The Eagle

Freedom, Spirit, Courage, Strength, Power, Authority, War

Passing through another American presidential election and as 2020 comes to a close I have been reflecting on the American identity, the country’s history, and the values that we have collected over time. This month I wanted to study an iconic tattoo symbol, one that has become part of our patriotic pop culture, the eagle. In the past the eagle has given me a feeling of unease and one that reminds me of government, war, and all of the repercussions that come with them. This year’s events in the United States and across the world has been a bleak reminder of that. In contrast, over the summer I was able to step out into nature to recharge and gain some perspective off of the serene and isolated Huron Bay in the upper peninsula of Michigan. The separation from cities causes nature to thrive and this is where I crossed paths with a pair of bald eagles. The feeling that came over me after viewing these birds wasn’t one of fear, but instead one of awe. I loved how majestic they looked as they floated through the sky onto their next unknown destination. The eagle as we know it today has a dualistic meaning and shows us how the subjective side of interpretation has shaped symbolism throughout time and culture.

The eagle is known for it’s fierce hunting style and is equipped with extremely effective natural weapons. Eagles are one of the top predators in their environment, they fly high above earth and water and swiftly swoop down to capture their prey in their crushing, razor like talons. They consume their catch, sometimes whole, and the animal carcass is dissolved in their potent stomach acids. The bird’s effective predatory behavior has caused governments across the world to use the eagle as an emblem to adorn their flags, currency, and armies. The Aztec eagle warriors were trained for combat from childhood and wore armor that included a beak, talons, and a cotton bodice that was decorated in feathers. The notorious Roman army had five legions, one of which wore the image of the eagle to represent Jupiter, who they worshipped. The Eagle of Salah al-Din originated in Cairo and was displayed by muslim forces during the crusades, today it is used by several muslim states. A two headed variation of an eagle was used by the Byzantine, Turkish, and Hittite Empires as well as the Albanian, Russian, and Serbian governments. This version of the eagle has varied meanings. It is thought to be a tribute to the Roman eagle and has represented the idea of conquering the East and the West and the notion to never be surprised. These interpretations are associated with the idea of “empire.” Finally, the most notorious example of this image being used as a symbol of war is the German Nazi eagle which is paired with a swastika. In more recent history this version has also been paired with “ss” bolts or a Celtic cross. This image is now unfortunately still used by white supremacists around the world, including in America. This interpretation of the eagle as one of authority, nationalism, and militarism and is what I have unconsciously associated it with, but not all governments display the eagle in this manner. Garuda, who is flown on the Indonesian flag, and the snake and eagle that is positioned on the Mexican flag tell the story of a spiritual battle.

The age old opposition between the eagle and the snake is one that has been passed down through artwork and folklore for centuries. The snake is a powerful reptile who’s poison and bite is feared by most but is prey to the eagle. The southeast Asian story of Garuda is rooted in Hinduism and tells of an Eagle headed man who was born from an egg to Vinata, the mother of birds. He gives up the right to eternal life in order to spare his mother from enslavement to her sister Kadru, the mother of serpents. Garuda steals the Amrita, which he uses to pay her ransom to his aunt. It would grant the snakes immortality through the ability to shed their skins, but the sharp edges of the Amrita would cut their tongues causing them to be forever forked. This altercation caused Garuda to be the sworn enemy of nagas, or snakes. He would also become the vehicle of Vishnu, a god who is widely worshipped. In the greek tale the “Iliad” Calchas sees an eagle and a bloody snake fighting in the sky. The snake takes a strike at the eagle causing the snake to drop onto the Trojans during battle, a sign that was taken as a bad omen. The Mexican flag shows the eagle fighting a snake while perched on a cactus representing founding story of Tenochtitlan. The legend tells of the Aztecs being directed by their god Huitzilopochtli to leave their home of Aztlan in search of the place where his nephew’s heart had been flung. He prophesieses that a prickly pear cactus would grow from this place and it would mark their new home. After a tireless migration they would approach an island in the middle of a lake where the predicted cactus was found with an eagle and a snake perched on top. This place became the great civilization of Tenochtitlan and is known as Mexico City today. The meaning of this archetypal battle has several interpretations including that of good vs. evil and the patriarchy vs. the feminine. My favorite interpretation is one that recognizes that the snake has also classically been a symbol of wisdom, the eagle is seen as consuming higher knowledge instead of being in opposition of the serpent. This interpretation tells the story of the predator and prey in a different way. It is a metaphor for change in life and what we can gain from it, for without death there would be no life, and without change there would be no growth.

The spiritual meaning of the eagle does not end with it’s relationship with the snake, it’s true nature is deeper than it’s predatory image and points more towards the sky. The eagle’s flight is a quality that humans have only dreamt of, the freedom of the air allows the bird to go where it pleases, some even believe between realms. Eagles are one of the highest flying birds, their flight pattern is so high that people have often associated it with the sun, sky, and heavens. In Greek mythology Zues, who is associated with Jupiter, has an eagle companion who holds his weapon of choice, thunderbolts, in his talons. In one myth the eagle is sent to earth to capture the most beautiful boy, Ganymeade, and bring him back to the heavens as Zeus’ cupbearer. The bible also points to God being represented as an eagle or having one as his companion. Christianity often refers to those in need being lifted up by him on eagle’s wings and is also seen a symbol of protection against people with opposing views. Central American cultures believed that eagles were messengers from the gods and were a bridge between heaven and earth. Some of the cultures in this region also believed that the eagle led the sun across the sky everyday. The eagle has also been a spiritual American symbol long before the creation of the United States. The Navajo tribe recognized the eagle as the “thunderbird” who would flap its powerful wings to cause thunder storms. The tribe recognized the balance of destruction that the storm would bring and the growth that the rain brought to their crops. The Iroquois also paint a dream like image of two eagles who are companions to the spirit of thunder who is wed to a rainbow. The eagle Keneu is the enemy of the horned serpent, and the eagle Oshadagea carries a lake of dew on his back to fight off fire spirits, both are protectors of the people. These images show us that the eagles can also represent strength, freedom, protection, courage, and spirit from a different perspective.

The eagle is an inspiring and dynamic bird, it is an apex predator and is so talented at hunting that it actually spends little of it’s time doing so. The predatory difference between animals and humans is that animals kill out of necessity and humans will kill for pleasure. Ultimately I think that the image of the eagle is one that has been misinterpreted over time, even by myself. Humans have projected a lot of our own behaviors onto this bird but the true behavior of the eagle teaches us a deeper lesson than the interpretation of war and authority. It teaches us of a balance within nature and that all life is scared and essential to the life of everything around it. Whether from the eagle’s studied behavior or from the passed down images of eagles the dualistic symbolism of the bird is apparent. The eagle is both a symbol of government and a symbol of freedom.