I’ve been receiving signs in the form of an eagle long before I ever asked the Universe to send me signs—well before I even recognized myself as being on a spiritual journey.
The first one I remember was several years ago. My husband and I had been trying to conceive our second child for quite a while without success. It was a long, lonely, difficult road filled with hope and despair. We eventually turned to fertility treatments, but still spent months without results. And then—we got pregnant!
We were cautiously optimistic, having experienced several early losses. When I noticed some early spotting, I automatically assumed the worst. I called my doctor, who told me to come in so they could check things out. Speaking of signs—when I got into the car, the first song that came on the radio was “You Need to Calm Down.” In that moment, I took it as a sign: 1) I needed to calm down so I could drive safely to the doctor, and 2) maybe things would turn out okay after all.
And they did. It was a false alarm. My doctor confirmed that early spotting can be totally normal and there was nothing to worry about.
A few weeks later came the real moment of truth: hearing the heartbeat. This was a big moment, because during our last first ultrasound, we’d learned of a failed outcome. So off I went, extremely anxious but hopeful. And we heard the heartbeat! Such a relief after so much time and heartache.
On my way home from that appointment, I was driving on the highway when a bald eagle swooped down in front of my car—so close I couldn’t miss it. I wasn’t looking for it, but there it was, telling me this pregnancy, this baby, would be okay. And it was. That baby is now an adorable, precocious 3-year-old who I’m thankful for every single day.
The second time I got the sign of an eagle, I asked for it. I was trying to decide whether to enroll in a feng shui manifesting course, so I asked for a sign—specifically an eagle—if I should take the course. The next day, my son came home with a picture of an eagle on his math homework. I enrolled in the course, which ultimately kicked off the spiritual journey I’m now on.
My third eagle? I didn’t ask for it. I didn’t even want it. But that’s the thing about signs—they’re guidance, whether you’re ready to receive it or not.
I was running errands, listening to a Mel Robbins podcast. Her guest was a renowned expert on alcohol, and at one point Mel asked, “Should we all consider quitting alcohol?” At that exact moment, a bald eagle swooped down over my car—again! And just like that, I had my answer. My eagle was telling me to quit drinking. So I did. I stopped immediately and now only drink on rare social occasions.
Let me back up and explain my relationship with bald eagles. My dad crossed over when I was 20. He was bald for as long as I knew him—never had hair. Since his passing, every time I see a bald eagle, I think of him. At first, I didn’t see them as signs, just reminders. But when that first eagle flew so deliberately over my car at the exact moment I needed reassurance, it felt like a sign from my dad.
My dad was also a functional alcoholic. I never saw him without a beer in his hand. So you can see how that eagle—at that moment—was clearly a sign from him that I should stop drinking.
Since then, I see eagles all. the. time. Seriously—almost every single day. On mailboxes, flagpoles, houses. On greeting cards, in books, on sweatshirts, bumper stickers, TV commercials. Everywhere. Who won the Super Bowl last year? The Eagles!
It’s become a running joke in my family. When I spot one, I’ll say, “There’s my eagle!” and my kids roll their eyes. Just the other day, my son had just woken up and said, “Hey Mom—here’s your eagle for the day.” Another time, I realized I hadn’t seen one for a few days. Just before bed, I felt compelled to flip through a catalog on the counter—and there it was: a full-page picture of a stunning bald eagle.
I used to try to derive meaning from every eagle sighting. But over time, I’ve come to realize they’re simply a hello from my dad.
But wait—there’s more.
I recently started reading a book called Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe by Laura Lynne Jackson. If you haven’t read it, you should. It’s full of stories like this one—signs from the Other Side. It’s a beautiful book.
One night, after reading a chapter where Laura Lynne talks about how her relationship with her dad actually improved after his crossing, I felt compelled to ask my dad for a sign. The next day, I went to pick up my daughter from school and did a double-take—there was an eagle on the sweatshirt of a fellow parent. But that wasn’t all. Later that evening, I picked up Laura Lynne’s book again, and the very next chapter was about someone who communicated with their loved one on the Other Side through—wait for it—EAGLES!
It felt like such a wonderful gift from my dad (and from Laura Lynne) to validate what I’ve known all along: that all of these eagles are his way of saying hello.