = Spatz
Vergleich:
Siehe: Aves + Begleiter
[Misha Norland]
The Sparrow is one of the best known and ubiquitous of
birds. Not only is it found all over the world but it is an urban bird that
chooses to live in close contact with
man.
Sparrows are one of the most sociable birds. They like
to nest close together and do not like nesting sites where only one nest can be
constructed. They also congregate together and play together. Form large gangs in
winter that
will go off to maraude newly harvested or seeded fields. Not only do they like
the company of their own kind but they seem to really like the company of
humans. They like their nests to be as close as possible to human habitations,
even though this does not seem to be necessary to their feeding habits. It is
possible that they feel some sort of protection from the presence of humans,
that many of their predators are afraid of man and so it is safer to be near
human habitation.
a.
sense of restless energy that links well to the
energetic, boisterous and restless nature of the bird. Provers felt energised
and needed to do something,
b.
inclined to becoming bored and a sensitivity,
particularly a tendency to irritation.
As in almost all the bird remedies there is a calmness
and peacefulness and an ability to remove oneself from the world and its
turbulence. In this proving there was a particular sense of growing old which
contradicts the youthful exuberance of the bird.
Sexuality was an important issue for many provers. The
sparrow has always been regarded as a bird of love
and was associated in classical mythology with Aphrodite, the goddess of love.
In the famous poem of Catallus Lesbia's sparrow is a
symbol of true love and spiritual connection and not just of lust. Though
sparrows are often regarded as one of the most lustful and sexually active birds.
The male sparrow builds a nest and the female then
chooses her mate on the quality of the home he has to offer. However, in recent
times when there has been a severe stress on food supplies
and nesting sites in Britain, it has been suggested
that the female will go and also mate with the strongest or most attractive
male around and then return to her nice home.
There was also a strong feminine and nurturing element
to the proving. Provers desired to look more feminine and attractive. The
desire for family and the safety of the familial environment was strong.
Particularly important was the desire to cook and to provide food for friends
and family.
c.
The theme of violence was particularly important in
the remedy. The sparrow is a violent animal and the fights between young males
are bloody and often fatal. In the States the sparrow is often seen as a alien
interloper who supplants more popular native birds and there are some fairly
violent attempts to eradicate it. A sense of being threatened and of being the
victim of violence was experienced by many provers, but equally important was
swearing and violent behaviour.
An interesting aspect of this was the importance of
cats in the proving. The school cat spent almost all of the proving weekends
firmly ensconced on the lap of one the provers which was definitely unusual.
Many provers found that their relationships with their cats was emphasized or
altered during the proving and many provers had dreams of cats and dogs, but
particularly cats.
The close connection between the predator and the prey
seems to be very important in the bird remedies: the Falcon and the Dove are
surprisingly similar remedies. So it was revealing that provers had such a
strong sense of identification with the cat which is the sparrow's most
ruthless predator.
Perhaps the most important symbolic aspect of the
Sparrow is the way it has been regarded as of such little value that it has
become a symbol of value. This is found best expressed in the Gospels where
Jesus says: "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of
them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."
Saint Francis expressed his love for all God's
creatures by preaching his sermons to the sparrows. The idea of both demanding
to be honoured and respected, to be valued and of being hampered by not being
honoured, respected or valued was important for many provers and was also found
in their dreams. It seems that this might be one of the most important issues
for the remedy.
Why prove Sparrow?
House Sparrows have long adapted to human habitations,
the records of which are lost in mists of time. Descendants of Old World Weaver
Finches, a family of birds distinguished for their resourceful nest-building.
House Sparrows are mentioned in Classical Greek
mythology where they are associated with Aphrodite. In a famous poem by
Catallus, Lesbia's Sparrow is a symbol of divine and enduring love. Another
later story tells of how it was the only bird present throughout the
crucifixion of Christ, making it a symbol of fidelity and spiritual connection
and echoing its classical Greek association with the beloved. For Christians,
the enduring beloved is the saviour, Jesus Christ.
Sparrows
Sparrows are a noisy rabble inhabiting barns,
chattering under eaves. They have a reputation for being rude as rats, common
thieves. Drab of feather, breeding fast, flying in flurries, leaves in draft,
they chirp but cannot sing, just a common thing that working folk have an
affinity for. Sparrows provide fast-food for cat, target practice for brat,
not much more.
Sparrows are scarce now, while our population expands.
We are fully fed, newly rich, oh-so-proper, in a ditch, caught in our own
snare: crowded our environment with tarmac and concrete, sparrows are no longer
there!
Disrespected, that is a key-note of this bird,
alongside a habit of living close, as if humans were their pride. Do you think
Saint Francis taught them about humility?
Perhaps they are mirrors in which we see things we do
not wish to view. We go shopping, make small talk, but when do we feel
beautiful and true? When do we chirp
in simplicity and ease,
“You see me, I see you?”
The Sparrow has its fair share of folklore, as do so
many birds. The common theme being that of victory over injustice. It was a
household deity in the UK. Indeed, in mediaeval times, it was a an emblem of
peasants and the lower classes throughout Europe. Peasants, at this time, were
invariably beholden to their overlords and downtrodden by them. To help them
compensate, they made up stories of how the insignificant Sparrow succeeded over
such potent enemies as wolves, bears, and eagles, the traditional symbols of
nobility and those who subjugated the peasants.
After moving to London from Wales when I was a small
child, and going to school there, I became increasingly aware of the social
structure which had up until then, cemented society together. As a refugee’s child,
I was both an outsider and well aware of issues of racial persecution. I should
mention, as a relevant aside, that I passionately held to the views of my
parents, who had long cherished ideals of common rights and equality of
opportunities amongst peoples of all races, creeds and social position.
Given this inclination, as well as my need to feel
included, I was delighted to learn that the Cockney folk (London's indigenous
working class population) considered the common house Sparrow to be their emblem.
It had been explained to me that this was on account of their gregarious
natures, their love of chattering and their extended families which allowed for
squabbling and reconciliation. Working class kids were always in and out of
each other’s homes, ganging up and, of course, fighting off rivals.
This behavior is seen in Sparrows also, for they are
amongst the most social birds who will, however, relentlessly defend their
nesting sites. Identifying myself with these themes, I happily adopted the
Sparrow as a kindred spirit.
Recently, upon learning of the general decline, and in
many major cities the total disappearance of House Sparrows, most of us in the
UK felt shocked and saddened by
the demise of our once familiar friends. But here at
Yondercott, around our old house in rural Devon, with its ivy clad North wall,
providing ample nesting sites, and duck
and chicken food to pilfer, Sparrows abound.
That is until the Sparrow Hawk takes up residence in
our garden to raise its young. Then ‘our’ Sparrows are temporarily decimated,
only to multiply again, so that by Christmas, they are full throated and
chirping to celebrate their and our annual family reunion.
I have long cherished the desire to carry out a
proving of this noisy little bird, so ubiquitous as to be taken for granted in
our disenchanted modern times, so successfully adapted to our human environment
and so honored in past ages when the significance of totem and symbol was
regarded.
How wonderful that a bird should voluntarily decide to
take up an environmental niche provided by us without being trained for it, as
are hawks and falcons, without being encouraged by providing special sites as
are doves or set bird tables and feeders to entice them, without being
domesticated as are cats and dogs. In fact, “how wonderful” sums up what many
of us feel about this cheeky and chirpy familiar. And how different this is to
our attitude towards other creatures who live amongst us as pests as do rats
and cockroaches. Perhaps our love affair with "a common bird of the
people" is turning sour as we wrestle to climb out of working class
status, aspiring, upwardly mobile, towards being closer to the ruler rather
than the ruled.
In many environments, House Sparrows are becoming an
endangered species.
It is easy to access Sparrow sites on the internet.
Such a search furnishes a plethora of information about culling Sparrows, about
killing the pests.
For that is what they have become in many countries
where they have been inadvertently or foolishly introduced. In the USA and in
NZ for instance,
they have become a threat because they push out
indigenous species.
Passer Domesticus
Proving
themes arranged on the Mappa Mundi
Loving life and loving self
Seeing beauty in nature
Feeling calm and relaxed
Having
a deep spiritual connection with life as a never ending experience
Feeling honored an revered Feeling
bubbly – like a hot spring
Supported, sure footed Loves clothes and colour
Single minded Eyes
>/< Feeling
free and liberated
Feeling clear, not cluttered has an aerial view giggly, fluttering, chattering
Outspoken Head
and neck pain Communicating,
connected
Road
rage Desire
for family/group
Desires
pampering
“As if hot chilly” in stomach Desires
domestic bliss (babies)
Energy in solar plexus
Hunger increased
Gurgling in abdomen Fluttering
sensation
Wanting to be left alone Feeling
disrespected
Feeling excluded – unfaithful Fear for parasites
Jealousy (losing wife to more attractive man) Unfeeling
– killing Fear
of being driven of the road
Desires death
“As if being shot or cut in half”
Desires sleep Mentally
in fog/forgetful
“As if stabbing, stinging”
Lack of vital heat/frozen (mentally)
Dead
end
“Die
Spatzen pfeifen es von den Dächern”
„Mit
Kanone auf Spatzen schießen“