Crow & The Hawk

HAWK AND CROW PERSONAL STORY

Here is a brief story on how the Hawk and Crow are medicine symbols to me:

I feel even more connected to the earth and the elements. My heart has been opening, my mind descending to my heart center, melting away the barriers that prevent me from accessing my spiritual visions, my intuition, and my creative force. Through a morning ritual of meditation, contemplation on the four sacred directions, the four generators of life, and my ancestors, I've been strengthening that connection to my true self, to God/Creator, the Great Mystery—all one and the same. This practice has opened me to a greater awareness of synchronicities.

I have a deep connection with the crow, a connection that began on a hike to Tungva Peak. On each climb, I offered prayers to the land, the ancestors of that land, and the animals who called it home. With each hike, new details emerged: a previously unseen sagebrush, a fallen feather, a sunning lizard. But on this particular hike…

On a recent hike, descending from the mountain peak, a shadow figure caught my eye. Turning, I discovered a perfectly preserved dead crow. It seemed out of place on the trail, so I carefully moved it to a secluded spot in the bushes, offering tobacco and a prayer of thanks. As I walked away, a powerful image and a distinct call echoed in my mind: Take me with you. I offer my wings, my talents.

I felt a surge of connection. Removing my shirt, I wrapped the crow gently and continued my descent. Over the next hour, visions and instructions flooded my thoughts. Wings first. Then the talons. Bury me by the sagebrush near your home. It was an honor, my first experience processing a bird. I followed the crow's guidance, offering tobacco and a prayer for a respectful passing.

Since then, I've carried the crow's spirit with me, noticing synchronicities and recognizing its powerful symbolism: community, messenger, agility, talent, courage, and wisdom. Recently, I've renewed my intention to connect more deeply with the crow, seeking communication and understanding.

The hawk has been a long-time ally. A sunbird, a bird of prey, it carries messages to the Creator, much like the eagle. Although the hawk has been present throughout my journey on the Red Road, my connection with it has deepened in recent months. I've been gifted hawk feathers, both left and right wings, over the years, and now I feel a strong pull to connect more deeply with Mother Earth, the elements, and especially the winged ones.

My meditations and contemplations have focused on sending intentions to the hawk, visualizing it, and inviting it to visit my home. During a recent meditation, a flicker of doubt arose. The hawk won't come to my backyard. There's a hill in the way.  But I pushed the negativity aside, continuing my prayers and intentions.

The very next morning, I heard a hawk's cry from my kitchen. A thrill went through me. The hawk! I rushed outside and there it was, perched on an electrical post in my backyard. Then, an even more astonishing sight: a crow, boldly crowing at the hawk. As I watched, they both took flight, soaring towards the sun. The crow was chasing the hawk!

I was stunned. One crow, challenging a hawk! They circled in the sky, a breathtaking dance of courage and power. It felt like a profound moment, an answer to my prayers, a confirmation of my connection to these magnificent birds. Perhaps it symbolizes the courage within us all to face challenges that seem larger than life.

My relationship with the crow and the hawk is still unfolding. There's so much wisdom to glean from these winged beings, if only we can quiet our minds and open our hearts to the messages they carry, both from the world around us and the world within.

Do you have an animal spirit you connect with? share your experience below!