Is there an animal that seems to show up at certain times in your life? Or one, that when you feel your worst, you see and it brings a calm with it? Almost a “hey you’re on the right path…it will all be ok?”
It was as a senior in high school in Arizona that I began to notice that a specific animal was continually crossing my path. He sat on this one lamp post on my route to school. He first appeared after my stepdad Sonny passed away, and he’s been with me ever since (little did I know the journey of change and transformation I was about to embark on.) I’d see my buddy at least once a week, sometimes more.
It was a Hawk.
At that point, I learned the name for what the Hawk is to me. He is my totem. They are also sometimes called spirit animals. Totems are usually animals, but they can be natural objects. Each totem has lessons and messages it brings with them.
A gorgeous, majestic creature. Hawks are all about spiritual awakening. About taking a leadership role when it’s time and knowing when to fly higher. They are about having the ability to see situations from a higher perspective, using intuition and following your inner voice.
For me, Hawks have also taught me that it’s sometimes better to rise above and that it’s necessary to rely on yourself first and foremost. I am the only one who can create my future and decide which path to travel along. Hawks have taught me that it’s ok at times to be alone and to enjoy my own company. I’ve learned that if you’re not comfortable with yourself and in your own skin, then it is harder to build lasting, meaningful relationships with others. Each time I see a Hawk I look to see if it’s trying to teach me or show me something new.
I’ve had them swoop across my path when walking and running. I’ve had a couple fly right in front of my windshield as I was driving. Lately, I’ve seen them almost daily. Yesterday, as of this writing, I saw two Hawks. I saw the first one as I was beginning my run (my way of grounding myself). I looked up, and there he was gracefully sweeping across the sky with a snake in his talons. I’ve seen him feed numerous times before which my neighbor informed me is not a normal occurrence to see. Once, I accidentally scared a squirrel out of its talons that he’d caught for dinner. The second time I saw him yesterday was in my backyard. We have a beautiful large maple. I was talking to my neighbor when he said “Oh wow! The Hawk is in your tree.” I turned around and there he was big, beautiful with deep shades of brown and white markings. The Hawk and I looked at each other almost as if acknowledging each other. Then he turned and swooped away. Each of these times I learned a new lesson from seeing him. The first time when he was feeding was that it is ok and that I should go after what I want. The second time I learned that it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and to be at one with nature, taking everything in.
Just the other night I had dreams filled with Hawks. I am clearly heading for a significant change, and my totem is trying to tell me that now is the time to really be aware. To be ready for new heights and to take the time to listen to my intuition.
The Hawk has become a comfort to me. When I see one, I know things are changing for the better and that I’m heading for a new chapter and another transformation. I know I’m protected through the change – that it will all be ok.
Even if an animal, that is not your totem, crosses your path, google its meaning and see what it may be trying to tell you. All animals have meanings – each and every one of them. You may be amazed at what the meaning opens your eyes concerning lessons and things you may not be seeing in situations you are dealing with. For example, in the last couple days, I’ve had a raccoon cross my path in broad daylight and then during my walk with my pup Mystic we saw two gorgeous red-headed woodpeckers. The first thing I did when I got home in both situations was to look up the meanings and man did they fit as to what was going on in my life.
Let me know in the comments what you believe your totem to be? OR If you’ve ever had an animal cross your path and the meaning behind it was right on?
Now when you next see an animal cross your path, I hope you will be sure to look for the meaning or lessons.
