Hawks, Birds, and Divine Messengers: A Conversation About Recognizing the Signs

In this intimate conversation from "Surrendering to the Signs," I sit down with my dear friend and longtime collaborator Sarah Nicotra to explore how nature speaks to us, the power of paying attention, and what happens when we honor the cycles of rest and action in our spiritual journey.

When Hawks Circle Above

The first time Sarah and I spoke was around 2012, we'd both signed up for an online training program together, and during our introductory call, Sarah suddenly looked up at the sky and said, "You're not going to believe this, but there are hawks circling above my house."

That was our first conversation. And hawks have been our sign ever since.

"I can go months without seeing a hawk," says Sarah. "But when I'm really talking with spirit and asking for direction, there's always a hawk that swoops in. For me, it feels like Spirit answered my prayer.

The Bird with No Nest

Recently, Sarah started a podcast called "Rare Bird," a project of the heart that brought up insecurities about visibility and being authentically herself. Around the same time she launched this project, something remarkable began happening in her backyard.

"I have a family of sparrows that have taken up residence in the roof of my porch, and one bird has been kicked out of the nest," she explains. "Every day they're squabbling. During the daytime, this bird tries to make it back into the nest. And the little group is like, 'No, you can't.' So this poor bird has no nest and it's wintertime."

The displaced bird made a decision. It chose to live in a little nook right above the chair where Sarah sits each morning to listen to the birds and find her center. "It's there day after day after day. I've put out bird houses, fluffy things. I've hung them all up. It doesn't want them. It's out in the open, right above my shoulder."

For Sarah, the symbolism is unmistakable. "When I sit outside, I'm like, this bird is talking to me. This is not a coincidence. With my project, with my voice, I'm really trying to create more healing for myself by using my self-expression. I feel like this bird is a little messenger telling me, 'Yes, Sarah, one more step.'"

She describes the experience with wonder: "When I sit outside, I feel like the goddess Frigga from the Norse Pantheon, who always has a hawk or bird above her right shoulder. And that's what I feel like when I sit outside."

Small Winks and Nudges

"People think they're going to have some burning bush when they think of the signs," Sarah laughs. "But it can be these small little winks and nudges."

Sarah recently learned that birdsong actually regulates our nervous system. During a three-year healing period when she hit rock bottom, "all I did was sit outside and listen to the birds. The birds have been a critical part of my healing journey.”

When the Signs Go Quiet

But what about when the signs seem to disappear?

"There can be long periods of silence," Sarah acknowledges. "And that doesn't mean something's wrong. It's just quiet, and that's okay."

Honoring Natural Cycles

Our conversation touches on something crucial in our always-on culture: honoring cycles of rest and action. One of my teachers (Angeles Arrien) used to say nature moves "slow to medium and occasionally fast." A lion rests most of the time, occasionally chases prey, then goes back to napping. "We in our culture are just fast, fast, fast all the time."

[Listen to the full conversation to hear about how we're learning to trust these natural cycles.]

A Mountain of Evidence

When I ask about trusting the process during quiet times, Sarah's response is powerful: "I have a mountain of evidence from the last 20 years that Spirit does talk to me and I am led to certain things. It's way beyond my control."

The Unexpected as Portal

Sarah shares how recent disruptions became "a portal to better things." A cancelled appointment led her to a school presentation that "blew my heart open."

"It's the unexpected signs and breadcrumbs that keep me going," she explains. "When the signs come back around, it's like, 'Oh my gosh, I'm in the flow of something.' That contributes to how I make myself feel safe in the world."

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My takeaway from this conversation: Divine communication often comes through the smallest, most intimate moments in nature. Sarah and I have learned that the signs aren't always dramatic. Sometimes they're as simple as a displaced bird choosing to nest above your shoulder, or hawks appearing just when you need confirmation. The key is creating space to listen and trusting that the quiet periods are just as sacred as the active ones.

Listen to the full conversation to hear more about Sarah's spiritual practices and the deeper wisdom that emerges when we pay attention to nature's messages.

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What signs has nature been offering you? Share your experiences in the comments below.