Flapping of the Wings

Written by Janae Bower | Edited by Rory Hart
Sections of this topic
    A duck flapping its wings on a pond
    Soon after arriving at the beautiful Johnson Lake Home (our retreat center) on Lake George in the northern woods of Minnesota, I felt drawn to go down to the lake. The stillness of the lake was breath-taking along with the reflection of the clouds and trees in the water. We were in awe that the lake was even opened as it’s normally still frozen in March.
    My best friend Julie and I were continuing our conversation when we saw a bald eagle fly to a towering pine tree by the lake’s shore. Soon it was flying again, soaring above the water only to come near to our shoreline this time to a different tree. The lone eagle found a mate and together they and we experienced magic; a divinely-inspired occurrence with nature and these majestic birds.

    Dancing in Harmony

    The eagles were dancing in the sky with one another as they soared in harmony right above the lake. We were fully present watching them, sitting still with awe. Back and forth they danced and soared. Then they started flying toward our direction. Sitting on the dock these two eagles soared no more than 10-20 feet above us still in perfect harmony. These eagles were so close to us that we actually heard the flapping of their wings. I can still feel that breathtaking moment when they soared above us; chills filled my entire body as I knew that this was a holy encounter. Psalm 18:10 says “He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.”
    Julie and I looked at each other in amazement and she said that in all the years that she’s been coming here as a young girl she’s never experienced anything like this. The two of us, along with my other best friend Sara, have created and called ourselves WINGS for nearly 15 years. We are about helping each other soar in our lives through growing spiritually.
    I knew that God had graced us with the presence of these two eagles, dancing and soaring in harmony. Sitting there more that night, we also saw two ducks, two swans and then the next day we saw two geese. We were graced again with the beauty of God’s nature during a walk. Just like the eagle’s the day before, two geese flew above us close enough to hear the flapping of their wings and we could hear their honking of course. I’ve read how geese are known for their teamwork and encouragement, just the same as what our WINGS group symbolizes.
    This lake home is special for Julie’s family, one of the most cherished places for her mother who passed away a few years ago. I felt her Julie’s mother Patty’s presence this whole weekend; her spirit, faithfulness and encouragement to keep on living our dreams.

    The Deeper Message

    Driving home we encountered more bald eagles (pictured) and I felt like they had a deeper message for us. I soon found out what that was. When I was sharing this experience with a friend, she shared with me a passage about the significance of eagles from her book Animal Speak: The Spiritual and Magical Power of Creatures Great and Small by Ted Andrews. Until this one and a couple of other recent interesting animal experiences, I hadn’t thought much about messages that animals might be sharing with us.
    As soon as she shared more, I felt the chills again like that moment. Here is a little of what it says that really speaks to me. “The bald eagle is a long-time symbol of spiritual power and illumination; eagles inspire people of all societies. Their energy is healing and aids in creation. Eagles teach a balance of being of the Earth but not in it. Both the bald eagle and the 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.
    Then get this what is says about the eagle’s dancing in the sky. “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.”
    New vision will open. Eagles often perch and wait using their great vision to let them know when to take flight and see their opportunities. It’s about 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.
    According to the book, to align with the power of the eagle 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 this 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.
    “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.”

    The Push

    Once again with this new insight of the significance of eagles, I am in awe and somewhat overwhelmed as it speaks so clearly to where I am right now in life. How can you and I take on more of the divine essence of the eagle? Sometimes we need “a BIG push” to do that.
    The book The Push, is my other previous experience with Eagles. Written by David McNally and published by Simple Truths, is more about what the Eagle is telling us. I’m blessed to have a story published in it as well about how to find God’s purpose for our lives. If you haven’t yet, take a look at this inspirational movie and this book for more encouragement for your life for taking flight with God’s insights and soaring to new heights that you ever imagined flying!

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    For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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    Janae Bower is an inspirational speaker, award-winning author and training consultant. She founded Finding IT, a company that specializes in personal and professional development getting to the heart of what matters most. She started Project GratOtude, a movement to increase gratitude in people’s lives.

    Janae Bower