Macaw as Ancestral Medicine

A Journey of Freedom, Roots of Ancestry and Spirit

It was an extraordinary and unexpected encounter—seeing a Scarlet Macaw flying freely in a London park. This wasn’t just any park, but one of the Royal Parks, renowned for its emphasis on wildlife conservation. Yet, spotting this magnificent bird in the United Kingdom felt almost surreal. The vivid colours of its plumage, the sheer grace of its flight, and then—out of the blue—it landed on me! My initial shock and confusion quickly gave way to sheer delight, as captured in the photos below. What began as a routine stroll in nature became an unforgettable moment, one that intertwined the present with profound echoes of my ancestry and spirit.

This wasn’t my first encounter with the spirit of the Scarlet Macaw. That relationship began years ago, during my early teens, when I first met the bird’s energy in an entirely different context. My best friend had invited me to her aunt’s home, a small flat brimming with exotic animals—chinchillas, insects, and birds. Amidst them, in a cage that seemed far too small for her grandeur, was a Scarlet Macaw. Her radiant beauty was undeniable, but my heart broke to see her confined, unable to spread her wings or experience the freedom her spirit deserved. Even at that tender age, I felt a deep, unspoken connection to her plight.

Though my friend’s aunt adored her animals, her affection seemed misguided. To her, they were companions, perhaps even a source of solace for loneliness. But was their happiness truly considered? The Macaw, taught to mimic words and phrases—many of them crude—seemed less like a being of majestic spirit and more like an entertainer in a tragic play. I couldn’t laugh at her antics. All I saw was a magnificent soul stripped of

A Mirror to My Own Journey

Looking back, that encounter was a turning point. The caged Macaw became a sacred mirror, reflecting the constraints I would come to face in my own life. At the time, I didn’t realize the profound resonance between her story and mine. Born to a Guyanese mother and a Welsh-British father, I carried a rich, eclectic heritage. Yet, much like the Macaw, my roots felt severed. My mother rarely spoke of her life in Guyana, shaped by civil war and displacement. She had embraced British life, leaving behind the vibrant culture of her homeland.

For years, I felt the tension of these two worlds—my visible “otherness” marked by brown skin, and the pull to assimilate, to blend in. Like the Macaw, I longed to reconnect with the land and spirit of my origins, even as societal forces urged me to hide them.

The Spirit’s Call

Years later, my journey deepened as I stepped onto the shamanic path. Through soul initiations and spirit journeys, the Scarlet Macaw reappeared, this time accompanied by ancestral guides. Among them were symbols of my heritage: the jaguar, a figure prominent on Guyana’s coat of arms, and the Macaw, embodying the vibrant heart of South America. I met the spirits of grandmothers and grandfathers who carried the wisdom of my lineage. They prepared me with sacred rituals—cleansing with plants, waters, and ancient songs—and assured me a feather from the Macaw would find its way to me.

I dismissed the idea as improbable. Yet, in the spiritual realm, nothing is impossible. The Macaw appeared not only in my dreams but also in waking life. One vivid vision showed her wings sprouting from my back, symbolizing liberation and transformation.

An Unexpected Encounter

The synchronicity culminated during a walk in Richmond Park with a dear friend. It was an ordinary day of laughter and connection, but as we approached the park’s exit, a brilliant red bird descended onto my head. A Scarlet Macaw! I stood stunned as it preened my hair, an act that felt deeply symbolic.

Sura and SoulBird

In shamanic traditions, hair often represents ancestral memory, each strand a thread connecting us to those who came before. Her gesture seemed to cleanse and honour these threads—a continuation of the healing I had been doing with my maternal lineage.

This surreal moment reminded me that magic is not confined to dreams. It exists in the waking world, waiting for us to notice it.

A Bittersweet Revelation

Months later, I learned of a Scarlet Macaw named Sura who had been stolen from the park. I realised immediately that this was the very same macaw that landed on me in the park. A man, perhaps misguided in his intentions, had taken her. Released into the wild overnight, Sura faced predators she could not escape. Locals searched for her, but it was a dream that led me to her remains—small feathers scattered on the ground, a sign of her struggle.

Among the feathers, I found one intact: a brilliant reminder of her spirit. As I held it, I felt her presence, free at last, soaring to warmer lands. Her journey, though tragic, held profound lessons for me about freedom and the resilience of spirit.

The Medicine of Ancestry

Sura’s Feather

Sura’s feather became a sacred tool in my shamanic work, a tangible connection to the medicine of my ancestors. It reminded me of the importance of embracing all aspects of my heritage—the Guyanese and the British, the dark and the light. This journey has been one of integration, healing, and honouring those who came before me.

Through Sura and the Scarlet Macaw, I have learned that our roots are not merely history. They are living, breathing parts of us, calling us to remember, heal, and transform. One day, we too will be ancestors. What stories of medicine, freedom, and transformation will we leave for those who come after?

For me, the gift of freedom has been the greatest legacy, carried on the wings of the Scarlet Macaw.

This Shamanic Medicine Painting is in honour of this experience and I have named her ‘Spirit of the Amazon – Sura Scarlet Macaw’.

You can find her as a fine art print in my Etsy Shop.