Note:
In Japanese, a “prayer of ancestors” is most commonly referred to as “Obon” (お盆), which is a festival where people honor the spirits of their deceased family members; it is a combination of ancient Japanese beliefs and Buddhist customs to venerate ancestral spirits.
Insufflate: pronunciation (IN-suh-flayt, in-SUHF-layt)
Meaning: verb transitive
1. To blow or breathe into.
2. To bless by breathing or blowing on baptismal water or a person.
Of course, being wrong could be an inestimable loss. Avoiding mistakes could cost even more than we foresee. European Robins of Scandinavia sacrifice their lives in both instances—if they fail to estimate the arrival and severity of the Nordic winter on time, or do not risk flying without a precise map on their maiden trip to a warmer climate. Which prayers guide it in forecasting winter without the Doppler radar or a weather satellite? Where does the certainty come from when it decides the flight path? All we see is that its days are full of chirps and hymns. While it is utterly oblivious to the dangers ahead, it flies to safety.
Choosing sufficiently pivots our expectations, actions, and whether or not we can even reach where we hope to go. Our decisions and commitment to plans also mean taking full responsibility—good or bad—for the results. Is Robin educated in this philosophy? They are primarily sedentary and stay in the same area year-round, west and south of their range. Some migrate southward during the harsh winter, particularly those in Scandinavia and Russia. They prepare with diligence well ahead of time, with additional fat and nutrition for their extraordinarily long-distance flight, especially the solo, maiden one. This formidable journey takes off when Robin feels strong and healthy, anchored in stoic and resolute confidence. Its main arsenal is an internal biological magnetic compass that senses Earth’s magnetic field during migratory navigation. How it does so is a field of advanced scientific research. The contemporary hypothesis suggests that a quantum mechanism involving a light-sensitive protein called cryptochrome enables this scarce ability in their eyes. Miraculously, with sound reasoning, it decides the correct angle to take off and estimates the flight path from its safe nesting.
A tiny creature lives only a few years in constant chaos and unpredictability. Yet it is inundated with unseen ancestors to insufflate blessings in its existence—a gift for humbling clarity about its days and activities. Its moments are filled with preparation to avoid winter, devoid of procrastination in search of food and shelter, and above all, songs to praise the short life it is endowed with.