There are moments in life that force us to reconsider what we thought we knew to be true. Often, these moments completely disrupt our ways of being, doing, and living.
2024 has brought me to my knees in surrender (and it’s only May). I am still learning and processing, and I can also feel a change of energy has arrived, almost as suddenly as my newfound interest in hawks.
I want to share with you some signs I’ve experienced over the past few months that have reminded me of my connection to self, community, and this life.
The first encounter
Over the past few months, I’ve encountered not one, but two hawks in the neighborhood, both while taking a phone call with a friend on a walk.
I remember exactly where I was when both encounters took place.
Laughing as I connected with my friend and walked in the middle of the sidewalk, a jostling in a tree just about six feet in front of me caught my attention. I looked up, and saw a hawk had appeared, dropping down from the sky to ever-so-casually sit on a tree branch. It was staring directly at me.
“Holy shit,” I said to my friend on the phone, my feet coming to a complete stop in the middle of the sidewalk. “It’s a hawk,” I continued.
It stared at me, curious, as if it had a question to ask, and then dove into a bush to the side of me with deep, targeted focus.
Hawks are predators. They are known for their focus, sure, and also, based on my recent interactions, I’d add elegance and agility.
Hawks know what they want, when they want it — they wait patiently, until intuition nudges them to make their next move.
They are discerning and graceful, gliding through the air with confidence and courage.
I suspect there’s a thing or two most of us could learn from hawks.
The second encounter
I was moseying along a street I walk most days, when, on a fence to my right, one that I’ve passed over and over again, I noticed a hawk perched atop, maybe four feet away from me.
The hawk lingered a little longer this time, as if it was waiting for me, like the hostess at a restaurant, offering a greeting and then leading me to a table with a swift, “Follow me.”
I couldn’t help but believe that these hawk encounters were meant to teach me something, and I desperately wanted to discover that teaching.
Since then, the hawk encounters haven’t stopped.
About a month ago, the first week at my new job, I walked into a conference room, and there, in the center of the wooden table, lay a piece of paper with the word “Hawk” at the top. It listed some details about hawks, and I have no idea where it came from.
Still, it waited again, patiently, and caught me by surprise.
Hawk symbolism and meaning
Hawks can symbolize many things, most notably — intuition, clarity, vision, and resilience to overcome obstacles. Hawks are courageous, and they don’t need to be loud in order to gain respect. They are simply present as themselves, and their power is tangible.
You cannot ignore a hawk.
After my first hawk encounter, in fact, things became even more curious. I was assisting a coaching workshop, and one of the activities we go through with coaches is to decide on an archetype. The purpose is to help them bring more of this archetype into their coaching.
For example, when I participated in the workshop years ago, my archetype was Catwoman. I wanted to bring more mischief, more ferocity, and more deep knowing into my coaching.
As I walked around the room, listening to the groups brainstorm different archetypes, I came across one group in particular. The participant asked, “What’s something that when you know it’s there, you can feel it?”
Immediately and without thinking, I blurted, “Hawk.”
She looked at me, eyes wide, and I could tell that the word resonated with her. I came to learn that the hawk held deep meaning for her — meaning that she hadn’t yet explored for herself. Since a dear family member had died, she’d been seeing hawks everywhere.
I couldn’t help but feel like my first hawk encounter, which had happened earlier that week, was meant to be and for this moment. Had I not been awakened yet again to presence through the power of this creature, I would not have blurted this word, and she might not have had this recognition.
I got to bring that message to her, just as the hawk had brought a message to me.
Big hawk energy
Most recently, I purchased a necklace with two hawks on it, to remind me of my encounters, and also my inner hawk.
My word for 2024 is Focus. The truth is, 2024 to date, hasn’t gone as I’d initially planned. But perhaps, the meaning of Focus has shifted, carrying on like the wings of my hawk friends.
When I originally defined it, I meant it in the very literal sense: to focus on one thing at a time. To be very targeted and specific in my efforts.
Now? Perhaps Focus is more than that. Focus is a return to primal instincts. It’s going back to the basics of who I am, who I want to be, and what I need to get there. It’s getting a literal “birds-eye view,” and letting go of old emotions, old patterns, and old stories.
Focus is showing up in fullness of expression, of self, and allowing exposure in all that I do.
I highly doubt that a hawk feels shame or guilt. A hawk simply goes for it.
A hawk owns what it wants, and acts. It doesn’t overthink. It doesn’t live in the past. It focuses, and it strikes.
Let’s reflect
Where might hawk energy serve you this month?
What signs or messages are you receiving?
Where might you be able to open yourself to receiving signs and messages more?
I’d love to hear what this reflection sparks for you. As always, encouragement to reply to this email, send me a message, or book a time with me.
In loving support,
Grace