Tale of Colibri
The philosophy of our practice draws inspiration from the story of the Colibri, a humble hummingbird, as shared by Pierre Rabhi, a French philosopher passionate about interconnectedness.
​
The story begins in a vibrant forest. One fateful day, however, disaster strikes. The forest is engulfed by a raging fire. Everything the animals have known, loved, and called home is threatened with destruction. The landscape transforms from familiar to unrecognisable. Amid the chaos, a colibri, the smallest of all birds, emerges. It flits back and forth tirelessly. In its delicate beak, it carries drops of water gathered from a nearby stream. Flying into the inferno, the colibri releases each precious drop onto the fire.​
The other animals watch in disbelief, overwhelmed by grief and helplessness. Finally, one of them calls out: “What do you think you’re doing, little bird? How can your tiny drops of water make a difference against a fire so vast?”​
​
The colibri pauses mid-flight and responds simply yet profoundly: “I am doing my part.”​
In our practice, we honour the colibri's wisdom.
This simple story carries a timeless and universal message about facing the unfaceable. When grief engulfs us, when we have lost someone or something irreplaceable, the pain can feel as overwhelming as that fire. We may feel small, powerless, paralysed by the enormity of what we can never restore.
​
Yet the colibri teaches us something profound: healing happens in small drops. It reminds us of the power of small, intentional actions, even when the loss feels insurmountable.
One moment of presence with our pain.
One shared memory honoured.
One morning, we choose to rise again.
These modest contributions to our own healing may seem insignificant against the vastness of grief, yet each one matters.
​
The colibri symbolises healing through its resilience, its lightness, and its ability to seek sweetness even in the most challenging circumstances. It speaks to the courage of taking responsibility for our own journey through loss, however modest our steps may seem, trusting that these small acts create ripple effects we cannot yet see.
​
At Colibri Counselling and Psychotherapy, we honour both the individual and collective aspects of healing from grief and loss. Personal healing begins with a single decision, a conversation, a moment of vulnerability, a commitment to carry what remains forward. We cannot undo loss, but we can do our part. By embracing these small, intentional moments, we discover the strength not to erase our pain, but to transform our relationship with it, to honour what we've lost, and to move forward with meaning and purpose.
We acknowledge the remarkable fauna of Australia, including the diverse honeyeater family, such as the Eastern Spinebill. Its delicate beauty, purposeful presence, and ability to hover while feeding on nectar play a vital role in pollination and the harmony of nature, much like the Colibri of the Americas.
