Why pheasants?
Several years ago I was on a quest to find my personal power animals. I found a meditation in James Swann's Nature as Teacher and Healer that turned out to be perfect for me. In the meditation, I was visited by two power animals, one from the right side and one from the left. The right side was to represent, depending on one's interpretation, the masculine, expressive, or external side of oneself. On the right side I was approached by a male ring-necked pheasant. The left side was to represent the feminine, receptive, or internal side of oneself. On the left side I was approached by a white female llama.

The next part of the meditation suggested inviting the two animals to approach one another. This could be viewed as seeing how successfully one's internal and external personalities are integrated.

As I watched, Pheasant and Llama approached one another in front of the enormous twin holly tree in front of me. Llama leaned her neck down to sniff Pheasant, then Pheasant hopped onto her back. As I watched, the two forms became one: a griffin.

What do pheasants mean to me?
Pheasants are beautiful, flamboyant, sexual, territorial birds. The pheasant tribe, Phasianini, contains some of the most visually striking birds in the world, including the common or ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, and the Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus.

At first, I was a bit dismayed with Pheasant. I did not know a lot about ring-necked pheasants, or any other pheasants for that matter, but I thought of them mostly as game birds, quasi-domesticated (as in not very powerful), and, though admired for their beauty, relentlessly pursued and killed for sport. This was not quite what I'd expected in a "power" animal!

As I studied pheasants, however, my understanding broadened. I learned that pheasants, like me, eat seeds and berries. I read that long tails are representative of fertility (literal or figurative) and sexual prowess. I realized the numerous colors of my animal's plumage might have special meaning for me. I found that pheasants are fiercely territorial, to the point of being used as guard animals because they will crow loudly when a trespasser enters their territory. I also learned that male pheasants defend their territory against competition with the sharp spurs on their lower legs.

Where and When?
Since discovering Pheasant, I have incorporated Pheasant energy into many parts of my life. One way Pheasant is always with me is through his image tattooed on my right arm (see photo in The Gallery). I also surround myself with pheasant images at home and at work.

I have pheasant images in almost every room of my house, but my study is devoted to them. The room's focal point is a giant fan a friend brought back from China. The fan depicts a pair of Chinese golden pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus) in a garden in shades of gold, hunter green, and scarlet. On the opposite wall is the Pheasant Gallery, a collection of pheasant images. More pheasants adorn the desk, credenza, and chair.

A few years ago I had the chance to tour a pheasant farm and visit up close with the birds. In addition to ring-necked pheasants, I also met peafowl, Chinese golden pheasants, and a silver pheasant. I even got to see eggs and chicks!