T.J. Laverne
author of supernatural historical fiction
What is the Sacred Bird?
So, what exactly is a sacred bird? Simply put, it’s a symbol of reincarnation.
Many ancient cultures believed in some sort of bird that was sacred to them, but the most famous of these was the phoenix. To ancient Greeks and Egyptians, when the phoenix died it burst into flames and was reborn from its own ashes. Because of this it became symbolic of the cyclic nature of death and rebirth.
For many, this meant reincarnation, but for other cultures it meant renewal of life, resurrection, or life after death in Heaven. It was also associated with the cyclic passage of the sun, of time, or could mark the beginning of a new era, such as the beginning of a new king’s reign.
Whether or not they believe in a sacred bird like the phoenix, many, many cultures throughout time have believed in the concept of reincarnation, if not those belonging to Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. All major Indian religions believe that reincarnation is an endless cycle called Saṃsāra, but that one can break the cycle and be liberated through spiritual enlightenment, called Nirvana.
At the risk of giving away too much, there are many sacred birds in the Puddle Jumper Trilogy.