The Story of the Cry of the Phoenix

The beautiful, mystical Phoenix bird is bright orange and red in colour. The Phoenix is the bird of the astrological sign of Scorpio, the sign under which I was born. It is the bird of transformation. In Egyptian mythology it is a bird of gorgeous plumage, sacred to the sun, and is known as the Sun Bird.
The Phoenix is reborn from the ashes of the funeral pyre which it makes for itself when each life span of approximately 500 years is over. At the top of a palm tree the bird’s nest catches fire, ignited by a spark struck by the hooves of celestial steeds drawing the chariot of Ra, the Egyptian Sun God.
Amid the flames the beautiful bird extends its golden neck and purple wings; instead of flying off, it dances. Eventually, the Phoenix is consumed by fire and is reduced to ashes. But this is not the end: a new Phoenix chick arises out of the ashes and spreads its beautiful wings to fly again as the magnificent mystical Phoenix.
The patterns of our lives follow the life and death of the mystical Phoenix. I know that the Phoenix has been here with me; every time I am in trouble or in strife the Phoenix sings to me with its beautiful, melodic, throaty song and sends me its hot tears to help me through my pain. Although I did not know it nor understand, the Phoenix has been with me at all times.

Welcome to Cry of the Phoenix

Cry of the Phoenix is a story of devastating loss and unforeseen accomplishment. In this first-hand account, Colleen O’Connor tells her own story, of a life beset by almost insurmountable challenges and of the strength she found to overcome them.

Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, to an embittered family, Colleen was married by the age of fifteen to a young Navy recruit. Within five years, despite her protests—and without just cause—Colleen’s three children had been apprehended by the court and taken from her.

Cry of the Phoenix tells of Colleen’s self-doubts, her embattled marriage, and her attempt to reunite with her children. At the heart of this story lies an unsuspected secret; its discovery makes reconciliation between Colleen and her family an impossibility.

This story recounts Colleen’s struggle to raise a family, her meeting and friendship with the Premier of British Columbia, and her instatement as a criminal court Justice of the Peace.

“Here I am a Justice,” she says. “I could be as easily standing on the other side of my bench, one of the people I see every weekend . . . I could have been a prostitute or a drug addict quite easily, but here I am sitting in a court room, trying to do my best to help people.”

Colleen O’Connor has managed not only survive but to enrich her life and benefit the life of others. Along the way, it has been the song—the cry—of the phoenix which has given Colleen the will to rise from the ashes of defeat. When all else fails, it has been the phoenix she has counted on to give her strength and hope.