The Sacred Bird of Mars by Kevin Wikse

 

Update 08/05/2023

I revisited my original 03/28/2011 post HERE about the sacred bird of Mars and found that I still fully agree with my initial writing. I revised my work to reflect the passage of time and re-present it to you below. 

Revised 03/28/2011 Post

Would you believe the Woodpecker is sacred to Mars? What about this bird could be comparable to this mystery of God? Mars is a deity of aggression and war, fucking and fighting. However, long before Mars expertly wielded iron and steel, he was a fierce deity of the wildlands, vitality, and masculinity. 

Mars is seen in the will to fight and survive in a seedling struggling to break free from the frozen ground and drink deeply of the golden ale of the Sun's rays. Mars is the sweeping and caustic change that destruction brings by violence, be it direct like the act of war or indirectly, such as the growth and making room for industry. More than those, Mars is a persistent force, forever "pecking" away, the continual wear and tear, the measured breakdown which goes unnoticed over long durations of time.

We see the lighting of Mars strike down the strong Oak, and we marvel at the force behind that wicked line of energy; however, the tree did not fall to one mighty stroke alone, no not one fell swoop, but a combination of the forces of destruction, one too weaken it and another to finally break it.

The Woodpecker lives by repeatedly driving its spear-like beak through the bark; it must overcome and puncture blockages and obstacles to get to its food. The insects underneath wear the tree's bark like an enemy wears armor. The Woodpecker is and must be persistent. Its work is hard and goes mostly unnoticed. One peck, one chip, one thrust at a time, again and again. A force of nature, slight rips and tears in the fabric of reality that add up over time.

To fell a great Oak, wear a mighty warrior down, pierce armor, or complete a grand task requires constant application of force and directed will. All things can be accomplished; taking the time and sustaining the effort is all that is necessary. 

In your training, you are like the Woodpecker. Any goal shall eventually be met. To that, there is no question. Why is there no question? Because If you keep pecking away at it, forcefully sustain your directed will, and apply it again, the great distance between you and your desires shortens daily. The barrier between you and your dreams is broken down a little every day, bit by bit, piece by piece. Like the Woodpecker at its task, working to get his meal, enjoying his rewards, and then one day, the entire forest echoes with the deafening and sudden crack of the Oak. Signaling the Woodpecker has done its damage; now it's time to start the process anew. 

Like the Woodpecker, only some will notice your work. Most will only see the brilliant flash of lighting when you achieve what, to them, seems impossible. Few will understand your accomplishment is built on a foundation of superhuman work capacity floating on an ocean of sweat and tears. The majority population can only see the clearly defined "big" picture. They have almost no perception of the "small." They can see the beach but cannot comprehend its comprised of trillions of grains of sand. 

They see the Oak laid out but not the millions of needle-like pricks that dissolved and eroded its integrity. 

Determination, persistence, sustained effort, and continual application of directed force and will are keys to success. These attributes are the Woodpecker's teachings and the true nature and mystery of God, which is  Mars. 

-Kevin Wikse

Circus of Mars