There's something about the sudden flash of red across a quiet yard that makes you pause. A crimson bird lands on a branch or the lawn, its feathers glowing against the green. For many, that moment feels almost magical- as though nature itself is sending a sign.
These are the types of moments Houston Llew seeks to capture - when nature and emotion intersect - when a single image can carry meaning far beyond what we see. Houston captures the essence of this moment in his art and pairs it with a quote he believe bests illuminates the moment. In this instance, his Messenger Spiritile bears the words:
"Your wings were ready, my heart was not."
For many, this Spiritile captures the universal ache of love and loss, and the quite comfort of knowing that connection never truly ends. it's no wonder that the Messenger features a cardinal - a bird long regarded as a symbol of hope and visitation.
A Visitor from Beyond
Across cultures and centuries, the cardinal has been seen as more than just a beautiful bird. It's believed to be a messenger - a symbol of loved ones who have passed on, visiting to remind us they're near.
The roots of this belief are poetic and deeply human. The word cardinal comes from the Latin cardo, meaning hinge or door. Cardinals were seen as “doorways” between heaven and earth — a hinge upon which the spiritual world turns open to touch ours. It’s fitting that these brilliant birds often appear at quiet moments: a funeral, a morning walk, or a day when the heart aches for someone who is gone.
When a cardinal appears, the old saying goes, “angels are near.”
Color of Spirit and Strength
That radiant red plumage also carries meaning. In Christian symbolism, red represents vitality, love, and the living spirit — the same qualities that make the memory of those we’ve lost so powerful. The cardinal’s bold color defies sorrow, a small but potent reminder that love doesn’t fade with time or distance.
For the Cherokee, the cardinal was said to be the faithful messenger of the sun — a bridge between light and life. In other traditions, it symbolizes renewal: the persistence of beauty and warmth even in the cold of winter. A Symbol of What Remains
When artist Houston Llew created Messenger, he captured that intersection of love, loss, and enduring connection. The tile’s inscription — “Your wings were ready, my heart was not” — speaks to what so many of us feel when someone dear takes flight before we’re ready to let go.
The cardinal in Messenger isn’t just a bird; it’s a promise. It reminds us that the bonds of love stretch far beyond what we can see, and that the presence of those we miss most often reveals itself in small, radiant moments — a familiar song, a vivid memory, or the brush of red in the trees.
A Gentle Reminder
When a cardinal crosses your path, take a moment. Breathe. Remember that love often returns to us in unexpected ways — in color, in music, in a small flash of wings. Whether you believe in signs or simply appreciate beauty, the cardinal’s appearance can be a gift- a soft reminder that we are never truly alone. Love, like the bright red bird, finds its way back to us again and again.
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The Story Behind Houston Llew's Messenger Spiritile
