Seeing Through the Eyes of Eagle

Have you ever seen a bird, such as an eagle or hawk, circle the sky, and experienced a feeling of freedom in just watching them gracefully spread their wings, soaring so smoothly above the earth? This summer I was at a gathering in Central Park , when the famous Pale Male and Lola flew overhead at dusk, taking everyone’s breath away. The vision of their dark outlines, dancing against the sky’s remaining amber glow, was a beautiful surprise ending to a pleasant evening with friends.

In many shamanic traditions, birds such as the eagle and the hawk hold special meaning, offering a wisdom and grace that assists one in traveling deeply within to discover his or her higher truth, and to ultimately experience a liberation from suffering. With the ability to see the smallest prey from a mile away, while remaining aware of the atmosphere both above and below, eagle’s energy medicine in particular teaches us to stay focused in the present while keeping our peripheral vision open to the greater picture. Eagle shows us that true freedom is found in blurring the lines we think define our world, and instead seeing how everything is interconnected. By shifting our vision to that of eagle’s, we release ourselves of the attachments that create human suffering. We become more able to transcend life’s challenges and discover the freedom necessary to connect with our divine source, allowing our life’s purpose to unfold.

In his book, The Four Insights, author Alberto Villoldo discusses four levels of perception based on the shamanic tradition of the Laika. Each level has an animal associated with it. At the level of serpent, the physical world and basic needs for survival are addressed. At the level of jaguar, the mind and the emotional body are engaged in seeing beyond necessity and making choices. At the level of hummingbird, a connection to soul is made, and an awareness of the sacred in all of life inspires creativity, innovation and great discovery. Finally, at the level of eagle, a profound sense of oneness with spirit occurs.

During the times we allow the wings of eagle to carry us, moments of expansiveness and bliss, described in many spiritual traditions as enlightenment, can be experienced. It is a state of being in which we remain fluid in the current of life no matter the situation, and gratitude for all that is infuses the mind, body, heart and soul. All four levels of awareness are needed to navigate the human journey, and certain circumstances require the use of one level over the others. However, it is when we see through the eyes of eagle that we can step out of limited thinking and masterfully transform any situation. With the perception of eagle, peace can be created in the most hostile of environments; love can be deeply felt with or without a partner; bittersweet joy can accompany the grief of losing a loved one; and trust in the abundance of the universe can prevail during the loss of a home, business or job. The possibilities are limitless when we choose to soar with eagle.

As the early part of fall is upon us, some of the most beautiful days of the year are ahead with sunny skies and comfortable temperatures. Why not take a moment and imagine soaring alongside eagle in a clear blue sky, enjoying the view from above. You never know where it might take you.