When the Hawk Comes Close: A Personal Reflection on Sacred Messenger Medicine
There are moments in life when the veil thins, when something ancient and wild meets us in our ordinary day and reminds us that we are not just walking—we are being guided.
The first time the hawk came to me, I had just whispered a prayer into the Earth. I had asked for medicine—truthfully, I had asked to be led to what I didn’t yet know I needed. As I walked through the woods, something called me off the trail. I followed. There, in the hush of the trees, was a red-tailed hawk. Perched. Watching. Not fleeing. Not warning. But welcoming.
The closer I got, the more it looked at me—eyes sharp, unmoving. I felt as if it was looking through me and into something deeper. The message wasn’t with words. It was a feeling of recognition. A return.
Days later, while cleaning my children’s school—a very ordinary act—another hawk flew right above my head. So close I felt I could reach up and touch it. It felt like a blessing passed through me. A brushing of wings over my crown. This wasn’t about chance. This was a visitation. A second whisper, now louder. Now embodied.
Hawk Medicine Across Cultures
Across time and place, hawks have been revered as messengers of the spirit world. In many Native American traditions, hawks are seen as bearers of truth and vision. They are not just birds; they are kin—sky beings who fly between the worlds, delivering insight from the realm of spirit into the realm of matter.
The red-tailed hawk in particular is associated with the root chakra in certain interpretations, grounding us in our power while also awakening us to the messages we carry. It is often linked with visionaries and protectors, and when it circles overhead or comes close, it may be saying: You are ready to see more clearly. You are ready to walk in truth.
In ancient Egyptian mythology, the hawk is linked with Horus—the sky god whose all-seeing eye became a symbol of divine perception. In Celtic traditions, hawks were said to be watchers of the soul’s journey, often appearing before great changes. Across cultures, the hawk appears as both scout and sage, urging us to rise higher while staying rooted in what is real.
The Somatic Medicine of the Hawk
In somatic language, hawk medicine speaks to our capacity to orient, to track both the external world and the internal terrain. Hawks don’t rush. They soar. They spiral. They hover. Their movement teaches us how to stay regulated while holding a wide field of vision.
Hawk invites us into:
Heightened awareness without hypervigilance
Clarity without contraction
Power without force
When hawk comes close, the body knows. The nervous system softens and sharpens at once. There is awe. Presence. And a subtle rewiring: You don’t have to see everything. You just have to see what’s true.
Take it further with this somatic practice:
Embody the Hawk: A Somatic Practice for Vision, Clarity, and Spirit Connection
Opening: Land Acknowledgment & Body Consent
Begin by grounding yourself—whether standing, sitting, or lying down. Take a moment to acknowledge the land beneath you.
If you know the names of the Indigenous people who originally lived in relationship with this land, speak their names aloud or in your heart as a gesture of respect and remembrance. If their names are unknown to you, simply say:
“I honor the land I’m on and all who have come before me.”
Now, turn your awareness gently inward. Ask your body:
“Do you feel safe and willing to engage in this practice with me?”
Rather than seeking a verbal answer, listen for subtle signals—perhaps a gentle leaning forward, a wave of warmth, a breath of ease. These may be signs of a “yes.” A “no” might feel like constriction, tightness, or a pulling away. All responses are sacred. If your body does not offer consent, honor that wisdom and know you can return another time.
If the body says yes, begin.
1. Arrive in the Body
Feel your feet (or your seat, if you’re sitting) in contact with the earth or floor. Let gravity do some of the work for you. Let yourself arrive.
Notice your breath without needing to change it. Simply observe the rhythm that’s already happening. This is your first act of presence.
2. Orient Like a Hawk
Let your eyes slowly scan the space around you. Turn your head gently to the left, then right. Pause when something catches your attention—anything: a flicker of light, a plant, a texture. Stay with it for a few breaths.
Now soften your gaze and open your peripheral vision. Can you let your awareness widen, as though you’re soaring above your surroundings, seeing both the whole landscape and the tiniest movement within it?
This is hawk vision—attentive, spacious, and unhurried.
3. Breathe with the Sky
On your next inhale, imagine breathing in the vastness of the sky.
On the exhale, imagine letting go of anything that clouds your clarity.
Repeat this for 3–5 rounds:
🌬 Inhale: “I breathe in vision.”
🌬 Exhale: “I release distortion.”
Let the breath feel like wings opening and closing inside your chest.
4. Receive the Message
Bring your attention to the space above your head—your crown. Imagine a hawk gliding just overhead, passing you something invisible but potent. A blessing. A truth. A remembering.
Ask silently or aloud:
“What truth am I ready to see?”
“What medicine is the hawk bringing me?”
“What can I rise above to see more clearly?”
You don’t need to force an answer. You only need to open to the possibility of one.
5. Close with Gratitude
Place a hand on your heart or solar plexus. Whisper a quiet thank you—to the hawk, to your body, to the land, to yourself for showing up with presence.
“Thank you for the clarity I’m coming into. Thank you for the wings I am learning to use.”
Feel your body again. The weight. The breath. The here-ness.
When you're ready, gently return to your day.