The White Feather
Walking on Nantasket Beach in my hometown peninsula of Hull, Massachusetts, makes me think of my brother Jim. Jim lived in Hull for most of his childhood and all of his adult life. He was an ardent weather enthusiast and a respected member of the local weather community who frequently took photographs at the beach, some of which were published. Later this month is the anniversary of his unexpected death in 2001, and The Blue Hill Observatory, where Jim was a volunteer, will be hosting the 4th annual Jim Redman memorial picnic (part of the reason I’m in Hull right now). After his death, the Observatory erected a flag with an inscribed dedication in Jim’s memory.
My brother Jim’s life and death were intimately intertwined with my brother Dan’s, who died a month after Jim did. This is the time of year that my family and I relive our heartbreak, and I find myself remembering a certain white feather…
Below is an excerpt from “The Jim and Dan Stories,” the book I wrote about losing my brothers.
It was a perfect white feather that must have just fallen, but it seemed to have been placed in my path just for me. I was walking on the beach in Hull, the beach that Jimmy so often took storm photographs of, trying to gather my strength for his funeral and thinking of the eulogy I was to give. I found myself picking up that feather to save in my pocket and then later putting it with Jim’s body when I said my last goodbye. For me, it represented other-world, freedom, and purity.
Weeks later, we were facing the worst with Dan in the hospital, an unlikely place for a white feather to show up, but it did. Jeanne, my sister-in-law, pulled it out of her pocketbook (not knowing about the white feather I left with Jim’s body), saying her daughter had given it to her. We called ourselves “the three ministering Mary’s,” Jeanne, my sister Kathy, and myself, tending Danny at his death bed, the way Mary Magdalene, Mother Mary, and her cousin did for Jesus. That was when it occurred to me that death faced willingly, and especially after suffering, was a sort of sacrifice and generator of grace. And didn’t Danny say “I’m all right” the first chance he got when the breathing tubes came off, the way Jesus said “forgive them, Father,” comforting us when he was dying? continued…
We anointed him with “three Wise Men Oil” that my sister Kathy, an aroma-therapist, had brought. We placed the white feather on his pillow next to the pin of Mother Mary that an anonymous late night visitor had left there. …When I find myself in times of trouble…Mother Mary comes to me…speaking words of wisdom…Let it be. The nurse removed the breathing tubes when Dan signaled he was ready, like taking Jesus down from the cross he was nailed to. After he died, I placed the feather safely in my journal to keep in remembrance of his passing, but later, when I went to retrieve it, it was gone.
Family friends arranged for a funeral reception at the Hull Yacht club, which was stone’s throw away from where the house we all grew up in used to be. My husband, Joe, took a picture of Jeanne, Kathy, and me at the bandstand gazebo on the lawn. On the way over to the bandstand Jeanne picked up a white feather and gave it to me.
“You better take good care of this one,” Joe said.
“No, this one can go where ever it wants to,” I answered.
After holding it awhile, I passed it back to Jeanne who wore it as an earring.
Weeks later, when that picture was developed, I was shocked to read above our heads in bold letter “DAN S MEMORIAL.” My Massachusetts sisters and mom drove down to the yacht club to take a second look. It actually said “DAN SHORT’S MEMORIAL BANDSTAND,” but in our picture some of the words were cut off.
July 9th, 2005 11:16 am
I am sorry for your sadness, and I’m glad you can find places of perspective to view these events. You have a gift for seeing lifes synchronicities, seeing that this is a tapestry and not a series of disconnected events, and I hope that brings you comfort in times of need.
This is a beautifully written post, and I think you for it.
michele sent me…
July 9th, 2005 5:22 pm
Hi, Michele sent me, though I’ve been before on my own and found your story very moving.
Do you know of the legend that angels leave feathers for people, in memory of their visits? Whenever I find a white feather, I wonder which of my angels was passing through.
July 9th, 2005 5:37 pm
How beautiful and moving. I am so sorry for your sorrow, and yet, so gratified and heartened by the sense you have brought to your losses, and the courage and bravery you show..
Minerva
Michele sent me…
July 11th, 2005 5:51 am
Very poignant post. I lost my Dad this past November. Made me want to write about it. I thought I had said it all in his eulogy. Sorry for your loss.
July 11th, 2005 3:36 pm
I cut all my hair off again, Colleen. Today I found two four leaf clovers. And check out the poem I wrote on my livejournal.
Reliving death is always hard, but better, I hope, than not being with the memories.
I miss you.
~Mara
January 8th, 2008 3:34 pm
The lines above from the Beattle song ‘Let it be’ mention
‘Mothe Mary’. Have listened to the song countless times and
always thought the ‘Mother Mary’ in the song was the mother of
Jesus. a few weeks ago while readying an article about the
beattles it was mentioned by Paul McCartney the reference in the
song was to his mother who was named Mary. which ever it was,
the song is among my best loved.
jfrancishill
flinttexas
January 21st, 2008 12:28 am
In 2005 2006 and 2007
June, November & April
My nephew, my sister, and my soul mate
Right after each one of them passed away I found a white feather and I have them placed in my curio under their picture..I truly believe they came from their angels and I will cherish them forever.
February 2nd, 2008 12:33 pm
My twin sister died very suddely in Jan and when I was getting ready to fly down to arrange things i was in the bedroom when a white feather fell to my feet.when we where down in dorset
my son had just put on his jumber and sat down when a white feather came and settled on his arm. I feel this is my twin letting me know that she is fine.
February 2nd, 2008 4:13 pm
Seems like the white feather is a universal message from loved ones beyond. Peace.
March 1st, 2008 4:41 am
Having done lots of soul searching about my dad and why he left me like he did and never said he loved me – Having been taking therapy from an excellent intuititve healer – She advised on a book which I purchased and working through it – In that book i wrote a private letter to my dad to say why did he never say he loved me – and if he could please please please come back to et me know he does and know that he is happy with what I h doign for my mums care. Last night at the therapy session we were just chatting and laughing – then the therapist said your dad is with you – on my knee black trousers – so it was sure not there before I went in was a white feather. Last night I reflected on the letter I wrote and am so sure it was from him ???
xxx
March 1st, 2008 9:52 am
That’s an amazing story about the white feather, Linda. Thank you for sharing it. Here is one about a black feather and my own father’s death. http://looseleafnotes.com/notes/2006/06/the_black_feather.html And this is the link to the category archive on my blog, Losing a Loved One, where my writings on death are stored. http://looseleafnotes.com/notes/losing_a_loved_one/
June 24th, 2008 3:24 pm
The 14th February. The day i will remember in my heart for ever. The death of my nan was not a shock, i felt i knew it was coming yet i have never felt so suprised when my sister uttered the words, ‘Its Nan. She is dead’. I come from a big famiy yet we found it hard to get through. I believe it was about three days after the death of my nan when my Mum metioned the white feathers.She said a single white feather is meant to represent a feather of an angel that fell of its wing while it passed through. I though it was a stupid idea, was that going to get my nan back? But then i found one. I felt that my nan had been there and i could feel her around me and that night she was in my dreams. I will never forget that dream.
Your story touched me and reminded you of my nan so much.Thank you.
June 24th, 2008 4:20 pm
Thanks for sharing this. It gave me goosebumps.
July 15th, 2008 5:25 pm
a few days ago when i was feeling quite low , and alone , i asked my guardian angel if it was with and could they give me a sign. today when i opened my front door i found a small white feather on porch step
August 7th, 2008 4:36 am
Four weeks now since my mother’s passing, and my sister has been picking up white feathers and handing them to us all the while. This was a beautiful post. What a sorrow to lose two brothers in such a short time – you needed the comfort of an angel, no doubt.
August 14th, 2008 3:58 pm
My aunt died 9 years ago. The next morning when we were all sitting around the kitchen table, out of nowhere, lying on the table was a large white feather. I thought it was an angel, or symbol from her that she was fine and made it to heaven, but soon dismissed it, just a coincidence. This January my father died, and again a white feather was on my desk the next norning. Coincidence? Maybe.. Then my mother passed on Mother’s day and yes, the next morning when I opened the front door to leave was a white feather on the door mat. Too much for a coincidence I feel. I chose to believe in angels. I only wish I had kept the feathers.
August 14th, 2008 4:38 pm
!!!!! shiver and more goosebumps.
October 4th, 2008 10:14 am
I`m intruiged by the white feather stories,especially as my dad has passed away only a couple of hours ago.my dad has been in a home for the last few months,this morning i recieved a call saying he was having an asthma attack.by the time myself and my sister got there he had passed,we were asked to wait outside as paramedics were still trying there best to save my dad.we went outside the home and sat on a bench.i noticed a white feather on the grass in front,i picked it up and showed my sisters,as i had heard stories of angels leaving them.i don`t care what anyone believes but i`m happy to think angels came for my dad to take him to that big old place in the sky called heaven.
October 4th, 2008 10:36 am
Thanks so much for sharing this. I wish you and your family strength and peace. xo
October 4th, 2008 11:36 am
I loved this (!) and the fact that the comments still keep coming in says that it has touched the hearts of many.
So interesting too, that others have had similar experiences.
December 19th, 2008 9:29 am
My beloved sister died last week and we are all devasted. Both her husband and my sister and I have found a single white feather, his and mine on our car roofs the morning she died, and my sister a few days later in her house. Believe in the power of white feathers! My darling sister obviously got a job lot from a white feather factory! Gemma x
January 6th, 2009 3:56 pm
A few years ago when my now eight year old son was a baby I put his baby walker in the kitchen with some rattles on the tray . After about two minutes I turned back to the walker and there was a lovely white feather sticking out of the rattle which I found a little strange . I have since gone on to have a beautiful little girl who is now five. When they were both small I found it tough and was constantly moaning. My wake up call was I had two extremely near misses in the car in one week .I decided to start enjoying my lovely children and stop moaning I took it as a message from someone up there !
We have just enjoyed the most wonderful Christmas period and a couple of days ago I was slicing a pizza next to my son and a plump white feather just appeared as if from nowhere in front of me can you explain this?
January 15th, 2009 8:46 pm
Hi, my dad died in mid 2008 from a sudden heart attack early in the morning whislt the rest of us were asleep. Between the weeks of my dad’s death and funeral, 2 white feathers appeared.
One to my dad’s sister, she was in her car and one landed on her knee. The second appeared inside the house near my mum.
I don’t really believe in God, heaven and hell, but I am open to the concept of there being “something else”, and possibly a “guardian angel” concept. It would be nice to think that there is.
February 11th, 2009 7:01 am
i love hearing these stories.
i have also heard the same of birds and cobwebs.
as if the person who has passed is letting the family know they are ok.
my father in law passed in 2005 and between his passing and his funeral my sister in law found a bird in her house. they are not sure how it got in.
also my nana passed last tuesday and my sister has found a feather on her car seat.
so nice if it is a sign they are ok and happy xxx
March 13th, 2009 2:52 am
Hi I have also had a white feather experience. My three year old son and father in law passed away Nov 29 2008 in a car accident. Angelo was an only child and we were devastated by his passing. On a saturday morning a few weeks after his passing a baby size white feather was on my shirt. Later that evening my husband and I went to mass as we were going to communion another white feather was sailing from up above us it floated all the way up to the front of the line of communion. It was truly amazing and comforting.
May 6th, 2009 2:57 pm
Hi I have also had a few white feather experience. I have lost my mum, Dad and brother in the past 5 years. Only on Monday it was my birthday and the night before i asked my late family & my angels to send me a sign to let me know that they are around me. That day while i was out with my son i found a white feather on my trousers. I know that it was not their that morning when i ironed them. I was delighted with my find and i know have it with me at all times. Its so comforting to know our loved ones are still with us.
February 20th, 2013 11:10 pm
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September 14th, 2016 3:34 pm
[…] 4. “We anointed him with “three Wise Men Oil” that my sister Kathy, an aroma-therapist, had brought. We placed the white feather on his pillow next to the pin of Mother Mary that an anonymous late night visitor had left there and sang. …When I find myself in times of trouble / Mother Mary comes to me / speaking words of wisdom / Let it be … The nurse removed the breathing tubes when Dan signaled he was ready, like taking Jesus down from the cross he was nailed to …” – From The Jim and Dan Stories, The White Feather […]
September 22nd, 2016 8:53 am
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