I still remember well, the day my mother taught me the meaning of Eagle. She was a great teacher as well as a respected Medicine Woman. When she taught it came from her heart and she never talked over you and always looked directly into your eyes. She would place her hand on your shoulder and say, “Young one, sit her with me and I’ll teach you something that was taught to me when I was your age”.

One day we were out on a nature walk and searching for plants in the forest, so she could make medicine for some that were in need of it in our village. We were walking in a large clearing high above the village on the mountain. We both looked up and watched the large Eagle that soared effortlessly in the sky above us. Its cry filled the early morning air and as I listened in awe of this truly magnificent creature, my mother told me the story of the Eagle.

Image Source

Look mother, the Eagle has come to visit us and it watches over us from up there on high. I said. She could tell I was very excited and began to speak to me.

Yes young one, the Eagle is very sacred to our people; he is Creator’s messenger. The Eagle carries our prayers to Creator and often he returns with visions and gifts for us. We use the Eagle’s feathers for healing and cleansing for they hold great power within them. The eagle has great vision; he is very strong and his strength and great endurance is matched by none.

The Eagle lives in almost complete isolation and you can find their nest up very high and on the face of cliffs. They like the isolation out in the wild for this is how they propagate.

Eagle teaches us that our walk can only be ours and that like with all Creatures great and small we must face life that is before us on its terms. Eagle teaches us that we must be free to choose our own path and that we must also be respectful of others that have chosen to walk other paths. The great Eagle has excellent hearing and eye sight, so when Eagle comes to us it often awakens within us the ability to hear both psychically and spiritually.

The eagle and his mate work together to feed and tend their young ones and if we observe them carefully they teach us that all things must be shared as equals and that there’s no one above another. The Eagles eyesight is many times clearer then ours. This teaches us that like the eagle, we to can help others that are going through dark and bothering times by looking at the whole picture and helping them to overcome the stumbling blocks they place in their way.

The Eagle soars effortlessly on the breathe of spirit and its powerful legs allow it to walk easily on land. This teaches us that as we move ahead both physically and spiritually that we must do so with balance. Eagle teaches us that as we rise to the heavens and beyond in our spiritual journey and awareness, that we must remain also well grounded in reality. Eagle teaches us to always strive to be the very best we can be as we evolve to greater heights both spiritually and physically.

Most of what my mother taught me at the time was or seemed way over my head. I found that as I begin to get older that I also understood the lessons she so lovingly took the time to teach me.