Sarimanok
Meet my good friend, the Sarimanok—legendary bird of the Maranao people.
Note: Don’t take my experience as a standard. Each encounter with a spirit/entity/being will be unique to each person.
The Sarimanok (which translates to “bird/chicken of assorted colors”) was among the first spirits that popped in to greet me when I first started exploring consciousness expansion, and the very first from Pre-Spanish Philippine belief systems.
This pose I drew him in is from our 2nd encounter. I was minding my own in a meditation when he just popped in like this within the white space and asked, “Wanna go somewhere?”
The first meeting with him was very special. He first showed up as a regular chicken, just eyeing me closely, silently observing. Eventually, he revisits me in the meditation and tells me a little about my past lives. “I can take you to your bridge,” he says, referring to the legendary Rainbow Bridge. He suddenly grew larger and more colorful, sweeping me off my feet to ride on his back. Along with my power animal, we swiftly take off.
He flew me through “space” and instructed me how to energetically activate myself, a method I’ve not heard of before. A road of gardenias then appeared, leading us to the Rainbow Bridge (which looked nothinglike how I expected). As forwarned by my power animal, I didn’t cross the bridge all the way (I wasn’t totally ready yet).
Ever since then, the Sarimanok would eagerly show up to more of my astral journeys. He’s been a very encouraging friend, pushing me beyond my doubt and fear to lead me to new, always profound experiences. He makes my spiritual growth extra adventurous.
The Baybayin writing says “Sarimanok.” The surrounding flowers are gardenias.