Spirit Lodge - Totem Animals - Page 52

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Bear Medicine	Birth Totems	Coyote Medicine	Dragon Ranks	Dragonfly Medicine	Eagle Medicine	Four Animal Helpers	Grey Wolf Medicine	Hawk
Heron Medicine	Horse	Magpie	Raccoon	Salmon Medicine	Spider Medicine	Swan Medicine	Thunder Being Medicine	Totem Loss Disc

EAGLE MEDICINE
By CinnamonMoon

The Life of an Eagle:
The eagle has the longest life-span among birds living up to 70 years. However, to reach that age
it must make a very difficult choice. Somewhere in its’ 40’s its’ long and flexible talons can no
longer grab prey to feed itself. Its’ long, sharp beak becomes bent while it’s aged and heavy
wings and thick feathering become stuck to its chest as it struggles to fly. At this point it has two
choices, either it must die or go through a painful transformation that lasts up to 150 days. This
process, should it so choose, calls for the eagle to fly to a mountaintop to sit on its’ nest. It beats
its’ beak against a rock until it comes off. It will wait until a new beak grows and then pluck out
its’ talons. Once the new talons grow back it begins to pluck it’s old feathers. After FIVE months
it takes a rebirthing flight and lives for roughly another 30 years. When the rains come the Eagle
flies above the clouds, it is able to see prey from a mile away, this means that an eagle flying at a
height of 1,000 feet over open areas can spot its prey over an area of nearly three miles.

*Mary Summer Rain/On Dreams:
Eagle defines the self-confidence of intellectual freedom to pursue unconventional concepts or issues.

*Patricia Telesco/The Language of Dreams:
American: Freedoms and liberties in which everyone deserves to share.
Soaring with an eagle: a type of flying dream.
Many solar gods are equated with this symbol, giving the eagle associations with the lifting of
depression or a more conscious awareness.
Lofty ambitions that require great skill to achieve.

Jungian: Your father or another masculine authority figure. Leadership skills. Among the
Romans, this bird became a kind of totem for the emperor, who was thought to reincarnate as an
eagle. Alternatively, this may also symbolize traditionally masculine characteristics like pride
and fierceness developing.

An alternative lightning emblem. In ancient Greece, people placed eagles on temple rooftops to
protect the building from lightning, as they felt this creature controlled the fire from the sky.
Riding on the back of an eagle represents a spiritual voyage, possibly an astral journey or OBE.

*Timothy Roderick/The Once Unknown Familiar:
Key Words: Powerful, thoughtful, intense
Magical Influences: Spirit flight (astral projection), acute vision, monogamy, attainment of high
aspirations; mastery of the element of Air, evokes aid of sylphs.

Personality: Eagles are commanding presences. Whether they want to or not, they attract
attention. Those with this animal personality have strong leadership skills and take swift action
when it is needed. They also tend to mate for life and cannot understand how others can be
happy with relationships that are anything but monogamous.

*Brad Steiger/Totems:
Among ancient Mediterranean people, the eagle was associated with the sun god, fire, and
lightning. Zeus, the father of the classical gods, took the form of an eagle when he carried his
young lover Ganymede to Mt. Olympus. For the Romans, the eagle became a symbol of the
sovereignty of its emperors, and the image was carried before the Empire's legions as they set
about conquering the known world.

The eagle became a popular symbol of power among the Germanic people because the great bird
was representative of Wodan, the ruler of the gods. As with the Romans before them with their
Caesars the eagle's mastery of the heavens came to symbolize the sovereignty of the German Kaisers.

Because the eagel could appear to fly so close to the sun, the Medicine priests of all the tribes
regarded the large bird as a very special messenger of the Great Mystery.

In India, the Vedic tradition also portrays the eagle as a messenger of divinity and as the bearer
of soma, the favorite drink of the Vedi gods, from Indra.

An old Aztec folktale tells of the ciuapipiltin, spirits of women who died in childbirth, who
returned to the earth to snare the children of living mothers. These entities could appear in the
form of ghostly women or as an eagle, swooping down from the sky.

Psalms 103:5, "so that thy youth is renewed like an eagle's"; and Isaiah 40:31, "They that wait
upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles," both allude
to the old Hebrew belief that the eagle had the ability to plunge into the sea and regenerate itself
every 10 years.

Over the years in Christian iconography, the eagle has represented a special messenger from
Heaven, the spirit of prophecy, a prayer rising swiftly to God, and even the Ascension of Christ.
St. John the Evangelist is identified with the eagle.

In the old days, eagle feathers were used whenever possible on Native American war bonnets,
rattles, shields, pipes, baskets, prayer sticks, and all kinds of ceremonial costumes. The very style
in which the feathers were clipped, colored, and arranged on a chief's or warrior's clothing would
reveal his rank in the tribe and the deeds that he had accomplished to earn that rank. Today, of
course, with the eagle on the endangered species list, psuedo-eagle feathers are created from
crow, chicken, and turkey feathers.

And speaking of turkeys, if Ben Franklin had had his way, the turkey would be the official fowl
of the United States, rather than the bald eagle. Franklin considered the eagle to be little more
than a scavenger, while in his opinion, the turkey was an honest, decent bird.

The origin of placing such high esteem on eagle feathers was told in an old Native American
folktale that recounts how all the birds met one day to decide once and for all which could fly the
highest. Some flew up very swiftly, but soon became tired, but the eagle flew beyond them all
and was about to claim the victory when the crafty gray linnet suddenly emerged from its hiding
place on the eagle's back and, fresh and rested, succeeded in flying the highest.

When the birds came back to alight on the Earth Mother, the great council of fowls still voted to
award the prize to the eagle, for not only had it flown closer to the sun than the other birds, it had
done so with the linnet on its back. Hence, from that day forward, the feathers of the eagle were
esteemed the most honorable adornment for the warrior, as it is not only the bravest bird, but it is
also endowed with the strength to soar the highest.

If the eagle has appeared to you in your dreams or visions and revealed itself as your totem
animal, you may expect to receive renewed strength of body, mind, and spirit. At the same time,
you will find your meditations becoming more profound and your visions more prophetic in
content. If you maintain a harmonious and balanced lifestyle, you will feel a stronger connection
with the Great Mystery than ever before in your spiritual pilgrimage on earth.

Just as the eagle can soar high above the earth and rise above its companions and its competitors,
you must guard against the powerful eagle vibrations causing you to withdraw from your family
and friends and grow aloof from your community. If you listen carefully to your spirit helper, it
will instruct you in the sacred responsibility of sharing your prophetic insights with others and
show you how to become the most effective kind of spiritual teacher.

*Bobby Lake-Thom/Spirits of the Earth:
Eagles are always very special and good signs. They represent protection, wealth, wisdom,
foresight, strength, and spirituality. If one or more should approach while you are praying or
performing a ceremony, then you know your prayers have been answered. If I see an Eagle
sitting in a tree, on a telephone pole, or alongside the road while I am traveling, I know it is
telling me that I will encounter a spiritual person up ahead, such as a medicine man or a
ceremonial leader. Or if I am planning on performing a ceremony somewhere and the Eagle
comes in, I know that it will be a good group of people and a good ceremony. Sometimes the
Great Creator sends in an Eagle just to check up on us, so when we see this, we always give
special thanks to the Creator and the Eagle. The Eagle carries our prayers directly to the Great
Creator.

*Barbara G. Walker/The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets:
Classic soul-bird, symbol of apotheosis associated with the sun god, fire, and lightning. Greeks
thought eagles so closely akin to the lightning spirit that they nailed eagles to the peaks of
temples to serve as magic lightning rods. Hence the name aetoi, "eagles," for the pediments of
Greek temples. These were ancient forerunners of the "weather-@#%$" on the rooftree of a barn
or house.

Cults of fire and sun made the eagle a bearer of kingly spirit: the god's soul returning to heaven
after a period of earthly incarnation as the king. It was the Roman custom to release an eagle
above the funeral pyre of each emperor, just as an Egyptian pharaoh rose to heaven on the wings
of the solar hawk.

Zeus himself took the shape of an eagle to carry his young lover Ganymede to heaven. This was
often interpreted as a symbol of the father-god's reception of men's souls when they were
initiated into the solar Mysteries.

The eagle was connected with rites of calling down "fire from heaven," probably with a burningglass,
to consume sacrifices on the altar. Such "fire from heaven" came down from Yahweh to
consume the sons of Aaron (Leviticus 10:2), who died like sacrificial victims to the solar gods of
Tyre. Such victims "passed through the fire" as offerings, and rose to heaven in the form of eagles.

“We must bear in mind that in the East, whence all these beliefs and cults derive, not only was
fire regarded as an all-powerful purifying agent, but death by fire was looked upon as an
apotheosis which raised the victim to the rank of the gods..."Fire," says Iambilchus, "destroys the
material part of sacrifices, it purifies all things that are brought near it, releasing them from the
bonds of matter and, in virtue of the purity of its nature, making them mead for communion with
the gods. So, too, it releases us from bondage of corruption, it likens us to the gods."
The eagle was often identified with the fire bird or phoenix, who underwent a baptism of the fire
that "burns all sins" and was reborn from his own ashes. The eagle also stood for the soul of
Heracles, who passed through fire into heaven at seasonal festivals of Tarsus, and inspired St.
Paul's belief in the virtue of giving one's body do be burned (1 Corinthians 13:3). The eagle was
the totemic form of Prometheus, who "stole" fire from heaven, like the eastern fire-lightning-sun
hero, man, or angel embodied in the Garuda bird. Garuda flew to the mountain of paradise to
steal the gods' secret of immortality. Later, he assumed the golden body of the sun. American
Indians had a similar hero, the thunderbird or lightning bird.

As the royal bird of Rome, and the embodiment of deified emperors, the eagle was worshipped
by Roman legionaries. Each legion had its sacred eagles, carried into battle like banners. If a
legion should lose its eagles, the disgrace was unbearable; another whole expedition might be
mounted to recover them.

The Roman imperial emblem was inherited by the Germanic "Holy Roman Empire" and its
Kaisers, derived from Caesars. Thus the eagle became a Teutonic symbol of sovereignty.

*D.J. Conway/Animal Magick:
The eagle is a bird of prey and feeds on small mammals, fish, reptiles, and other birds. A
member of the genus Aquila, this bird occurs throughout the world, except on small islands far
from other land. In the United States, there are two major eagle species: the golden eagle, and the
bald eagle.

The eagle has very keen eyes and powerful wings. This bird can soar at great heights, yet see
what is happening on the ground. It takes advantage of air currents to get where it wants to go.
Armed with razor-sharp talons and beak, the eagle can swoop down on its prey at great speeds.
Since ancient times, it has been a symbol of war and courageous qualities. The eagle has long
been considered a solar bird and a symbol of sky deities. it represents majesty, authority, spiritual
power, victory, courage, and strength.

Ninurta, a war god of Assyria, Babylon, and Canaan, used the eagle as his emblem, as did the
god Marduk. This bird was alo shown with the Assyrian storm god Asshur as a symbol of
lightning and helpful rain.

The eagle was the royal bird of ancient Egyptian pharaohs and the Greek Thebans. It was the
only bird said to live on Olympus with the Greek deities. Originally, this bird was an emblem of
Pan, who gave it to Zeus. Later, Roman emperors put the eagle on their legion standards as a
symbol of bravery. When an emperor died, an eagle was released at his funeral. Among the
recovered treasures of Crete are several gold pins with eagles on them; many modern coats of
arms depict eagles.

Because of its connection with sky gods, the eagle was also associated with lightning, the Sun,
and fire itself. Prometheus, who stole fire from heaven to give to humans, was connected with
the eagle. The pediments of Greek buildings were called aetoi ("eagles") because they were
believed to deflect lightning.

In the East, the eagle was the bird of Indra. Garuda, the solar storm bir-mount of Vishnu,
resembles an eagle in many ways. In the Persian religion of Mithraism, both the eagle and the
hawk were symbols of Mithras, the Sun deity. To the Chinese, however, the eagle represented
the warrior, carnage of war, fearlessness, and keen vision.

In the legends of Scandinavia, an eagle sat at the top of Yggdrasil, the World Tree. Odhinn once
took the form of an eagle when he stole the poetic mead. Finnish tales say that the Supreme God
could turn himself into an eagle. The Finnish-Ugrian people of Siberia considered holy any tree
where an eagle built a nest for several years. Celtic talk all call the eagle a bird of wisdom and
long life.

In North America, the eagle was considered great medicine power. to the Native Americans there
were different kinds and divisions of eagles. The golden eagle had a very high rank. The most
potent and magickal was the sky eagle which the Iroquois called Shadahgeyah. Among the Hopi,
the eagle god was called Kwahu. According to Hopi legend, this great bird seldom came below
the clouds; only the holiest of shamans ever saw it. Even the Aztecs said this bird represented
celestial power and the rising Sun.

Nearly every Native American tribe had an eagle clan. They had songs to the eagle, eagle
dances, eagle ceremonies, and even eagle secret societies. If an eagle was seen or dreamed of
during a vision quest, the seeker gained special medicine or spirit power. That person then had
the privilege of using the eagle symbol on a medicine shield. The eagle had the greatest power of
all birds and was associated with the Sun. They believed it could live in both the spiritual and the
Earth realms.

Alchemists used the symbol of the soaring eagle to denote the liberated spirit and double-eagle to
represent mercury. A crowned eagle shown with a lion symbolized quicksilver and sulphur.
Superstitions: An ancient Irish legend says that Adam and Eve did not die, but changed into
eagles and went to live on an island off the coast of Ireland. The Egyptians believed that every
ten years the eagle flew into the fires of the Underworld, lost its feathers, but gained a new life.
The Welsh say that when the eagles of Snowden (an ancient sacred mountain there) fly over the
plains, disease and death will follow. A stolen eagle egg brings peace of mind. Please don't do
this! Eagles are a protected species. The eagle has each of its chicks stare at the Sun. If any do
not, they are destroyed.

Magickal Attributes: Swiftness, strength, courage, wisdom, keen sight; knowledge of magick.
The ability to see hidden spiritual truths. Seeing the overall pattern of life. Rising above the
material in search of spiritual direction; connecting with powerful spiritual beings. Creating a
stronger connection with spirit guides and teachers, deities.

*Denise Linn/The Secret Language of Signs:
This is a sign of great significance. To native peoples around the world, the eagle was a symbol
of the Creator. The eagle connects you to the Great Spirit above. In ancient Egypt, the eagle was
the symbol of the day and the full light of the sun, and was therefore considered emblematic of
illumination. In ancient northern Europe, the eagle was associated with the gods of strength,
power, and war. In many ancient cultures, the eagle was considered a messenger from the
heavens. On Roman coins it was the emblem of imperial power. Listen carefully when this sign
appears for you; it can signal a time of power and strength in your life. An eagle can be a sign of
soaring freedom, of seeing life from new heights. If you find yourself mired in a situation, look
at it from a new height.

*Zolar/Encyclopedia of Signs, Omens, and Superstitions:
For Christians, an eagle is a symbol of resurrection, as it is the only bird capable of looking into
the sun. Should it be nailed to a brn door, it will keep away evil spirits. Should one eat is brain
while it is still warm, it is said to grant fantastic illusions. So great is the power of an eagle that,
should its feathers be mixed with those of other birds, it is said to burn and spoil these.
Should one eagle's egg be boiled and eaten by two persons, it is said to keep witches and other
evil spirits away. Should an eagle be seen flying about for any length of time or should its
screech be heard, it is said to be an omen of death.

One should never steal an egg from an eagle's nest, according to an old Welsh tradition, or he
will never find peace again.

One tradition holds that Adam and Eve didn't die but were turned into eagles who would live
forever on an island off the coast of Ireland.

An ancient Egyptian belief was that, every ten years, the eagle soared through the fires of hell
and plunged into water in order to acquire a new life.

Among the American Indians, the eagle appears as a major animal character. Its feathers were
often used for costumes, headdresses, and other ceremonial objects. Only the bravest tribesmen
were worthy of wearing eagle feathers.

For the Cherokees, obtaining eagle feathers for their "eagle dance" was an arduous task. The
eagle killer had to go alone into the mountains for four days, fasting and praying. By using a
deer's carcass to draw the Eagle and by uttering proper magical songs, it was believed the bird
could be killed. Once killed, the Eagle would be left at its death place until rites could be
performed. The eagle killer would return to his tribe claiming that a Spaniard had done the deed
and that "snow bird" had died to protect them. Members of the tribe would then go to collect the
feathers they desired.

In ancient times, especially in Mesopotamia, Horus, the Falcon God, was held in great
importance. As far back as the third millennium B.C. in Babylonia, the double-headed eagle was
associated with Ningursu of Lagash, the Fertility, Storm, and War God.

Among the Mexicans, the conflict between the bird that was believed to soar the highest and the
reptile or serpent, which creeps into holes in the earth, is graphically depicted.

In Greek mythology, the eagle is an associate of Zeus. In the Old Testament (Daniel 7:4), we
read of a lion with eagle's wings. Aristotle, Plato, and Pliny noted that eagles who could survive
infancy would indeed live a long time.

Auguries drawn from the eagles were used by both the Greeks and romans. Tradition holds that,
in 331 B.C., a soothsayer, riding close to Alexander the Great, assured him that he had divined
by an eagle that Alexander would be victorious over Darius. It is said that an eagle had appeared
when Alexander was born.

In the sixth century, the Christian saint, Saint Medard, Bishop of Noyon, was said to be protected
during a tempest by the outspread wings of an eagle. Likewise; an eagle has long been the
symbol of Saint John.

King Arthur was said to have lived in a cavern guarded by eagles. In bad weather the Welsh
would often say, "The eagles are breeding whirlwinds on Snowdon."

Last, one must be reminded of the use of the eagle as a symbol for the United States. However, it
is said that Benjamin Franklin wanted a turkey (an American "only" bird) to have this honor!

*Lady Stearn Robinson & Tom Gorbett/The Dreamer's Dictionary:
If you see an eagle flying, your business prospects are very rosy indeed. And should this noble
bird happen to be perched in a high place, you will have fame as well as fortune. If you see it on
a mountaintop, you will achieve beyond your highest ambitions. However, should the eagle
attack or frighten you, you will have to overcome some difficult obstacles before reaching your
goal.

*Jamie Sams and David Carson/Medicine Cards:
Spirit. Eagle medicine is the power of the Great Spirit, the connection to the Divine. it is the
ability to live in the realm of spirit, and yet remain connected and balanced within the realm of
Earth. Eagle soars, and is quick to observe expansiveness within the overall pattern of life. From
the heights of the clouds, Eagle is close to the heavens where the Great Spirit dwells.

The feathers of Eagle are considered to be the most sacred of healing tools. They have been used
for centuries by shamans to cleanse the auras of patients coming to them for healing. Within the
belief systems of Native American tribes, Eagle represents a state of grace achieved through hard
work, understanding, and a completion of the tests of initiation which result in the taking of
ones’ personal power. It is only through the trial of experiencing the lows in life as well as the
highs, and through the trial of trusting one's connection to the Great Spirit, that the right to use
the essence of Eagle medicine is earned.

If you have pulled this symbol, Eagle is reminding you to take heart and gather your courage, for
the universe is presenting you with an opportunity to soar above the mundane levels of your life.
The power of recognizing this opportunity may come in the form of a spiritual test. in being
astute, you may recognize the places within your soul, personality, emotions, or psyche that need
bolstering or refinement. By looking at the overall tapestry, Eagle teaches you to broaden your
sense of self beyond the horizon of what is presently visible.

In learning to fiercely attack your personal fear of the unknown, the wings of your soul will be
supported by the ever-present breezes which are the breath of the Great Spirit.
Feed your body, but more importantly feed your soul. Within the realm of Mother Earth and
Father Sky, the dance that leads to flight involves the conquering of fear and the willingness to
join in the adventure that you are co-creating with the Divine.

If Eagle has majestically soared into your cards, you are being put on notice to reconnect with
the element of air. Air is of the mental plane, and in this instance it is of the higher mind.
Wisdom comes in many strange and curious forms and is always related to the creative force of
the Great Spirit.

If you have been walking in shadows of former realities, Eagle brings illumination. Eagle teaches
you to look higher and to touch Grandfather Sun with your heart, to love the shadow as well as
the light. See the beauty in both, and you will take flight like the Eagle.

Eagle medicine is the gift we give ourselves to remind us of the freedom of the skies. Eagle asks
you to give yourself permission to legalize freedom and to follow the joy your heart desires.

Contrary:
If you have pulled Eagle in the reverse, you have forgotten your power and connectedness to the
Great Spirit. You may have failed to recognize the light that is always available for those who
seek illumination. heal your broken wings with love. Loving yourself as you are loved by the
Great Spirit is the lesson which the contrary Eagle brings.

On some level, Eagle is telling you to seek higher ground on which to build your nest. the nest is
the home of the heart and cannot remain in a swamp. If your nest is in a swamp, this may be
connected to your belief that your wings are clipped by an impossibility in your present status.
Eagle's nest is high in the mountains, where the air is clean and the movement free. It may be
your time for a Vision Quest so that you can commune with the Great Spirit. Fasting and praying
will surely bring an answer. Seek lofty ideals, and illumination will be close at hand.

Ted Andrews/Animal-Speak:
Keynote: Illumination of Spirit, Healing, and Creation
Cycle of Power: All seasons and during daylight

The eagle is one of the greatest and most admired birds of prey. It has served as inspiration to
many societies. Their ability to soar and hunt amazes and thrills those who are witness. Eagles,
in fact, are so good at getting food they spend very little time hunting. The fact that they are good
at feeding themselves from the land and still soar to great heights in the sky reflects much about
the hidden significance of the eagle who comes as a totem. They will teach a balance of being of
the Earth but not in it.

Every society which has had contact with eagles has developed a mythology and/or mysticism
about them. In the ancient Aztec tradition, the chief god told the people to settle at a place where
they find an eagle perched on a cactus eating a snake This place would become Mexico City.
The eagle was sacred to Zeus, who often changed into the form of an eagle to help himself
control thunder and lightning. The Sumerians worshiped an eagle god, and the Hittites used a
double-headed eagle as a symbolic emblem so they would never be surprised. The eagle has also
been associated with Jupiter, and it was a strong emblem for the Roman Empire. In Egyptian
hieroglyphics, the eagle is a symbol for the vowel "A"; and also a symbol for the soul, the spirit,
and the warmth of life. In early Christian mysticism, the eagle was a symbol of resurrection.
The Thunderbird, to the Native Americans, is most often depicted in the form of an eagle. This
was the great spirit who controlled lightning and rain, punishment and reward. To the Plains
Cree all eagles had mystical power, and these powers could be shared by anyone who possessed
part of the bird.

To the Pueblo Indians the eagle was a bird of the sky with the ability to spiral upward until it
passed through a hole in the sky to the home of the sun. It was associated with all the energies of
the sun--physical and spiritual. The Pueblo Indians honored six directions--north, south, east,
west, zenith (above), and nadir (below). The eagle was the symbol of the zenith because of its
abilty to soar to great heights. From these heights it could survey all four directions. They
became symbols of greater sight and perception.

To the Hopis, the golden and the bald eagles were the greatest of all birds of the sky, but these
are the only two eagles that live upon our continent. Some groups of Hopis also included the redtailed
hawk as an eagle, referring to it as the Red Eagle.

There are 59 species of eagle, and they are often divided into one of four categories: 1 Fish and
Sea eagles, 2 Snake eagles, 3 Harpy or Giant Forested Eagles, and 4 Booted Eagles; but there is
always a great deal of variety within these four groups. When it comes to coloring and feather
patterns, every eagle is unique and beautiful in its own way.

Fish and sea eagles are those who live primarily upon a diet from the sea (fishes, etc.). Upon the
North American continent, the bald eagle is part of this category. Those who have a bald eagle as
a totem need to look at the symbolic associations of water. Water and fish are often symbolic of
the psychic aspects of life and the creative energies. Water is also an area that separates land
from the heavens. Thus a bird of the water, such as a fish or sea eagle, reflects an awakening
ability or need to learn to walk between worlds.

Water is the creative source of life, and living near natural water sources may be important to the
health of those who have a bald eagle as a totem. An eagle hunting in the waters must be able to
penetrate the waters, grasp what it requires and then rise out of them. All this reflects increased
ability and need to learn to work with emotions, psychism, and all aspects of spirituality with
greater control. It reflects teachings about true mediatorship being able to enter and exit the more
ethereal realms at will.

Snake eagles often have crests of feathers upon their head. Their toes are short and strong to
enable them to grasp and hold onto wiggling snakes. Those who have a snake eagle as a totem
would do well to study the section on snakes within this text. The snake eagles swallow the
snakes whole, reflecting the swallowing and digesting of higher wisdom--the serpent knowledge.
The Harpy Eagles are the largest and most powerful. None of these are found upon our continent.
They have huge claws that can be used for grabbing larger prey, including deer. An examination
of the particular food preference of the individual harpy eagle will provide further insight.

The other type of eagle found upon this continent is the golden eagle. It is part of the Booted
Eagle group. Booted eagles, in general, usually have a majestic mantle of feathers on their head
and neck, and their legs have a heavy covering of feathers so that they look as if they are wearing boots.

The two that are most important to those upon this continent are the bald eagle and the golden.
The bald eagle is larger than the golden, but it cannot fly as high nor is it considered as graceful.
The bald eagle is often a symbol of the feminine, while the golden symbolizes the masculine.
The white feathers of the bald eagle especially are often treasured as they are links to
Grandmother Medicine--tremendous wisdom, healing, and creation.

The feathers of eagles are sacred to the Native Americans, and since the eagle is protected by the
United States government, it is a felony for anyone to possess such who is not of Native
American blood. The feathers, though, are used in powerful healing ceremonies (cleansing the
aura) and even for shapeshifting. White and black tipped feathers were often used on the masks
of the Pueblo Indians to give the appearance of white and black clouds. Again we see the ancient
connection to the mysteries of the sky and all of its phenomena.

Both the bald and golden eagle have come to symbolize heroic nobility and divine spirit. These
eagles are the messengers from heaven and are the embodiment of the spirit of the sun.

They are also symbols of the rediscovery of the inner child. There once was a belief that as old
age approached, the eagle's eye would grow dim, and the eagle would then fly so near th esun
that it would become scorched. It would then seek out a pure water source and dip itself three
times into the clear water and its youth would be destroyed.

This reflects much from a mystical point of view. It hints of resurrection, but it also hints of
alchemy. The fire of the sun and the clear water are opposite elements brought into harmony in a
manner that elicits a change. It reflects several needs for those with an eagle totem:

1 There must be involvement with creativity. Three is the number of new birth and creativity.

2 A willingness to experience extremes in a controlled condition and thus facilitate the
alchemical process within your life.

3 A willingness to use your passions to purify (flying into the sun) and to use your abilities even
if it means being scorched a little.

4 A willingness to seek out the true emotional aspects of oneself and immerse yourself within
them, and by doing so rediscover the lost child and awaken a higher sense of purity, passion,
creativity, healing, and spirituality.

An examination of the individual characteristics and behaviors of the eagle will reveal even more
of the medicine and power attunement will bring to you.

The feet of the eagle have four toes. four is a traditional symbol for keeping oneself grounded and
laying a solid foundation for oneself. Even with the eagle's magnificent ability to fly, it stays
connected to the earth. The talons of the eagle are meant grasp and to hunt. This reflects the need
to stay connected to grasp and utilize the things of the earth. Without an ability to grasp
powerfully and utilize what it grasps, it will not survive.

The sharp beak is designed to cut, tear, and crush. eagle has strong jaw muscles. The jaw is
important to digestion and speech with humans, but there is a difference with eagles. Although
vocally the eagle is weak, its jaws are one of its most powerful muscles. For those with eagle
totems, it will be important to know when to speak, how much, and how strongly. It will be
important to remember that unless this is controlled, it will be very easy to inadvertently hurt
someone with words (cutting, tearing, and crushing).

For those with eagle totems, new vision will open. This vision will be far reaching to the past,
within the present and to the future as well. The eyes of the eagle are set closer to the front of the
head, and they have a 3-D or binocular vision, just like humans. They can see forward and
sideways, and their vision is 8X's greater than humans. Meditation on the number 8, especially
its figure (or the symbol of infinity) will reveal much about the kind of vision that eagle can awaken.

The ears of the eagle are not visible, but it hears very well. It can hunt as much by ear as by
sight. To those to home eagle comes, the ability to hear -- spiritually and physically -- will also increase.

Many eagles mate for life. The male will collect the material for the nests, but the female will be
the architect. These roles should be considered by anyone working with eagle medicine. The
nests are always large and built high up for safety. Although the roles in the construction of the
nests are separate, the task of feeding the young is shared by both, teaching the lesson of
cooperative responsibility.

The mating ritual of the bald eagle is one of its most mystical and intriguing aspects. A powerful
form of sky dancing occurs. The birds soar, loop, and plunge into deep dives. At a certain point,
they grab each other's feet and lock talons, rolling and falling, until the mating is completed.
Then they separate and soar upwards to repeat the process over and over again. This reflects
some of the mystical joy, danger, excitement, and power of the sexual energy experienced by
those with eagle medicine. It can open them to new heights and thrills.

The eagle is a true predator, and as with all predators, it helps to keep the world in balance.
Predators capture the weak and the sick, helping to keep the natural world healthy by preventing
the spread of disease. This healing role is one that will awaken in many forms for those working
with eagle totems.

They have a powerful sense of energy conservation in their hunting. They will often perch and
wait, biding their time through joyful soaring and aerial acrobatics--all the time using their great
vision to let them know when to take flight and capture their prey. This sense of confident energy
conservation will be necessary for those with eagle medicine to develop.

They are also opportunists, and they will let other birds do the hunting for them, often stealing
the food from other birds or predators. Whenever eagle flies into one's life, opportunities (even
those thought long lost) always arise. Those with eagle totems must learn to see their
opportunities and snatch them as they arise.

Eagles don't always swoop down to kill. They have tremendous control over their powerful
wings and they can glide slowly and silently down so that the prey does not hear them coming.
They are also known to be able to stop their movement and just hover in the air for brief
moments to make the strike more accurate. A new sense of timing and movement will begin to
develop with those of eagle totems. You will learn to swoop, to soar, to dive, and to hover--to
use the winds within your life and your own developing wings to ride them to your own benefit.
Large eagles don't just kill with their beaks or talons. Some can hit their prey with great force--
this alone being enough to stun or kill their prey. A bald eagle can strike with twice the force of a
rifle bullet. This reflects the primal force inherent and easily awakened in those with eagle
medicine.

Eagles are symbols of great power, a power that goes beyond their actual size. An average bald
eagle will weigh 8-10 pounds, about two pounds less than the average house cat.
To align yourself with eagle medicine is to take on the responsibility and the power of becoming
so much more than you now appear to be. From a karmic aspect, it reflects that the events will
now fly faster, and the repercussions for everything you think, do or say (or fail to think do or
say)--positive and negative--will be both stronger and quicker. To accept the eagle as a totem is
to accept a powerful new dimension to life, and a heightened responsibility for your spiritual
growth. But only through doing so do you learn how to move between worlds, touch all life with
healing, and become the mediator and the bearer of new creative force within the world.

SilverEagleDreamDancer:
“They have a powerful sense of energy conservation in their hunting. This sense of confident
energy conservation will be necessary for those with eagle medicine to develop.”

Well, that explains a lot for me. Energy conservation is integral for me. I knew this about eagle
but it really jumped out at me today. For instance, I 'plan' almost religiously. I save most of my
errands to do on one day and plan my route to take the quickest and most efficient route possible.
Heck, I even cook that way! Over the last year, I've loosened up just a bit in that respect because
I was a bit overbalanced in that area.

“From a karmic aspect, it reflects that the events will now fly faster, and the repercussions for
everything you think, do or say (or fail to think do or say)--positive and negative--will be both
stronger and quicker.”

This is one of the reasons that efficiency develops in everyday life for those with eagle.
“They have tremendous control over their powerful wings and they can glide slowly and silently
down so that the prey does not hear them coming.”

Anyone whose worked with me can attest to that! It's very effective when helping other through
difficult times. You can circle a topic as many times as they need and then swoop down into the
heart of it without them even knowing you did it until it's too late. It's part of how the healing
abilities of eagle can blend with other more predatory aspects.
Just some thoughts I had reading through the material provided.

Mouse:
Role: ~Illuminating Force~
Lesson: Soar Above
Element: Air/Water
Wind: ~East~ Illumination
Medicine: Connection to Grandfather Sky

Keywords
Illumination Ability to See Hidden Spiritual Truths
Strength Connection to Spirit Guides & Teachers
Courageous Intuitive Rising Above
Creativity Healing
Keen Sight

On the currents of the Four Winds
you ride the sky
held aloft by unseen hands
that hold you close to the Grandfather
Far below lies the world of Man
a realm in which you also dwell,
yet always from within
comes the ache to rejoin the Great Spirit
Caught between two realms,
you remind all who witness your beauty and strength
of the eternal struggle of the two-legged
to rise above the mundane
and feel the Soul take flight

Illumination
In Earth Medicine, we recognize the Eagle (all members of the Eagle family) as a symbol of a
powerful, spiritual energy. Because the Eagle soars so close to the Grandfather Sky, it is
believed that Eagle hears the voice of the ~Great Spirit~ and is thus a link between the Divine
and the Two-Leggeds (humanity)

Bald Eagle feathers are treasured and revered amongst the Native People, for they are
recognized as containing a very powerful Medicine energy/magic). While speaking in Truth,
seeking to bridge differences, or in asking for guidance and Illumination for a course of action,
the Eagle feather is held during ceremonies to draw in such spiritual illumination.

As a means to speak with spiritual clarity and Truth, the Speaker will hold an Eagle feather,
either as it is attached to a ~Talking Stick,~ or held in the hands. This serves as a connection to
the Divine, so that all words that are spoken, are spoken from Higher Intent, and also as a
means of asking that the Ancestors and the ~Great Mystery~ speak to and through, the Holder of
the Feather.

***Thus, One who flies with the Eagle, has a responsibility along the Good Red Road, to
operate from Higher Intent, to develop the latent abilities of Illumination, and then freely share
this Illumination with Others. Obviously, this is no small task, or one to ever be taken lightly, for
the ramifications are very far reaching, as are the Gifts and blessings for the Self
and Others, which ripple outward from this particular attribute.

The Path to Illumination is one often fraught with boulders and stumbling blocks that serve as a
schoolroom for the developing soul. A broad range of experiences (both pleasurable and
exceedingly painful), are met by the one beside whom Eagle flies as it is from the depth of
experience that true wisdom is forged and from wisdom, comes the Illumination of the Soul, or
~Enlightenment.~

However, as while encased in the Robe of Physical Life, there exists the possibility that the
personality center may arise that Eagle soul may examine his/her current level of growth and
integration. In some instances, one such manifestation of the Personality Center may be a sense
of self-aggrandizement or self-importance, as these are individuals who have an intuitive grasp
on mysteries that elude other less observant and/or intuitive individuals. This ~arcane
knowledge~ often gets the Eagle individual noticed, and where the soul has not sufficiently
integrated the lower vibrations of the personality center, arrogance may surface. Or the
converse may be true wherein the Eagle Soul has not acknowledged the splendor and beauty of
his/her soul. In this instance, what is obviously apparent to Others as to the Gifts and Quality of
Being that exists in the one beside whom Eagle soars, will be non-apparent to the Eagle
Individual, and the lesson then becomes acknowledging and embracing the Light of their own
Spirit.

Soul of Bald Eagle will possess an innate ability to ~see,~ dream, feel or ~know~ secret or
hidden spiritual truths, both of the other realms and planes of ~Being,~ and the hidden truths of
~Others.~ Such powerful insight and perception (think of the eagle’s powerful vision and everalert
and intense eyes), comes from both a plethora of past life experiences whose memory
bubbles just below the surface of conscious recollection, and partially from present lifetime
experiences which serve as lessons in developing and honing the gift of ~Insight.~
For the one who is able to find the splendid dance of balance between self-love and humility,
celebration of Self and celebration of the All, the dance is a beauty to witness, as the Eagle Spirit
unfurls the wings of their Soul, like their winged Totem dancing upon the Wind as they fully
embrace and inherit the brilliant Gift of true Illumination.***

Intuitive
The Eagle, as he soars amongst the clouds and floats upon the unseen currents of air, dwells in
close proximity to Grandfather Sky. From his connection to the Grandfather, Eagle also seeks to
rekindle his connection to the creative force of the ~Great Spirit.~ As such, Eagle intuitively
understands that we are never far from Home, or completely dis-connected from the Source of
All That Is.

Bald Eagle is one of the Totem Animals that dwells simultaneously within two realms. Such
dualistic Totems symbolize the need for Balance between two points, or the requirement that the
Soul whom Eagle flies beside, learns to dance between two planes. In the instance of this Totem,
Bald Eagle is considered to be a Water or Fish Eagle, as the primary source of the Bald Eagle’s
diet consists of fish that the Eagle will capture in fresh water rivers, streams and lakes. Yet he
also exists in the realm of Air, living on the wing and soaring above the mountain peaks.

Earth Medicine teaches us that each elemental clan symbolizes various aspects of our walk
along the Red Road. Water represents our emotional and spiritual Self, while Air represents our
intellect and conscious mind. Hence, Eagle must dive into the water with precision in order to
retrieve her meal of fish, which she will clutch firmly in her razor sharp talons, then to rise once
more to greet the sky. Within this behavior of Bald Eagle, lies the clue as to the nature that it
represents within all two-leggeds who have the Soul of Bald Eagle.

Water, as intuition, psychic attunement and emotions, represents your Soul’s ability to intuitively
assess situations, individuals and circumstances with an immediate grasp. Yet water also
symbolizes a depth of emotion and feeling that is nearly fathomless. Love is given wholeheartedly
and without restraint, a trait that can often lead to your being hurt by souls who have
not reached sufficient maturation and integration with their own Emotional Centers. Then, it is
imperative that one learns the value of appropriately timed detachment (as represented by the
Air), and the quality of discernment so that the beautiful nurturing and loving energy that flows
so effortlessly through you is not "wasted" on those who have not earned this most precious of
Gifts, and shared instead with those of a similar depth and maturation who are able to
reciprocate what has been received.

With each successive incarnation, the Soul learns how to move swiftly from one realm to the
next, to know when to utilize the psychic/intuitive gifts and depth of emotion, and when to soar
above and revisit the condition of the encounter or experience with detachment. This is one of
the primary factors in the Life Path of one with this Totem.
Ultimately, the Soul will reach the Zenith of this Life Lesson, and the Eagle’s desire for reuniting
with the Great Spirit will be fulfilled as the Eagle Soul learns to love and nurture the Self.
Courage

Wherever Eagle soars, the Native People have recognized this splendid bird as a symbol of
strength & courage. The builders of the American Constitution likewise acknowledged this
majestic creature’s aura of strength, and established it as the national symbol of America.
In the wild, the Eagle is the undisputed king/queen of the skies with no other bird equaling the
Eagle in either size or hierarchy. And it is in watching the heart stopping dives as the Eagle
pummels downward to capture their meals of fresh fish, that one truly begins to understand the
connection between these mighty birds and the keyword for this Totem of Courage.

***Like their totem Ally, the two-legged who has Eagle flying beside them, will often exhibit
great depths of inner strength and courage. Often times, they will encounter situations in their
flight along the Red Road of Physical Life in which they will need to call upon that courage in
the face of overwhelming adversity. Does this mean that the Eagle Soul feels no fear? Hardly, yet
once the fear has been felt and acknowledged, the Eagle Soul will then establish a plan of action
in order to confront and resolve the situation as these are the problem-solvers that will find a
possibility in what appears to be an impossible scenario. In facing their fears we witness the
Eagle demonstrating the literal meaning of Courage.

Whenever faced with situations, people or circumstances in which fear is felt, one with this
Animal Spirit might call upon Bald Eagle to bring the Courage to face what must be done. In so
doing, they are not only recognizing and giving thanks to the role of this Totem in their Life, they
are honoring their own Divine Essence of the ~Eagle Within.~***

Rising Above
Much as the Eagle soars majestically, held aloft on the Four Winds and leaving the ground far
below, so does the Soul who has Bald Eagle as their Power Totem, possess the same ability to
Rise Above the mundane.

***In many respects, this keyword is linked to the preceding one of Illumination, for it
represents the Soul’s ability to integrate the lessons of the physical world, to leave behind the
trappings of the past and the darker shadows of the human mind, so that one might soar on the
winds of illumination and awareness. Only once the ~Lower Personality~ has been thoroughly
embraced, understood, resolved and integrated, will the Soul have the freedom to Soar. The road
“there” is not an easy one to take, nor for the faint-hearted, yet it is a Journey that all of us must
make in order that our Soul may evolve beyond the need to incarnate into flesh.

This process is begun by uncovering those habits, beliefs and actions which are either selfdestructive
or cause pain for another, and is the crucial first step in the Journey of integrating
the personality to the Soul. Many lifetimes may be spent in this first step alone as to face one’s
own Inner Truth in complete honesty may be painful and require a good deal of detachment, it
also requires that we embrace those aspects of ourselves that we may see as less than desirable.
Yet once the Soul has acknowledged these ~Truths~ then the greatest step has already been
taken.

Next in this process (once our ~stumbling blocks~ have been identified), is to evaluate what
lessons they have presented in our life. This is then initialed by once again evaluating the Self in
honesty, by asking if these lessons and issues have been resolved, for if they have not been, they
will simply re-present themselves again and again, becoming exponentially
larger, until we are “forced” to confront and resolve them. For some who chose to evade and
fool themselves, this can ultimately manifest physically with the individual either becoming so ill
that they are left under the surgeons’ knife, in the hospital, or they ~transition,~ only to come
back in the next life and face those very same lessons yet again.

If indeed, one can honestly affirm that those lessons have been thoroughly acknowledged,
learned and absorbed, then the unfolding of the Soul begins and with it, the ability to rise above
the mundane. This, as stated earlier, is a very involved process and must always be approached
in conscious awareness, yet the freedom of the Soul on the wing, able to rise above those things
that have caused one so much pain, anger or torment in the past, is a glorious unfolding to
behold.***

Connection to Spirit Guides and Teachers
As an Animal Totem, the Eagle has long been revered by the Native People for the proximity in
which he/she soars to the Great Spirit. Because of the Eagle`s ability to fly so near to the roof of
the sky, to view all that which lies below from a viewpoint similar to that of the Great Mystery,
this mighty bird is believed to be a conveyor of messages between the
Blue Road of Spirit and the Red Road of Physical Life.

***Like their Spirit Animal, the two-legged beside whom Eagle soars, will have an aspect of
him/herself that will be attuned to the voices of the Ancestors. This ability to tune into other
realms and hidden knowledge, may be seen by those lacking in such sensitivity and attunement
as "day dreaming" or "spacing out." The truth of the matter is that the soul of the Eagle
individual is in a near-constant state of receptivity, though they may not be consciously aware of
the messages they are receiving from Spirit Guides, Totems and Teachers, the messages are
coming through none the less.

The more that the Eagle Soul can learn to tune into his/her feelings, intuitions and visuals
received, the greater this perception and ability to tune into ancient wisdom becomes. For some,
the knowledge received will be expressed as "automatic writing" or trance channeling, others
will express this ability via creative artwork in the form of beautiful illustrations that convey a
deep spirituality, for others still, such knowledge and connection to
the ~Higher Self~ is expressed via deeply stirring music.

Regardless of the medium through which such a connection to both the Spirit Guides and Higher
Self is established, the end result is that these are the souls that carry profound messages for the
rest of Humanity. Through conveying such messages in their non-judgmental and beautifully
presented manner, the messages and knowledge passed along is received on a deeper level, and
thus both the Messenger and the Recipient benefit from this beautiful Talent.

Creativity
The Eagle is recognized in Earth Medicine as a Winged One that is a symbol of Creation. In
particular, the Thunder Eagle (or Thunderbird) is revered as a powerful Spirit that heralds great
change and unlimited happiness that arises through the fountain of the Divine Creative Spark.
Eagle’s place in Native American culture is quite significant, as very few Totem Animals are
believed to possess such a broad and all-encompassing range of Medicine. For Eagle, the
greatest creation is Life, either in the saving of the life of another (as through the strong healing
emphasis associated with this raptor), or in the act of procreation. Like the legendary Phoenix,
the Eagle is a Animal Totem of Transformation and Regeneration, a Spirit in a continual
creative process.

***The two-legged who is blessed to have this Spirit Animal fly beside him/her, will be an
individual that has entered onto the Good Red Road to express themselves creatively. This
Divine Spark of Creativity may manifest in a multitude of channels, from music to making
intricate and stunning jewelry, producing beautifully illustrated paintings to conceptualizing
impressive architectural designs. Whatever medium this creative genius asserts itself, these will
often be amongst the most skilled of artisans, poets and musicians.

Indeed, the entire existence of the Eagle individual will seem to be a creative process, and life
will be seen with a sensitivity that is both esthetic and deeply spiritual. Herein lies the key for the
Eagle Soul, as the art they create will contain deeply spiritual overtones and undercurrents, their
music, writing or art will transcend their captive audiences to a higher vibration where all life is
celebrated with a deep reverence and joy.

The irony perhaps is that often these souls are not fully aware of the talent they possess, as like
the white crown feathers of the adult Bald Eagle, the two-legged beside whom this raptor travels
will mature into his/her supreme talents. Such profound creativity must be reclaimed with a
willing heart, yet one that is willing to fully embrace the responsibility to convey the realms of
ethereal beauty, mysticism, music and art that is often invisible or unheard to the average twolegged.
Yet when the Bald Eagle Soul has fully embraced both his/her talents and the
responsibility to pass along their ~Vision,~ the physical world is not only made more esthetically
appealing, the spirituality inherent in the visions conveyed will call to Others to reach for that
sense of Beauty, Peace and Illumination within.***

From: wolfs_moon.tripod.com/baldeagletotem.html (Site is no longer maintained- lots of popups
there. Go there only if you are adequately protected against spy- and adware popups.)

CinnamonMoon:
The Druid Animal Oracle by Phillip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm

Eagle: Intelligence, Renewal, Courage
Eagle helps you to see your life in the wider context, enabling you to make decisions and chart
your goals with clarity and objectivity. A powerful ally, it is courageous and strong, and draws
its power from the sun. If you will allow the eagle to work for you, it will bring you a sense of
purpose and the courage to see this through, enabling you to venture into fresh territory with
confidence. It will allow you to detach yourself from everyday worries and cares, and will enable
you to grasp subtle concepts. the eagle, when accepted, will also show you the way to renew and
rejuvenate yourself, by demonstrating the art of plunging--at just the right moment--into the lake
of the heart.

Contrary may mean that you need to guard against the dangers of an overpowering intellect. The
eagle, when it knows how to renew itself in the secret lake, is able to balance its masculine fiery
qualities with the feminine, watery qualities of the lake. But when it cannot find the secret lake,
when we deny our minds access to the heart, our lives can become dry and sterile, our intellects
harsh and overly analytical. Now may be the time to see whether your mind and heart are in
balance. You may want to pay more attention to your dreams--to listen to the call of the
unconscious, to the depths within, without denying the value of your questing, rational mind.