The North American animals that have crossed my path and the messages that most of us ignore
This past year has truly been a dance between the events of my life and the nature around me. Now, I finally understand that they are not separate things. I’ve learned to read signs from the universe, and a big part of that journey has been the appearance of wild animals in my path. Since I was a child, I’ve always thought that the arrival of crows in my life has coincided with big events, and their behavior is foretelling. However, since my spiritual awakening has made me more aware of my surroundings, the animals that speak to me metaphorically are wider in variety. Spirit animals, to me, are the animals that show up as synchronicities in my path, bearing a message.
Animals carry significance. Cultures around the world recognize this. They embody certain energy that is passing through our lives, and their manifestation right in front of us is a message from the great universe to pay attention to something. The spirit of the animal expresses something in our souls. We are connected to animals and all life around us, and when our intention moves to a new place, the energy in our vicinity produces concentrations manifesting as signs.
That’s what I think, anyway.
I’ve compiled a list of six animals I’ve encountered recently and their significance as spirit animals. The energy they embodied tells me something that I needed to know.
Beavers
Beavers symbolize hard work. I live on the desecrated grounds of a major beaver habitat in Maryland, and next to my apartment complex and an IKEA there’s a marsh. In that marsh is one solitary beaver dam. We have often wondered if there’s still a beaver inside it because, for months, we have walked past and seen nothing — except the evidence of this beaver’s handiwork. Chewed tree stumps and sticks left around with all the bark eaten off them was all the evidence we thought we’d ever see.
Then, on one very chilly day when the marsh was iced over, we finally saw this beaver. It was swimming in the cold water, carrying a stick around, diving, and then coming up again. Seeing it finally felt truly magical.
I’d been considering a career change for months and embarking on a journey to start my own business. I knew this would be hard work and I was ready for it. My horoscope even said that this year would be full of amazing developments in my career but it would be a year of nonstop work, as any good thing always is.
So, when I saw this beaver, I knew that it was a sign of great things to come but a warning that I needed to work hard and never give up on my dream. Beavers just keep going, working hard on their beaver dams and hunting for untouched trees to chew down, and I needed to stay focused, too.
Bald Eagles
Bald Eagles symbolize a connection with the divine realm and divine wisdom because they fly high to the heavens, higher than other birds. This bird is extremely rare in my area — suburban Maryland. I may have seen one once as a child and it was absolutely the most incredible thing. So, you can imagine what a miracle it has felt to see not one, but three eagles on two different days in my neighborhood — yes, still in the marsh area next to the IKEA that I mentioned before.
I have been meditating a lot and following a path to enlightenment, hoping to lead others there too. But it isn’t straightforward some days, and it’s a struggle with the ego for sure. These eagles showed me that I am getting close and I have a direct connection with the divine. I felt so much astonishment and hope when I saw them. It really felt like higher beings were with me telling me you’re almost there.
Deer
There are many deer in my area, and sometimes we get to see them moving around. I’ve seen a few recently who were very surprised to see me in their forest and ran immediately, whitetails up. I shouldn’t have been in their territory that day.
Deer symbolize gentleness. They don’t harm anyone or anything and they are meek, staying in safe areas. In spirit, they show the soft side of life.
So, you can be sure that I was shocked one day to see a dead disemboweled deer at a local suburban lake. I was walking in an area where a few other people had just been, and I was admiring the snow and trees. I noticed a tree that had fallen on a fence and went over to look closer, and yes — there it was. A deer that appeared to have been dragged by some other animal and then maybe it was stuck on the fence, so that animal decided to chew it open right there. Its guts were lying nearby. Yeah, it was hard to look at. But it was a sign.
There was no doubt in my mind that it was a sign.
I’ve lived in this area for my whole life around deer and I’ve never seen a dead one, let alone a disemboweled one. At first, my reaction was to think that any appearance of death is a bad omen. Then I realized: no, death isn’t a bad omen because death isn’t the end. Many things die every day, inside us and around us — feelings die and eras of life die. This is necessary to make room for new things to come.
My gentle side was dead and gone. I knew this dead deer meant that I was going to be stronger, more assertive, and in control of my own destiny.
Doves
I saw and heard doves as I was about to lose my job. I wasn’t totally sure what was coming, but I felt that a hurdle had to be overcome before I could find serenity. We all know that doves signify peace.
One day, when it was particularly hard for me to focus on doing things that weren’t in line with my heart, a dove flew right up and sat on the railing of my balcony. There had been no doves in my area until that day. It was there looking in at us as if to say everything is going to be alright soon. I took it as a sign of peacefulness arriving soon in my life. And I was right.
Turtles
A few days after my husband disappeared for good, my daughter and I were in my parents’ backyard — we’d been staying there — and I found an Eastern box turtle sitting right in the middle of my mother’s garden. It was looking at me. I was shocked. I know I keep saying this, but I have lived in that house for almost forty years, and never has anyone ever found a wild turtle in the neighborhood. It is unheard of.
Turtles signify protection. Their thick shells shield them from the elements of the world. Sometimes we need a shell to protect us as we heal. My daughter and I needed some shielding from hurt and sadness at that time. The turtle was sent to us to tell us that we were safe — finally. Higher beings were seeing to that.
Vultures
Vultures notoriously have watchful eyes. During two different meetings at work that were pivotal in the journey to my termination, I looked up and saw a vulture sitting there on a ledge outside my window. I haven’t seen one since or before that. These meetings were really impactful in the eventual ending of this job, and it was a job that I needed to be rid of so that I could change my life to something else. I was not living my dharma. I needed to get out — but sometimes it still feels bad to perceive yourself as failing, so it was good to have a divine reminder that this wasn’t a failure, it was my true path. That vulture provided this reminder.
I think the vulture was also there to reveal to me that my path in life, even down to the stressful details, is being watched by divine beings. Nothing is an accident. My attitude and reactions to things were being tracked. I was being reminded that I wasn’t alone.
Final Thoughts
Animals are manifestations of energy. Just like us! But they’ll change and move into your trajectory as your energy is shifting. As you navigating this life journey, energy goes where your intention flows. If your energy is moving into a place of healing, the animals that represent healing will be attracted to you. If you’re going through troubling times, animals will be sent as signs from the divine realm to guide your next move. So, keep your mind open and be observant so that you can receive the messages that nature has to give you.
