One of my most memorable moments while hiking happened close to home.  I was doing my normal little weekend loop hike at Kennesaw Mountain one day in July.  A beautiful large hawk flew right across the trail in front of me. It almost ran into me!  It landed on this branch less than 10 feet away from me and we stared at each other for a while.  I was totally in awe of this huge, powerful, beautiful bird.   Once I directed my attention back to the trail to start walking, I found its feather on the ground.

Native Americans believe that when a feather falls to the earth, it carries all of the energy of its former attachment on a bird to a living being.  Feathers are perceived as gifts from the sky.  Feathers arrive unexpectedly, but not without purpose.  A feather from a hawk symbolizes guardianship, strength, and far-sightedness.