Hummingbird Tepi

A beautiful hand carved tepi applicator for hapé -  hummingbird design. 

Hummingbirds embody lightness, perseverance, and the ability to transform challenges into opportunities for growth.

Spiritual significance of the hummingbird…

In indigenous shamanic cultures, hummingbirds are revered for their spiritual significance, symbolizing joy, resilience, and the pursuit of lightness in life. Their ability to hover, move swiftly, and travel vast distances despite their small size reflects the power of endurance, adaptability, and achieving the impossible.

1. Messenger of Joy and Love

Hummingbirds are often seen as messengers of love, beauty, and joy, bringing positivity to those who encounter them. In Native American cultures, particularly among the Hopi and Navajo, they are believed to carry prayers to the heavens and bring blessings of abundance and harmony. Their vibrant colors and constant movement evoke happiness and playfulness, inspiring humans to seek joy in the present moment.

2. Resilience and Endurance

Despite their delicate appearance, hummingbirds demonstrate remarkable resilience. In the Andes and Amazon, the hummingbird symbolizes strength and determination, often flying over vast landscapes, including harsh conditions, to reach their destination. This reflects the shamanic belief in perseverance through difficult spiritual journeys or life transitions. The hummingbird teaches that even the smallest and seemingly fragile beings can overcome great obstacles.

3. Connection to the Spiritual Realm

In some shamanic traditions, hummingbirds are seen as spirit guides or totems that offer wisdom and protection. They represent the ability to navigate between worlds—the physical and spiritual—much like shamans do in their healing and transformative practices. Their constant motion and rapid flight symbolize the search for higher wisdom and the pursuit of spiritual insight.

4. Symbol of Transformation

Hummingbirds’ ability to find nectar in the harshest environments connects them to the themes of hope, renewal, and transformation. They remind us to focus on the sweetness of life, even in challenging times, and to approach life’s changes with grace and adaptability.