The Sacred Flight of the Vulture
Recently, I had an intimate and powerful encounter with the vultures that live in my area. I see them almost daily from my backyard—a whole family soaring high above the land around the same time each day, no matter the season.
Walking the shamanic path for some time now, I’ve come to understand the deep sacredness of these birds. Vultures provide medicine to us that is between two realms—they fly close to the heavens, yet they feed on decay, bridging the spiritual heights with the earthly cycles of death and renewal. They are living symbols of the balance between the upper worlds and the recycling and transformative energies of the underworld.
This particular encounter was shared with a loved one, which made it even more meaningful. We found ourselves up close with a flock of vultures—an awe-inspiring moment. I gathered a few feathers for us, knelt down, and offered a prayer of deep gratitude before we respectfully departed.
Once home, we turned to Ted Andrews' Animal Speak for insight, and the message became even clearer: these birds are profoundly sacred. Their presence was a reminder of the unseen forces at work, guiding, cleansing, and connecting all things.
Let me share with you the story that's in this book....
"In the earliest of times, the sun lived very close to the earth—so close in fact that life upon the earth was becoming unbearable. The animal world got together and decided to do something about it. They wanted to move the sun further away. The fox was the first to volunteer, and he grabbed the sun in his mouth and began to run to the heavens. After a short while, the sun became too hot, burning the fox's mouth, and he stopped. To this day, the inside of the fox's mouth is black.
Then the opossum volunteered. He wrapped his tail around the sun and began running toward the heavens. Before long though, the sun became too hot, burning his tail, and he had to stop. To this day the opossum has no hair upon its tail.
It was then that vulture stepped forward. Vulture was the most beautiful and powerful of birds. Upon its head was a beautiful mantle of rich feathering that all other birds envied. Knowing that the earth would burn up unless someone moved the sun, the vulture placed its head against it and began to fly to the heavens. With powerful strokes of its wings, it pushed and pushed the sun further and further up into the heavens. Though it could feel its crown feathers burning, the vulture continued until the sun was set at a safe distance in the sky away from the earth. Unfortunately, vulture lost its magnificent head of feathers for eternity."
The vulture is one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented birds in the natural world. Often seen as grotesque or associated solely with death, its true nature is far more sacred and powerful than most realize. A closer look—through myth, symbolism, and behavior—reveals a creature of grace, wisdom, and deep spiritual significance.
In ancient Egypt, the vulture was closely linked to the divine. The goddess Maat, who represented truth and cosmic order, is often shown carrying a vulture feather. In some regions of Egypt, vultures were revered as mother symbols—guardians of life through their consumption of death. By devouring the dead, they prevented disease and allowed life to continue. Animals and birds like the vulture were seen as agents of divine will—cleansing forces that transformed what was dangerous into something life-sustaining.
To the Pueblo Indians, the vulture symbolized purification and restoration. Its medicine was believed to heal broken harmony. After ceremonies involving shape-shifting or spiritual journeys, vulture feathers were used in rituals to ground and guide individuals back to themselves. The turkey vulture, in particular, was associated with transition, protection, and the breaking of unwanted ties—whether from the spirit world, harmful objects, or lost souls.
The turkey vulture in particular, with long tails and striking, two-toned wings, they are surprisingly elegant in flight. Their scientific name, Cathartes aura, translates to "golden purifier." At dusk they gather to roost, and at dawn, they stretch their wings in the rising sun, as if in a silent ritual of reverence and renewal.
Though not the most striking bird when grounded, in the air, the vulture becomes a symbol of beauty in motion. It soars effortlessly, riding the thermals and wind currents with barely a flap of its wings. For those who connect with vulture as a totem, it speaks of a time when you will be recognized not for appearance, but for the depth and grace of your actions.
Vultures possess an extraordinary ability to see thermals—rising currents of warm air that are invisible to the human eye. These same currents, often seen shimmering above roads on hot days, allow the birds to ascend with ease. Their ability to perceive and ride these unseen forces is likened to auric vision—the sensitivity to subtle energies that surround living beings. When vulture enters your life, it may signal an awakening of this ability, or the need to cultivate it.
Vultures are patient navigators of the skies. They can glide for hours without flapping their wings, using the power of the earth’s currents instead of their own strength. This flight without force is symbolic—showing us how to work with the energy that already exists rather than battling against it. They demonstrate a powerful lesson in surrender and alignment.
Among the mystical gifts associated with vultures is the ancient belief in levitation—the spiritual counterpart to physical gravity. Where gravity pulls us into the mundane, the vulture rises above it. It teaches us how to release the weight of worldly concerns and ascend into higher awareness. The vulture is a symbol of spiritual lightness, of moving beyond limitations and letting go of what binds us.
Despite their diet, vultures are remarkably clean creatures. They bathe regularly in the wild, and their featherless heads serve a purpose: they help prevent bacterial buildup when feeding on carrion. In the mornings, vultures stretch their wings to the sun, both to warm themselves and to purify. Their wings become solar collectors, cleansing and recharging them through light.
In every way, the vulture embodies transformation. It is a sacred creature—one that walks the line between life and death, the earth and the sky. To see a vulture, to be chosen by one, is to be reminded of nature's hidden elegance, and the profound beauty of cycles we so often fear or misunderstand.
If you see vultures in your daily life, be sure to stop, observe, and give thanks for the medicine they provide to us.