WHAT’S THIS CRITTER TELLING YOU?
Nature talks… and we should listen
If you are like me, maybe you notice how often signs and messages come to us through Nature—especially from animals. If not, you’re missing out, and I highly recommend you start paying attention.
Whenever something crosses my path, I take the time to enjoy the sighting. Then I look up its spiritual or symbolic meaning. The results are always amazingly in tune with what’s happening in my life… and very inspiring and encouraging.
A few examples:
• Wild Turkeys: I had been worrying about my career and future financial circumstances. A couple of days later, a flock of wild turkeys crossed the road in front of my car. Quite a nice and unexpected treat!
Wild turkeys symbolize abundance, gratitude and community service. In my case, this suggested being grateful for all I already have while trusting the Universe to provide and expanding my work into the community. The turkey also represents the willingness to let go of old habits to create space for personal growth and rebirth.
• Does: I was going through a phase during which I was feeling stressed and getting into the bad habit of driving a bit too fast and carelessly. One early evening, when I was driving back home along a wooded road, I saw two does crossing in front of my car, forcing me to slow down and stop. As they were crossing, they paused in the middle of the road and stared right at me. The word that came to mind was: “Attention.” This was one of the most beautiful and intense animal encounters I’ve ever had.
Seeing a doe is a sign to slow down, trust your intuition and approach life with gentleness. The doe also represents the Divine Feminine and sensitivity as strength. Two does together emphasize themes of partnership, community and balancing your connections with others. A pair often points to finding harmony between opposing forces in your life, such as action and rest, or logic and emotion.
• Cranes: I had just taken a life-changing step and was feeling unsettled and a bit sad about it. When I got home, I saw a family of cranes in my front yard. They didn’t fly away; they just stared at me as I went into the house. I felt soothed and settled.
Cranes are ancient symbols of luck, joy and prosperity. Their visit brings positive energy to your household. In addition, they represent healing and a long life, and emphasize themes of family harmony and trust. Encountering a crane also encourages you to look within and seek clarity.
• Red Cardinals: Recently, I also had interesting and unusual experiences with male cardinal sightings. I’ve been going through a phase of heightened creativity intermingled with difficult challenges and moments during which I feel in need of support. One of the sightings involved a beautiful male cardinal flying to my living room window one afternoon while I was sitting in my recliner and watching TV. He hung around on the window screen for a couple of minutes, peering inside and looking at me a couple of times, and then he was gone.
The second sighting happened just a few days later when I was staying at an Airbnb in New Smyrna Beach. I was walking along a sandy beach trail from the condo complex where I was staying to the beach when a red cardinal flew across the path just a few feet in front of me. This felt like an intentional reminder.
As you may know, the sighting of a red cardinal is often viewed as a comforting visit from a deceased loved one or a spiritual messenger watching over you. In addition, a male cardinal is a spiritual symbol of courage, passion and honest self-expression. It inspires hope, renewal and a call to step into your power and overcome insecurities or self-doubt.
These kinds of sightings are often reminders to reconnect with our inner/higher guidance through Nature. Sometimes they are simply reminders of the beauty of Nature that lives in all of us. Whatever the reason, it’s always worth pausing and paying attention.
Have you had an animal encounter lately? What do you believe it means? Share in the comments :)
Gisele Marasca-Vargas; 08/26/26
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