Tags: Bird Totems | Nature Symbolism
Vulture Meanings and Nonconformity
My eyes first opened to various vulture meanings as a kid visiting my Uncle Dan in West Texas.
He lived on sprawling acres of sun-baked dirt and craggy trees with crooked fingers pointing into the skies.
Vultures were never far from sight at Uncle Dan’s place.
I learned to love these bizarre creatures for their regal poise and imperial presence. And isn’t that a paradox. I mean, sonnets aren’t written about how beautiful and elegant the vulture is.
And that’s my first (maybe most important) symbolic point pertaining to vulture meanings. The vulture is what it is, and could care less about what you or I think about its appearance. It moves with grace in the skies. On land it moves with authority, as if all things are within its rightful ownership.
There’s a lesson here for the image-conscious. When the vulture flies the skies of our awareness it’s a clear sign to raise our heads with dignity. Conventionalism be damned along with conformity and status quo.
Vultures will also talk to us about expectancy and being confident in the knowlege our needs are always met. “Good things come to those who wait.” Very good things if you’re a vulture, and they’re quite content with waiting for hours to get their fair share of resources.
In fact, I’ve seen the same group of vultures hang in air currents for hours. Just circling and riding the coursing winds. Very knowing. Very Zen. As if to say “my freedom is in scaling the skies; all things come to me in good time.”
Actually, vultures say nothing. They have no hoots or hollars. Only hissing. Vultures don’t need to announce themselves. They’re reputation preceeds them. Their power is in their purpose. Their silence only enhances their mystery.
There’s profound wisdom in silence. When the vulture lurks about in our awareness, it’s often a sign to keep our lips sealed. Usually in situations where it would behoove us to keep our opponents guessing about our motives. Build intrigue. Build suspense.
Quite a manner of living, and the vulture is a great symbolic role model for us to follow. Indeed, the vultures’ way is an art form. Perhaps they even have a motto that might go something like:
“Rail against the common and customary. Bliss out whilst hang-gliding in the high, bright skies. Rest in the unquestioning knowledge that all needs are laid at my feet.”
There’s tons more vulture meanings for the picking (pardon the pun).
- Like why do they pee their feet and what could possibly be symbolic about that?
- Why are they associated with ancient sun gods and considered sacred solar animals?
- Why were they called upon during ancient Eastern sky burials?
- Did you know vultures associated with are motherhood?
- And of course, what does it mean to have a vulture as a bird totem?
These and many more questions are answered in my symbolic meaning of vultures page here.
Super blogpost, Avia … “you iz what you iz” is excellent advice for absolutely everyone and anyone, and I bet if put the test, would be an earth shattering statement if truly understood by many. You see, Popeye had it right, didn’t he.
Cool …
D~
Hi Donna!
Ah, the sage wisdom of Saturday morning cartoons! Totally dig it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Namaste
Wonderful…I have been visited by vultures at points of transformation in my life, but never equated that with nonconformity. Makes sense, now!
I just wrote about nonconformity on my blog and invite you to take a peek.
http://berrytrip.us/blog/
Thank you for your wise words! Vulture has been with me for close to a decade now and is a faithful travel companion. I, too, have had profound experiences with Vulture and here is a post I recently wrote about one such experience: http://carlaroyal.com/2010/03/gift-from-a-vulture/
I refer to your sight often for insight into animal symbolism and I thank you for your strong and wise voice here.
Deep Bows!
I just discovered your blog after an experience this morning prompted me to do a bit of research on vultures, and I’m so glad I found it! Walking out of my home this morning, I was shocked to find 6 black vultures in the parking lot of my condos! One was perched regally on my neighbor’s car, was was behind my car, and the others were in pairs at opposite ends of the drive. At first I took this to be a dark omen, but after speaking with my grandmother, she said it was a good sign. After doing a bit more research, I’m amazed at the history and symbolism of the vulture…..and am now a bit more optimistic about what my own future may hold……
Hi Dawn! Fabulous! When I first began hanging out with vultures (energetically speaking) I too was floored by their diverse delights in the realm of meaning and symbolism. So glad this post was helpful!
Thank you so much for your illumination of the meaning of vulture! I was taking a walk today around the Rumsfield (inventor of the steamboat) monument in Shepherdstown, WV, and saw 2 huge black vultures perched on top of the sculpture of the globe which is what crowns the 3-story-high column of the monument. I also saw identical grafiti on both sides of the monument base that said SKR 666. You can imagine what I thought all of this meant :-O! Your insights eliminated the fear and replaced it with hopes for awakening of the world.
Thanks for the insight on the vultures. As i am becoming more aware and waking. I have a mother and baby vulture that are nesting in my barn. I am tariffed of birds (past life) and i am now trying to reconnect as are they. silence is the best advice as i am just awaking.I will rase my head with dignity and push forward with authority also i have decided to add this bird to my medicine deck.