A few days ago I was visited by not one, but two eagles. They came in the morning and spent the entire day with me, just outside my office window at our home in northwestern Montana. Throughout the day they traded places, but one of them was always perched in my favorite tree, looking right down on my office.
I talked with friends who’ve lived in this area for some time, as well as friends on-line from around the world. Regardless of their individual spiritual or religious tradition, they all strongly suggested I “pay attention” as the eagle in Native American tradition, is often a messenger from God.
I was busy and didn’t think too much about it- until it happened again the next day. Yesterday they were back. I captured the female in a video yesterday, in the middle of a snow storm. And this time, I paid attention.
Years ago when I first lived in Montana, I was gifted Medicine Cards: Th
e Discovery of Power Through the Ways of Animals. This is a book and a deck of cards, to assist us in going within to that sacred part of ourselves. After the second, “coincidental”, rare visit from the eagles, I found the book and looked up Eagle Medicine.
Summarizing the highlights from the book, “Eagle medicine is the power of the Great Spirit, the connection to the Divine. It is the ability to live in the realm of spirit, and yet remain connected and balanced within the realm of Earth. Eagle soars and is quick to observe expansiveness within the overall pattern of life.
Within the belief systems of Native American tribes, Eagle represents a state of grace achieved through hard work, understanding and a completion of the test of initiation which result in the taking of one’s personal power.
Eagle is reminding you to take h
eart and gather your courage, for the universe is presenting you with an opportunity to soar above the mundane levels of your life. Eagle teaches you to broaden your sense of self beyond the horizon of what is presently visible.
Eagle teaches you to look higher and to touch Grandfather Sun with your heart, to love the shadow as well as the light. See the beauty in both and you will take flight like the Eagle.
Eagle asks you to give yourself permission to legalize freedom and to follow the joy your heart desires.”
Wow. I sat down and read this early this morning, looking for the meaning behind the symbolism. If this is as rare as folks tell me it is, I want to understand the “why” behind the experience.
And just as I was going deep within, I realized that the eagle wasn’t here today. At the same time I realized this, I gazed out across the lake. The sun broke through from a previously cloudy day and sunbeams danced across the water. If was if someone flipped on a light switch- both on the inside and the outside of my world. Perhaps the work of the eagles in my neighborhood is done- for now anyway. But knowing myself, I’m sure I’ll need another reminder soon again.
I’m now looking at my life and preparing for that opportunity to soar above the mundane levels of my life. (And that has to be pretty high, because mundane is not a word that most would use to describe my life.) However, I’m here and I’m open to the possibilities of even greater things to come. I’m also taking the time to look at the shadow side, embrace it and find those places where I’m not following the joy my heart’s desires.
It’s a reflective time but a very special one as well. I’m feeling connected to everything around me, in such a profound way and I am grateful. Not only for the physical beauty of this area and for the gift of the eagle medicine, but also for the overwhelming feeling inside that no matter what it may look like, all is perfect in the world.
Thanks for sharing this “eagle” wisdom. It’s worth book marking for future reference. We should always be aware, with our eyes open, to the symbolism that we are exposed to, wherever it comes from; whether through dreams, our imagination, or a surprise visit or visual we have that is unexpected. We can learn so much from what is around us and clue into our place in the world.
Thanks again for sharing.
Have a refreshing evening,
Dawn Herring
JournalWriter Freelance
Be Refreshed!
How wonderful and beautiful that you were able to experience this beautiful vision and then to have the awareness to review why.
I have a few books from Ted Andrews and review them whenever the animal spirit appears in my life – whether in person or in the dream world. Here are a few things that are “speaking to me” from his book “Animal Speak” when I glanced through this section:
“Illumination of Spirit, Healing and Creation”
…Both the bald (feminine) and golden (masculine) eagle have come to symbolize heroic nobility and divine spirit. These eagles are the messengers from heaven and are the embodiment of the spirit to the sun.
They are also symbols of the rediscovery of the inner child. There once was a belief that as old age approached, the eagle’s eye would grow dim and the eagle would then fly so near the sun it would become scored. It would then seek out a pure water source and dip itself three times into the clear water and its would be destroyed.
This reflects much from a mystical point of view. It hints of resurrection, but it also hints of alchemy. The fire of the sun and the clear water are opposite elements brought into harmony in a manner that elicits a change. It reflects several needs for those with an eagle totem:
1) There must be involvement with creativity. Three is the number of new birth and creativity.
2) A willingness to experience extremes in a controlled condition and thus facilitate the alchemical process within your life.
3) A willingness to use your passions to purify (flying into the sun) and to use your abilities even if it means being scorched a little.
4) A willingness to seek out the true emotional aspects of oneself and immerse yourself within them, and by doing so rediscover the lost child and awaken a higher sense of purity, passion, creativity, healing and spirituality.
…
To align oneself with eagle medicine is to take on the responsibility and the power of becoming so much more than you now appear to be. From a karmic aspect, it reflects that the events will now fly faster, and the repercussions for everything you think, do or say (or fail to think, do or say) – positive and negative – will be both stronger and quicker. To accept the eagle as a totem is to accept a powerful new dimension to life, and a heightened responsibility for your spiritual growth. But only through doing so do you learn how to move between worlds, touch all life with healing, and become the mediator and the bearer of new creative force within the world.
…
Not sure what I am retyping, feeling compelled to… Sending blessings your way!
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Years ago a bald eagle came to be, on a normally busy road and to normally surprise,the road was so empty and at 5 pm.
eagle came to me again only this time in dream ,at first,I thought” is it a hawk”? It was golden reminder me of a red tail. Just then thus beautiful creature turned its head and showed me a bald eagle head to confirm my thoughts. Still trying to sore to new heights, this is my first step to achieve my goal.