Áilín Quinlan: 3 hawks circling overhead, is this a symbol of some kind?

Could be something, could be nothing.

But there was, most definitely, the possibility of weird.

It was raining. Again. I was unpacking a carful of groceries and feeling grim.

Who wouldn’t? It’s been raining for years.

Well, at least since those last, diamond-bright days straight after Christmas anyway.

House walls are turning sickly fungus-green, patio slabs are black with mould, and the gutters are clogged. The fields are sodden.

And no, don’t start – we’re not just imagining it.

We’ve had well above average rainfall this past winter, and this has been the wettest start to the year on record at several locations around the country. And that’s direct from the horse’s mouth. Met Éireann.

We also have had more violent storms in recent years, which, in terms of what you might categorise as unintended consequences, have wrought devastating change on the rural landscapes.

Many of our hedgerows – crucial wildlife habitats for all sorts of species - have been shaved to within an inch of their lives.

Similarly, lots of roadside trees, not just beautiful and old, but also important habitats as well as roosting areas for bats and perches for wild birds, have been hacked down everywhere you look. And still, it pours.

Anyway, back to the rain and the groceries. As I leaned in to haul the last bag of shopping out of the car, I heard a high-pitched, steam-whistle call from far above. Then another. And another. I looked up.

Three hawks were suddenly circling high above me. They seemed to have come from different directions. Round they went and round, once, twice, three times, calling, calling, calling, keening, keening.

Calling and keening to who, I wondered.

It wasn’t the first time I’d seen or heard a hawk out here. Now and again - but usually in summertime - I’d hear that shrill, rasping cry and see a solitary hawk elegantly navigating the air currents far up in the sky.

But never anything like this.

I stared.

They circled a couple more times and then, as suddenly as they had arrived, they were gone and I was left blinking, the image of the three circling birds imprinted on the inside of my eyelids.

Eventually, I grabbed the last of the shopping and carried it into the house. As I put the groceries away, I caught myself glancing out the window, hoping that they’d come back so that I could see it all again and process it better.

But they didn’t.

It niggled at me.

I googled hawks and came across some articles about the symbolism around these incredible birds.

It’s believed that seeing a hawk can mean a new start.

I can also mean that help is coming, that if you’re thinking about a specific problem when the hawk appears, the bird is a sign that you’re receiving the guidance needed to resolve it.

Hawk sightings have different meanings across different spiritual and cultural beliefs, but one thing is agreed; they are significant.

In many Native American cultures, the hawk is far more than a bird. It’s revered as a powerful, sacred being, as a protector and guardian and as a ‘totem’ animal (which means the bird is symbolic of an individual, a family or a clan.)

Hawks are seen as messengers carrying guidance to us from the spirit world and from our ancestors. They are believed to bring prayers to the Creator.

The Cherokees believed that hawks are messengers and that sightings of this bird signify that what you are thinking about is manifesting.

In Christianity, hawks symbolise spiritual enlightenment- and, just as in Native American culture - a form of divine communication.

Christianity holds that hawks remind us to be on the look-out and to be mindful of God’s messages to humanity.

The Celts, meanwhile, viewed hawks as protectors and a sign of wisdom and honour.

The ancient Egyptians saw the birds as symbols of protection and strength.

Seeing two hawks is believed to have immense spiritual significance depending on the situation.

The sighting of two of the birds touches on issues related to balance – such as balancing mind and feelings - or balance in relationships.

I googled some more.

Seeing three hawks, I learned, is a powerful omen of alignment. It indicates a harmony of mind, body, and spirit.

It means spiritual protection, strength and clarity at a time of chaos and confusion.

A sighting of three hawks can represent divine guidance urging you to trust your instincts, to focus on the big picture and your long-term goals, and to start preparing for a major spiritual awaking or transformation.

Not sure, I thought apprehensively, that I was quite ready for an imminent spiritual awakening. Let alone a massive transformation.

Then, I read that seeing a hawk is generally considered to be a positive omen.

Next I saw that it can be perceived as a warning. A bit discombobulated, I phoned a friend.

“They were probably just, like, mating or something. It’s spring, after all,” she said in practical tones. My friend is a very practical lady.

Then, a bit sourly: “At least, technically speaking it’s spring. Not that you’d notice.”

But three hawks?

Maybe it was something.

Or maybe it was nothing.

I’d love to know more. Anyone who can add anything to the above information about hawks and their spiritual or cultural significance, please email me at ailinquinlan@gmail.com