Neither Here, Nor There: Life Between Two Worlds

Yesterday my husband Ron and I were driving a stretch of highway that crossed the Pecos River taking in a stunning view of New Mexico’s landscape. 

As quickly as it came, it was gone.

Out of nowhere a large white majestic heron flew across our windshield.  As I tightly clutched the steering wheel my first thought was, “Oh No, this bird is going to die”. Then just as quickly as it blocked my view for a moment, it was gone. I felt a little stunned and then overwhelmed with emotion and started to cry. What just happened?

In-between worlds

Three days ago, Ron’s 93 year-old mom tested positive for COVID. Her health declining this year, and now this feels to be the final straw. She is in a place of in-between worlds as now she sleeps most of the time. We were just talking about her before the heron came across our path.

A heron’s symbolism, what does seeing a heron mean? Are animals our messengers?

Arriving home, I looked up the symbolism of a heron. This explanation hit home;

The meaning of the heron deals with being comfortable in spaces that are neither here, nor there. It prefers hunting at twilight, which is a symbolic and magical time of ‘in-between’. The heron will have one foot on land, and one foot in the water – this action has been recognized by ancient cultures as a sign of liminality –

crossing into the a space that is neither here, nor there.