Hawk symbolism represents strength with a gift of clarity and determination. The bird holds meaning all over the world, with each culture carrying a specific symbolism for the hawk.
What Does A Hawk Symbolize?
- Adaptability
- Intelligence
- Awareness
- Stability
- Clarity
- Determination
White Hawk Meaning
The white hawk symbolizes friendship and understanding. It’s a sign that you are moving on and are ready to be a blessing again. White hawks are highly spiritual, rare, and pure.
Black Hawk Meaning
The black hawk represents the subconscious. They are sent to those who need to unlock a higher purpose through dreams, meditation, or prayer.
Red Hawk Meaning
The red hawk represents wisdom and grace. They are often connected to people who are easy to talk to and who love to get to know people.
Spiritual Meanings of Hawk Symbolism Throughout History
Hopi
The Hopi believe that hawks are a spirit of nature, a Kachina. The hawk is called Palakwayo, a medicinal bird that flies with caretakers.
Shawnee
The Shawnees believe that a shapeshifter named Waupee found a basket belonging to the Star Maidens, who danced in the prairie. He kidnapped one of these women and married her, and they lived in the stars.
Arapaho
The Arapaho have a story about a woman named Sapana. She and her friends went to catch a porcupine who turned out to be an old man who captured her, taking her to his home in the sky.
When she dug a hole down to earth to escape, things went wrong until a buzzard helped her, followed by a hawk who saved the young woman.
Cheyenne
The Cheyenne have a story about a hawk and a magpie. Their job was to win humans the right to hunt buffalo instead of buffalo hunting humans. The hawk and magpie raced the buffalo to win the humans’ rights and won.
Christian
In Christianity, the hawk represents freedom and wisdom. In Job, it says that the hawk flies by God’s wisdom. This is a reminder that everything is God’s will and with his mind rather than only our own.
Islam
In Islamic tradition, the hawk is a strong and righteous creature. The desert hawk is even a direct associate of Muhammad.
Buddhist
Hawk symbolism in Buddhism represents evil and temptation. In a story about a quail and a hawk, the hawk chases the quail but eventually lands in the bushes, with the qual escaping.
Hindu
In Hinduism, the Vedas texts have a story about a divine messenger named Shyena, who is a hawk. She sends messages from heaven and grants new life via the nectar she brings.
Egyptian
Ancient Egyptians believed that the hawk was a piece of someone’s soul that came from the remains of a mummy. They are believed to be connected to the sun god and brought good luck to Egyptians in battle.
Greek
In Greek mythology, the hawk is associated with Hermes and Apollo. With Hermes, it’s a general association, but with Apollo, it’s more specific. To prevent a sad father from killing himself, Apollo turned him into a hawk to grant him strength.
East Asia
In East Asia, hawks are symbols of strength. This can be a warrior-type strength or one of a ruthless dictator. The representation that you get to choose the type of warrior spirit you have, whether of kindness and love or cruelty, is what the hawk is all about.
African
In Africa, hawks are symbols of faith. They represent a life change that will change depending on a decision that you will make – a decision that requires courage.
Celtic
The Celts believed in the druidic power of the hawk. They saw hawks as messengers that asked us to look at our life from a bird’s eye view and that seeing one was a sign of victory or natural death.
Nordic
Hawk symbolism in Nordic mythology represents Freyja, who wore hawk feathers. She could transform into a hawk with these feathers. Her wisdom and intelligence are represented by the bird today.