Hawk’s Cry

How to Hear the Cry of the Hawk

The days are getting warmer and more volatile. This is a time of change. Do you take notice of it? As a witch, I find it important to note and pay attention to the messages of the seasons and the messages of Nature.

Different people do this in different ways. I take a walk 4-5 times/week before I go to work for 30 minutes. Though I live in town, I just walk around the neighborhood or to the local stores if I have errands to run.

Many people think that to take a Nature Walk, you need to drive out of town to be “in Nature.” I don’t agree with this. Nature is simply our environment. If you live in the country, then the nature around you has trees, grasses, sand and other “natural” things based on where you live. If you are in the city, then the nature around you consists of buildings, streets and sidewalks. In the scheme of Nature, there is no difference. Just ask the squirrels and pigeons.

Lately, I have seen great change in the world of northeastern South Dakota. We have gone from -3 degrees F to 32+ degrees. I have seen dew crystalize on the trees as a fine down and then “snow” on me as it melted in the morning. And I’ve seen hawks and heard their cries.

In many shamanic traditions, the hawk is a messenger. It is said that the cry of the hawk is an omen of things to come. They unite the heavens with the earth by being able to soar high into the cosmos and bring messages down to earth. The hawk also gives a different perspective on things, a perspective of the bigger picture from high up.

The hawk is able to help us both with messages of a spiritual nature and messages for our mundane lives. They can help us know when to act on something and when to wait, as they can see from their perspective what the landscape looks like ahead of us.

As a messenger, the hawk is duty-bound to delivering messages, even if they are not wanted. Sometimes the hawk works with Trickster to deliver a message. If a person has their defenses up too high to receive the message, the Trickster uses humor (sometimes dark humor) to get through them. If the hawk does this to you, know that it is an important message you need to hear and to not kill the messenger.

Hawks can see extremely well. They will see details that others miss. People who work with the hawk are able to use that energy to see through people’s facades into their true selves. This piercing sight will make some people uncomfortable around the hawk-person.

Most people are familiar with the sound of a hawk’s cry. That piercing call drives through the air like an arrow. It is an awakening. It reminds you to be aware of the world around you on all levels. It tells you to break out of your shell and become a part of the larger world. It also announces coming changes, either positive or negative.

A hawk cried to me nearly a year ago. I heard it and asked why it was calling me. I didn’t hear the message at first, but I noticed hawks appearing in my life more. They stood on fence posts when I drove. They soared above while I walked. They helped me see what direction my life would take, as it was a time of transition for me. When I understood the message, it was profound and caused such changes in my life and my family’s lives that we moved from the Twin Cities to Aberdeen, SD.

I heard the cry because I stepped out of my shell, out of the buildings I was comfortable with. That was the time that I started taking daily walks outside. I looked around while I walked. I saw the plants change from the death of winter to the life of summer and back to death. I saw goslings grow from bundles of fur trying to keep up with their parents to becoming grown geese, able to fly. It is amazing seeing these changes happen around me. It reminds me of the beauty of the world around me and how the universe works in cycles.

Since witchcraft is a nature-loving tradition, I highly suggest witches take time from their busy day to be in Nature. It doesn’t have to be a daily walk, but it should be something you do at least 3-4 times/week outside. It can be in the city, suburb or countryside, wherever your environment happens to be. It is all Nature. Pay attention to what is going on. How are the universal cycles expressed in your area? What messages are the animal and plant spirits telling you? If you keep your mind and heart open to the cry of the hawk and the calls of other animals, your world will expand in magical ways. You will learn more about yourself, your Path and your place in the universe.