Quick Answers
Seeing a vulture can symbolize different things depending on the context and one’s cultural or spiritual beliefs. Some common symbolic meanings associated with seeing a vulture include:
- Death, decay, and transformation
- Purification and renewal
- Patience and higher perspective
- Intelligence and adaptability
- Intuition and connection to the spiritual realm
- Loss and grief
Vultures as Symbols of Death and Decay
One of the most common symbolic meanings associated with vultures is death, decay, and transformation. As carrion birds, vultures are closely linked to dead animals and decaying matter, on which they feed. Seeing a vulture can therefore represent the end of something, the closeness of death, or the process of decay and change.
In many cultures, spotting a vulture circling overhead is believed to be an ominous sign, foreshadowing death, disaster, or loss. This is likely connected to the vulture’s tendency to circle high above areas where animals are close to death or have recently died.
However, the vulture’s association with death also symbolizes important natural processes of decay and transformation. As scavengers, vultures play a vital ecological role in disposing of carrion and preventing the spread of diseases. Therefore, the vulture can represent the larger cycles of endings and new beginnings, symbolic of powerful natural forces.
Examples of the Vulture Symbolizing Death and Decay
- In Andean cultures in South America, the vulture represents the impending death of someone sick or elderly.
- In ancient Egypt, vultures were a symbol of protection and purification against dead matter, decay, and evil influences.
- In Greek mythology, two vultures named Aethon and Neaethus sat at the throne of Zeus and communicated omens of mortality to the god.
- In the Tibetan tradition, vultures circling are a sign that someone will soon die.
- Catholic Christian tradition uses vultures pecking at a dead body as a symbol of the soul destroyed by sin.
Vultures as Symbols of Purification and Renewal
Despite their gloomy associations with death, vultures have also symbolized purification, renewal, and new life. By rapidly consuming dead and decaying matter, vultures cleanse the environment and prevent the spread of diseases.
In this regenerative role, the vulture has often been a symbol of motherhood. Ancient Egyptians revered the vulture goddess Nekhbet who was seen as a protective, maternal deity. Egyptians also used vultures to represent the purifying and regenerative power of fire.
In Hindu mythology, the vulture Jatayu sacrificed himself in an attempt to rescue Sita, linking him to courage, loyalty, and purification through noble deeds. For Native American tribes including the Pueblo and Navajo, the vulture represented cleansing, renewal, and connection to the spirits of the dead.
Examples of the Vulture Symbolizing Purification and Renewal
- For the ancient Sumerians, the vulture was a symbol of regeneration because it picked the flesh off the dead.
- In Hindu myths, the vulture king Jatayu dies trying to save Sita, making him a symbol of renewal through courage.
- For Hopi and Zuni Pueblo Native American tribes, vultures represent cleansing, catharsis, and renewal.
- In ancient Mexico, the Aztecs associated the vulture with motherhood and feminine power.
Vultures as Symbols of Patience and Higher Perspective
Vultures are known to soar and circle at great heights for hours while patiently scanning the terrain for food. Their high vantage point has made them symbols of patience, endurance, and the ability to wait for the right moment.
Soaring high above also represents a larger philosophical or spiritual perspective. The vulture teaches us to step back from earthly affairs to obtain a higher view of life. Seeing a vulture can mean moving into a phase of patience, reflection, and spiritual maturation.
Examples of the Vulture Symbolizing Patience and Higher Perspective
- In ancient Egypt, vultures represented the far-seeing eyes of god that patiently watched over the world.
- In Andean cultures, the elevation of soaring vultures is linked to seeings life’s bigger picture.
- In Native American myths, vultures symbolize awaiting life’s opportunities at the right moment.
- In Greek myths, the vulture Aethon waited loyally to communicate messages between gods and mortals.
Vultures as Symbols of Intelligence and Adaptability
Vultures have highly evolved traits that symbolize intelligence, adaptability, and survival instinct.
A vulture’s ability to locate carrion across vast distances shows impressive environmental awareness and problem-solving skills. Vultures also have highly acidic stomachs that safely digest rotting carcasses filled with microbes.
As scavengers, vultures adapt to opportunity, competition, and unpredictable food sources in their environment. Their intelligence and versatility provide useful symbolic meaning.
Examples of the Vulture Symbolizing Intelligence and Adaptability
- In ancient Egypt, vultures were seen as intelligent guides to the afterlife.
- In Hinduism, vultures represent intellect, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in changing conditions.
- In Native American culture, vulture feathers and images symbolize intelligence and survival instinct.
- In Western alchemy, vultures were a symbol of the mind’s ability to extract hidden insights and meaning.
Vultures as Symbols of Intuition and Connection to Spirit
Vultures have long been symbols of the psychic and spiritual realm. Their ability to soar at dizzying heights links them to the heavens, invisible energies, and intimate knowledge of the cycle of life and death.
Seeing a vulture can represent tapping into intuition and inner truth. It can also symbolize communication with the dead or serving as a messenger between physical and spiritual worlds.
Examples of the Vulture Symbolizing Spiritual Connection
- In South American cultures, vultures represent communication with spirits and the ascendance to higher levels of being.
- In myths, the vulture connects the mortal world and the divine realm, bringing prophecy, omens, and insight.
- In Christianity, the vulture hovering high above earth represents otherworldly insight and divine vision.
- In shamanic traditions, vulture imagery symbolizes tapping your deepest intuition.
Vultures as Symbols of Loss and Grief
As birds that feed on dead and decaying matter, vultures have commonly been associated with loss, grief, bereavement, and heartache.
Seeing a vulture nearby after losing a loved one can represent the painful process of grieving and letting go. A vulture may also symbolize feeling emotionally preyed upon or lacking closure.
However, the vulture can remind us that loss ultimately leads to transmutation. It encourages us to allow old hurts to dissipate so new growth may take their place.
Examples of the Vulture Symbolizing Loss and Grief
- In literature and poetry, vultures are portrayed as harbingers of doom, grief, and longing after death.
- Dreaming of a vulture after experiencing loss represents the heartache and denial phase of grieving.
- Seeing a vulture after a breakup can symbolize feeling emotionally scavenged or picked apart by heartache.
- In myths, the vulture was seen as a creature that thrived on human grief and loss.
Interpreting the Vulture’s Message
When interpreting the symbolism of a vulture sighting, here are some things to consider:
- Your emotions and state of mind when you saw the vulture. Were you recently dealing with loss, change, or transition?
- The vulture’s behavior. Was it soaring peacefully or scavenging for food aggressively?
- Other intuitive or symbolic signals about the timing. Did something feel meaningful or destined about the encounter?
- Cultural, spiritual, or mythical meanings that resonate with you personally.
- The vulture’s physical qualities. Was it powerful, weak, healthy, injured etc.?
Since vultures are such spiritually significant creatures, take time to reflect on their symbolic value when you encounter them. Vultures carry different meanings across cultures, but ultimately represent the profound cycles of life, death, grief, and renewal that we all experience.
Examples of Symbolism in Different Sightings
Circling Overhead
A vulture slowly circling high above you may symbolize:
- Impending major change or transition
- Need to pause and gain higher perspective
- Upcoming loss or ending of a life phase
- Closing chapter leading to rebirth
Perched on a Tree or Post
A vulture resting up high symbolizes:
- Patience, stillness, quiet contemplation
- Ability to wait calmly for opportunities
- Need to delay action for now
- Time to plan or meditate before changes come
Feeding on the Ground
A vulture scavenging and feeding may represent:
- Difficult or painful ending being processed
- Intense grief work and letting go
- Facing an inevitable change or loss
- Purging emotions to clear way for renewal
Flying Over Water
A vulture soaring over water symbolizes:
- Death and rebirth cycle
- Emotions and spirit being cleansed
- Transition from one way of life to another
- Baptism, initiation into new life phase
Interacting with You
A vulture that gets very close or makes direct contact may represent:
- Very significant ending or change about to occur
- Powerful message from your intuition
- Preparation needed for major spiritual transformation
- Completing a difficult grief process
Vulture Symbolism in Dreams
Dreaming of vultures often relates to change, loss, and aspects of your unconscious mind or intuition. Here are some common meanings:
- Circling vulture – Impending danger, loss, or death; issue you are avoiding
- Vulture staring at you – Intuition trying to get your attention; message from the unconscious
- Feeding vulture – Aspect of yourself or life that needs to be purged; deep grief
- Vulture flying away – End of a difficult period; start of renewal
- Vulture landing on you – Powerful omen or insight coming; pay attention
- Talking vulture – Wisdom and advice from your intuition; truth being revealed
Analyze other elements of the vulture dream and your current life circumstances for further meaning.
Vulture Symbols in Myth and Culture
Vultures have symbolic importance in myths, legends, and sacred traditions across the world:
- Egypt – Vultures represented death, protection, motherhood, and the regenerative power of fire and the sun.
- Greece – Mythic vultures like Aethon and Neaethus communicated messages between gods and humans.
- Hinduism – Vulture king Jatayu dies trying to save Sita, so is a symbol of renewal through sacrifice.
- Alchemy – The vulture was a symbol of the alchemist’s ability to extract meaning from decaying matter.
- Native Americas – Vultures represented cleansing, renewal, connection to spirits, and power of the elements like water.
- West Africa – For the Asante people, vulture feathers and claws were sacred symbols of spirituality and intuition.
Using Vulture Symbolism for Growth and Healing
Here are some ways to apply vulture symbolism for empowerment:
- When facing loss or change, let the vulture remind you of renewal after grief.
- To gain a big picture perspective, visualize soaring as high as a vulture and expanding your horizons.
- When you need patience, call on the vulture totem to find resources to wait calmly.
- To increase spiritual intuition, meditate on vulture imagery to tap hidden inner truths.
- When stagnating, ask the vulture to reveal what needs purging so you can rebuild and thrive.
- To balance logic with intuition, blend the vulture’s animal instincts with its intelligence.
By understanding the vulture’s wisdom, we gain perspective on life’s painful transitions and see each ending as the seed of a hopeful new beginning.
Conclusion
In many cultures worldwide, the vulture carries rich symbolic meaning. Most commonly, the vulture signifies death, decay, and grief but also renewal, patience, spirituality, and higher insight. Seeing a vulture prompts reflection on life’s endings that inevitably give rise to new possibilities. By noting the vulture’s power of adaptation, we’re reminded that with resilience and an elevated perspective, we too can transform and soar to new heights.