Falcon Symbolism & Meaning (+ Spirit, Totem & Omens)

Are you interested in the Falcon Spirit Animal? Then this guide is for you!

In many cultures, falcons have been regarded as symbols of courage and determination since time immemorial.

Falcon emblems were used to mark and identify battle units in many military incursions. There’s something special about this bird that makes it revered the world over.

When it comes into your life as your spirit animal, the falcon awakens your hidden strengths. This bird pushes you to reach deep within you and release your untapped potential.

It is no wonder people with the falcon spirit guide tend to be high achievers. They keep honing their skills and pushing towards their goals, leaving nothing to chance.

What’s the Falcon Meaning and Symbolism?

The Peregrine Falcons – Symbol of Speed and Aggressiveness

The Peregrine falcons are regarded with awe in areas where they thrive.

It’s not hard to tell why. This bird clocks a top speed of over 240mph, making it one of the fastest birds on the planet.

The Peregrine is also known for its open display of aggression when hunting prey.

When this spirit bird makes its way into your life, it wants you to give life your all. Keep pressing on even at the sight of trouble.

You have the strength and versatility needed to create your dream life.

Symbol of Patience

The falcon can soar patiently up in the skies waiting to strike prey below. This bird will only dive when the opportunity is perfect.

This teaches you to bid your time. Keep working hard with your eyes firmly fixed on the prize; your goals will materialize at the right time.

Symbol of Focus and Concentration

Falcons are known for their sharp eyesight. They can spot an opportunity from high up the ground. It is no wonder that their hunting record is so impressive.

The falcon spirit animal teaches you not to take anything for granted. Pay close attention to the details of your plans before implementing them.

Symbol of Freedom and Independence

Falcons learn to be independent at a much younger age than most bird species. They also learn to protect themselves at an early age.

The falcon spirit guide encourages you to adapt quickly to a new environment. Open your eyes to see the opportunities that come with changing situations.

Symbol of Agility and Power

The speed at which falcons chase their prey tells you to strike while the iron is hot. This is another way of asking you to avoid procrastinating.

Take advantage of every opportunity that comes into your life before it flies away.

Symbolic Meaning of Falcon Spirit Animal in Various Cultures

Falcon Symbolism in Christian Culture

In the Bible, the falcons are regarded as unclean – evil, even. The Law of Moses forbade the eating of the falcon because it is a bird of prey, feasting on other birds and animals.

All the same, the Falcon gets a positive mention in the Book of Job. Job notes that the falcon has keen eyesight that can see far and deep.

However, he decries this bird for its limited power, saying that not even the falcon can see the hidden secrets of the Universe.

In early Christian culture, the falcon was regarded as a sign of spiritual enlightenment and awakening.

Its determination and focus symbolized the devotion needed to move from pagan ways, get baptized, and turn to Christianity.

Falcon Symbolism in the African Culture

In ancient Egypt, the falcon was closely associated with the deity Horus. All Egyptian Pharaohs were taken to be the early representatives of Horus.

Egyptian mythology has it that Horus entered into a contest with Seth, the deity of death, and defeated him.

From that moment, Horus was identified as the god of justice and order, and he took on the falcon head as his most prominent mark.

This means that the falcon was given a hallowed position in Egyptian society. It is closely associated with protection and leadership.

Falcon Symbolism in Native American Culture

In many Native American tribes, the falcon was revered as a symbol of bravery in war. It denotes strength, power, and fearlessness.

To some tribes, such as the Cheyenne, the falcon was seen as a spiritual defender against pestilences. It would guide the community to safer ground when an enemy – whether seen or unseen – struck.

Legend has it that the falcon and the buffalo challenged each other to a race in which the winner would eat the other.

The falcon won, and from that day, falcons have been eating buffalos. In gratitude for helping them get rid of the buffalo menace, the Cheyenne tribe never eats the falcon.

The falcon is the clan animal for several tribes such as the Cheyenne, Hopi, Creek, Choctaw, Seminole, and Cherokee.

They hold this bird in high regard because it represents everything they’d like to achieve in their social, military, and spiritual activities.

Falcon Symbolism in Celtic Culture

In European cultures, falcons were used in hunts. They were much valued for their valor and aggressiveness.

However, not everyone was privileged enough to own these birds. They were owned by the who-is-who in the society.

For this reason, the falcon became regarded as a symbol of prestige, authority, and high social standing.

Laws were enacted to dictate the kind of falcon one would keep. This means that even among the nobility and wealthy, one could not own a falcon that took one’s fancy.

You had to own one within your social class. For example, only the king could own a Gyrfalcon, the largest of the falcon species.

Princes could own the Peregrine falcon, dukes were allowed the rock falcons, and the knights could possess saker falcons.

Among the Celts, the falcon was regarded as the physical embodiment of such stellar qualities as wisdom, strength, agility, and fierceness.

Celtic folklore indicates the Peregrine falcon was highly regarded among the people. Seeing one was believed to bring a good omen to one’s household and the entire family.

Falcon Symbolism in Eastern Culture

From an early age, the falcon was admired by the Japanese. Ancient Japanese art indicates that it is from this bird that the Japanese got the inspiration for flying.

In Korea, the falcon is taken as a sign of power, courage, and wealth. It is also a good animal spirit to call upon if you want to use deception to defeat your enemy.

A legend is told in Korea about a king who challenged a young man into a contest to turn into an animal.

The young man was promised the king’s daughter in marriage if he could manage the feat.

It is said that in a blink of an eye, the young man turned into a falcon, and the king had no choice but the give his daughter away to the young man.

In many eastern cultures, the term ‘hawk’ and ‘falcon’ are used interchangeably. They both signify good luck and success in one’s endeavors.

Seeing a falcon in the Chinese culture was thought to bring prosperity and good health.

When the Falcon is Your Spirit Animal

The spirit animal locates you when your life seems to go off track. Perhaps, you’ve had a desire to retake control of your life but you don’t know how to go about it.

The falcon wants you to believe in your abilities. You have in you the resources to overcome your hurdles and create the life you’ve always envisioned for yourself and your loved ones.

Although many people regard the falcon a vicious creature, it has a gentler side as a spirit guide.

It comes into your life not to encourage you to fight with yourself or others, but to show you the path to peace.

The falcon spirit animal can be an invaluable teacher. It encourages you to push on with your ambitions patiently and determinedly.

The moment this spirit guide makes its way into your life, know that great opportunities will soon follow.

The falcon encourages you to focus on the future as opposed to the past. Create a sound strategy so that when called upon to act, you won’t waste any time or resources.

The falcon spirit animal is here to help you make sound choices about your family, relationship, career, and health.

Most of the time, we fail to act on our ideas and thoughts because of fear. But with the falcon spirit on your side, nothing should stand on your path to success.

The falcon spirit animal instinctively makes you aware of your true potential.

The Falcon Power Animal

You can invoke help from your power animals whenever the need arises. Usually, your power animal identifies your needs and helps you meet them.

The falcon power animal makes an appearance in your life when you need to make solid strategies for your future.

This power animal comes into your life to warn you against moving too fast. It encourages you to take life in easy, even steps.

Pay close attention to the teachings brought into your life by the special teachings from this power animal.

Listen carefully about what it says concerning your health, family, career, and finances.

At the same time, the falcon power animal asks you to take charge of your life. This means that you should not depend on others to carry out your responsibilities for you.

It’s okay to ask for assistance from friends and relatives every now and then. But, you cannot make it a habit.

Learn to solve your problems through wise action. Ask your falcon spirit guide for guidance when the going gets tough.

Your helper will assist you to concentrate on what truly matters in your life.

The Falcon Totem Animal

Were you born with the falcon as your totem? This means you have a sharp mind and you never allow details to escape you.

People with the falcon totem are known for their sharp minds.

They are keen to create the right work-life balance, and to ensure they spare enough time to be with their families and friends.

The falcon totem will guide you to produce stellar results in your endeavors. With the right effort, you’ll find yourself several steps ahead of your peers.

The falcon totem teaches you to focus on your life’s essence.

It encourages you to listen to your inner clock so that you can take the action that brings maximum benefit to you and your loved ones.

People with the falcon totem cherish their individuality. They do things because they believe they are right, and not necessarily because others are doing them.

Being born with this totem means you are energetic. You are ready to face the world on your own terms.

Many look up to you as a role model they can emulate.

Falcon encounters and Omens

Have you come across a falcon in your dreams recently? Well, you must be very lucky!

You see; for the common person, it’s not easy to see a falcon – at least not every day. This means it is not a coincidence that you encountered the falcon at the time you did.

Falcon sightings should put you on high alert. This occurrence indicates that someone is trying to derail you from your goals and plans.

Seeing a falcon out of nowhere indicates that some evil is afoot. Keep a sharp eye out for evil spirits trying to infiltrate your spiritual armor.

Seeing a falcon fly over your head is a reflection of your desire to be free. Perhaps, you have been tied down for too long by beliefs that don’t resonate with your value system.

Your falcon spirit animal appears to encourage you to rise above these impediments. You deserve to be free and enjoy life to the fullest.

Falcon Mythology and Folklore

In ancient Rome, the falcon was revered for the inspiration it gave soldiers in times of war. Many legions featured variations of the falcon on their emblems.

For example, one legion could have the emblem of a falcon clutching a thunderbolt. Another could feature a falcon diving straight from the cloud towards its prey on the ground.

Upon the death of an important person such as a legionnaire, falcon fathers would be buried somewhere close to this person’s grave.

This meant that this bird of prey would offer protection to this person until he or she crossed to the afterlife.

Among the ancient Nordic people, some gods and goddesses were closely associated with the falcon. For example, Freyja, the goddess of love, sex, and fertility, could fly because she wore a falcon cloak.

The Celts treasured the falcon because of the inspiration it provided during hunts. This bird was so valued that it was kept by mostly the nobility – people of means who could afford it.

Myths from the Aztecs, Mayas, and other South American civilizations indicate that falcon feathers were part of the paraphernalia with which important chiefs were buried.

Aztec warriors left the bodies of their enemies in the open field to be eaten by falcons.

Falcon Tattoo Meaning

People go for the falcon tattoo because they want to show their valor. If you are not afraid to show the world your true mettle, you may want to consider getting this tattoo.

Tattoos that feature the falcon are meant to demonstrate raw power and strength. For this reason, most of these tattoos depict this bird with outstretched muscles flying toward its prey.

Tattoos of falcons flying like an arrow straight down are also quite common. This tattoo indicates that you have absolute control of your life.

You have the power to determine your destiny, and you are not afraid to wield it.

One of the most common falcon tattoos is that of the Peregrine. This tattoo indicates you are not afraid of any form of intimidation.

If anything, you are willing to go out of your way to defend your interests.

Final Thoughts…

Strength, focus, speed. These are the key words that can be used to describe the falcon. It is a combination of these qualities that give this bird its lethal nature.

The falcon spirit animal inspires us to believe in ourselves. It reminds you that you have the freedom to determine the direction of your life.

A closer look at the falcon will convince you that you are the master of your destiny. Your future is firmly in your hands.