The Spiritual Meaning Of Hawks + What To Do If They Keep Appearing To You

Whether hawks are appearing in your dreams or you're catching glimpses of them in flight, they may be communicating messages about success, knowing when to take action, or messages from another realm. Here’s what hawk symbolism can signify and what this winged animal may be sharing with you. 

And beyond their general symbolism, hawks bear important meaning in many cultures and religions, as well. 

In Buddhism, according to celebrity psychic and esoteric expert, Inbaal Honigman, hawks represent "the union with the great spirit, and are seen as a go-between between the worlds of men and the other worlds.”

In Hinduism, hawks have a strong association with rejuvenation, according to Honigman. 

In Chrisitanity, according to Honigman, hawks symbolize wisdom.

“Symbolically, [hawks] can indicate judgment or being overly critical of yourself and/or others,” Nerenberg explains, adding that like most bird symbolism, hawks correspond to the element of air, which is all about our mind (thoughts, intellect, perspectives, ideas, judgments, and interests).

According to Honigman, the hawk can spiritually be seen as a messenger between worlds, as "a creature that can exist in different spiritual planes."

Hawks are instinctual creatures and act based on their needs. “They’re unapologetically themselves, doing what they know to be right and true for them," Nerenberg explains, adding, “In that way, hawks are great reminders to trust yourself by tuning into your inner truths, AKA intuition or your inner wisdom.” 

Hawks can represent looking ahead and getting ready for new possibilities. “It can mean looking into the future and preparing for big changes that need direction,” says Garbis. 

Hawks have incredible eyesight and have the ability to see far distances. Honigman explains hawks' ability to see clearly and cover a lot of distance represents foresight, clarity, and spiritual vision. 

Lastly, hawks are birds of prey that have to be on the lookout for their next meal. According to Honigman, “The spiritual meaning of a hawk with its prey is successful attainment." Garbis echoes this point, telling mindbodygreen she often sees hawks with prey and believes it represents abundance, "and that you’ll always be able to care for yourself and your family.”

To get clear on what your dream is trying to tell you, jotting down anything you can remember can help you understand what the message may be. “Take a moment to journal about it—write down all the details, how you felt, what time of night it was exactly, and anything you can remember about the dream,” Honigman recommends. 

The message may also be encouragement to go after what you want. As Honigman explains, “This is a message from spirit that you should go for it—accomplish the dream. It tells you to not be afraid, and that you possess all the qualities needed to achieve success.”

Each animal has a spiritual meaning. If hawks repeatedly make appearances in your waking life or dream state, these intelligent birds likely have a message for you. Hawk may be reminding you to trust yourself and your intuition, to be less critical, or that changes are on the horizon.