Actually, I am being really unreasonable. However I would like to ask those who have experienced Angel Feathers to....

[DioneTheDiabolist]

...answer a few questions that I have.

1). What does it feel like when you see that feather?

2). What are your thoughts when this happens?

And

3). What would you say are the long term (if any) effects that you would attribute to these encounters.

I understand that this belief has been the subject of some ridicule here. I have no intention of ridiculing anyone. This thread has been inspired by a previous AIBU thread, but is not a thread about a thread. I am not a journalist. I am not seeking results to use in an academic submission or publication. What I am seeking is knowledge and understanding in the hope that I can use it to help others.

IABU for the following reasons:
I only posted in AIBU for the traffic. If MN rule that I have breached guidelines, can it be moved and not deleted.

And I ask the skeptics not to put people off answering honestly. If you think it necessary, I can start another thread for all your thoughts to be discussed. Perhaps the scientifically minded of you could look at this as an information gathering excersise.

It's like that person that has died letting you know they are ok where they are now

They want you to be ok

Like a reassuring message of love

I'm ok and your ok type message

It's like that person that has died letting you know they are ok where they are now

Wouldn't writing a letter be easier? Or a phone call?

Look, this is in AIBU. It's not in a "please don't challenge my beliefs" thread.

The ground is covered in whit feathers. Many birds, pigeons for example, have white under feathers. Go outside now and look. Properly look.In a couple of minutes you will have found a white feather.

Most feather pillows and duvets are stuffed with white feathers. If you have feather bedding, go into a bedroom you haven't hoovered for a while and you will find white feathers.

They are everywhere.

It's absolutely fine to use them as a reminder that there is always hope, or to lift your spirits- they are pretty. And we are programmed to need symbols. As I said, robins make me smile because I remember my mother's pleasure when one joined her in her gardening. But the robins aren't messengers from her or anything like that- they are memory triggers. And, like white feathers, they are symbols. In a world full of white feathers, don't you think angels would use ones that stood out from the rest if they were really messages?

I just dont understand how all these dead people are meant to find the feathers? Do they go pluck them off birds? Which birds? Pigeons? Parrots? With what fingers do they pluck? Do they then just float invisibly down to where ever there is a loved one and drop a feather in their path? Or, are these feathers meant to be plucked from an angel?

I believe in angels as one of the terms of expression used by whatever universal ether connects everything on this planet. Some people call it god, others 'the universe', others call it metaphysics etc

When I see an unexplained or very out of place white feather, it reminds me that we're not alone and makes me smile or feel a little better.

When I see a robin I see it as a specific indication that everything's going to be ok. Eg a few years ago I needed to find somewhere to live in London on very short notice. I had a tiny budget and was very vulnerable. I went to see a house and liked the housemates but there was a question mark over whether I'd get it and all the other housemates were moving out too. I asked my angels to send a sign if everything would be ok and as I left, there was a robin sat on the hedge in the front garden.

I got the room and everything was good.

I think, 'Oh, a feather.' If supernatural beings wish to communicate with us, don't you think they'd just do so rather than using cryptic feathers?

I CBA to RTWholeFT because this kind of stuff makes me cross.

I have no objection whatsoever to people having comfort from inanimate objects or religion. It's an extension of a baby's blankie etc and that's fine and dandy.

What does make me cross is that they don't acknowledge that that's whaat they're doing. Look - this angel feather thing is horseshit. There are no angels and no angel feathers.

If someone wants to have comfort when they see a feather that's fine - just do it but don't ascribe that feather to some woo woo source and then expect others to think they are not as stupid as mud. It gives me the rage when I am expected to be tolerant of stupidity.

It also makes me sad because people should just own up to being sad or needing comfort without wrapping that up in woo.

Maybe the OP as a counsellor could help you delve into why it makes you feel "so cross" letsface bit of an OTT a reaction to others personal belief systems

Seriously? Seriously, there are people who actually believe this stuff?

It's not like white feathers don't actually exist is it and that birds don't moult a few on occasions. Now if they were covered in 18 carat gold...

Thanks Rockin best laugh of the MN morning so far

"When I see an unexplained or very out of place white feather, it reminds me that we're not alone and makes me smile or feel a little better. "

Good. But there is no such thing as an unexplained or out of place white feather. Except in a hermetically sealed clinically cleaned room, I suppose.

Falling white feathers make me very angry.

Because it means those goddam cockatoos are chewing my aerial again.

Sorry, my comment above was a result of never having heard of this before and total astonishment.

I could never believe that these are actual real angels feathers, but if the appearance of a white feather gives others comfort, then who am I to judge. I'm a Christian and I'm quite aware that a majority of people think that is just as deluded a belief system as angel feathers.

"White feathers are a sign that we are not alone."

I agree. They are inconvertible proof that we share this planet with...

Birds.

People do believe in it - I think Gloria Hunniford has talked about her belief in angels and particularly after the death of her daughter.

Dione- what does your supervisor say about white feathers?

Do believers of this silliness think that these white feathers literally come off angels' wings or that angels pluck birds to put their feathers in the paths of the sad & needy?

I agree. They are inconvertible proof that we share this planet with...

Birds.

Dinosaurs.

My face has done nearly all the yellow emoticons while I read this thread.

Morloth!

I don't understand why people get so angry about other's beliefs. Are the posters here that seem so cross also angry about Christianity? Hinduism? They are all belief systems. Are all these people who have a religion also being ''stupid''?

I'm not religious, but i don't think beliefs are stupid. Some people believe in faeries. Some folk believe in angels. Some folk believe in the devil. Some folk believe there is a heaven. Some folk believe we live our lives over and over again until we attain perfection/nirvana.

I can understand anger at lives lost in the name of religion.

The first time i heard of the white feather thing was when i read Goodbye Dearest Holly, by Kevin Wells. It chronicled the time of the murder of his daughter and her friend Jessica, and some of the time afterwards. I remember he found white feathers at difficult times - and found them a comfort. If pushed hard enough he may well admit it was unlikely to be a real angel feather from his daughter. But why would you feel anything but pleased to see someone finding comfort in anything as innocent as this in their lives?

Before my Dad died 5 years ago I was a total sceptic. However, in the days that followed his death I kept seeing white feathers in random places, even on the doorstep of the funeral directors. It led me to explore my spiritual beliefs and while I don't believe in God, I now believe in a spiritual afterlife. I started going to a spiritualist church where they have mediums attend the services and I have since received messages from my Dad (things were said that had no meaning to anyone except me and my Dad).

The "angel feathers" were the start of things that have led me to achieve peace and acceptance of the hardest and saddest part of my life.

I understand others not getting the concept and finding it ridiculous as I used to think the same, But I now enjoy a happy existence and don't fear death.

Thank you all for your contributions. I am back only briefly because I have just realised that I will not have a much time this evening as I thought.

Cote your question regarding the belief in the origins of the feathers is an interesting one. However, I am not so much interested in this as I did not want this thread to descend into a belief bunfight. Rather I wanted to know more about the role they play in helping the bereaved process their grief.

Curlew, my time with my supervisor is limited and expensive. Therefore our sessions focus wholly on efficacy, ethics and difficulties in my practice with my clients. I would like to ask you and others who have responded: when you see a robin, feather etc. how long does that feel good effect last? Is it momentary or does it impact the rest of your day.

Rockinhippy, that's a whole other thread.

I find white feathers all the time, several times a day. It drives me crackers because they get everywhere. My couch is stuffed with them so I'm always finding them. I usually think "Oh FFS not another one". I don't believe in angels. HTH.

"Rather I wanted to know more about the role they play in helping the bereaved process their grief."

I think you indulge them. Let them believe what they want. If people see robins or cherubs or mating ladybirds as a significant sign for something, you let them run with it. I am sure it brings them a lot of comfort.

I can be quite woo. My sister is as woo as they come. She is so woo that even I think she borders on psychotic some times, but there you go. She sees past events, in flashes when she comes to places where something dramatic has happened, and when asking around, we get stories about this that and the other that has happened. She has had dead people come to her with messages for their sons/daughters, and even if it seems like nonsense to her, it makes perfect sense to the recipient. I believe a lot is true, from having known her and her experiences all my life, but even I draw my line at feathers from angels. There are some aspects of Woo that even the woo themselves will just sigh in exasperation. But as a counselor, I think you need to stick to "that must bring you so much comfort" and keep an eye out for any other "ideas" that could be an indication of a deeper mental health problem.