Interpreting Signs

Witches the obsession with receiving signs can often cross wires, and having us over think things that we see. We have to remember things such as weather, animals, and other such things can be signs but they also exist in their own right, and do not exist solely for the entertainment of humans or solely as messengers. 

We must first consider the mundane before we jump to conclusions, this includes the fact that as we connect with the elements more we will often see more and more of nature, as we are opening our mind and awareness, and the more we connect with deity that will be responded to in kind. The elements will sense and feel that closeness, and thus you may find that animals and insects, elements will interact with you more. This is not always a sign, but often just the symbiotic nature of humans and elements melding. It’s important not to run headfirst into it. 

Often signs from deity will start to repeat itself in a pattern, perhaps you see an animal or insect, then start to dream of them, or they pop up in readings. It is important to really trust our intuition, as sometimes you are simply connecting with the elements and deity. 

In our Eclectic Pagan practice interpreting signs is not about blind faith but about awareness and discernment. Not every unusual event carries meaning, but those that resonate deeply or persist may be worth exploring.

Why Interpretation Matters

Understanding signs is a valuable skill for any witch, diviner, or pagan for many reasons. It deepens your relationship with deities, spirits, and ancestors and can enhance intuition and personal gnosis. This can also help provide insight into challenges, decisions, or events. 

However doing this requires balance, too much skepticism and you might miss the meaningful messages, but too much eagerness and you risk seeing patterns where none exist. This  is often called apophenia or patternicity. 

Apophenia is often the propensity to mistakenly detect patterns or connections between unrelated events, objects, or occurrences. We have to be extremely careful to not over analyze, while also balancing that into appropriate research. We must always make sure there is not a mundane reason for something to be happening. 

Sources of Signs

Signs can come in many shapes and forms, and from many places. Different witches may interpret them based on their personal practice, cultural influences, and spiritual connections. It’s important to consider our personal practice when we analyze signs, with a few things that are common amongst most witches. 

Nature as a Messenger

The natural world is rich with meaning and symbology, spirits, ancestors, deities and the elements will communicate often through the environment. It is important once again to remember: The elements, animals, nature does not exist solely to entertain or serve humans, but often during our journey we gain a friendship with the elements, animals, and deity itself. That friendship often gifts us warnings, signs, messages, or omens. Remember that these are gifts of friendship and are not expectant, nor something we get to demand of deity. 

Your relationship with the elements will affect this, which is why it is important to continue to build your bond with the elements and deity. If you are not doing this, how can you expect them to aid you. 

Say that 5 times out loud. If you are not doing your part, then it is not likely that you are getting from the elements in the way you believe. Simply existing does not make you better, nor give you a right to take without giving out the energy. This is the same in any friendship. We often see what we want to see, the HearthWitch has a pretty good video on this, check that out below. 

Signs and Omens – Is it a Sign?║Witchcraft 

What I want to stress that she doesn’t go over is once again: Your relationship with Deity and the Elements. If you are not building that relationship then it is a bit hubris to assume that the Elements, nature, and animals are existing in a way to serve you simply because you are doing a little witchcraft. Considering that animals and nature exists in its own right, and is valid in existence separate from you. As humans society and our culture often puts us above these things, but as witches and eclectic pagans we know we are not better than or above animals and nature. Our grief is no more important than say that of our cat or dogs, and our existence is no more valid than the existence of nature around us. 

Now that I’ve hopefully beaten that into your head, let’s discuss the actual potential signs. 

Animals 

Unusual encounters with animals can be signs or gestures from deity, deities, ancestors, etcs. As well as simply being extensions of that element or nature showing extending a hand in friendship. Interpreting signs also means understanding the world around you. Learn the local wildlife and their season behaviors or general personalities. This can help identify when their behavior is out of the ordinary in one way or another, having this open awareness also shows what you may not have seen before, and often have taken for granted. It may be possible that a flock of birds every summer nest in a location near your home, and that this is a common occurrence that you had taken for granted before opening your heart to deity. Learn the patterns locally to you, get to understand the animals and their personalities, the personalities of the plant life and fauna, and what is local to you. Quiet observation without interference will help with such a thing, meditation is a great time for this. 

Keeping a journal will help keep track of your experiences, and sometimes when that meaning is not immediately evident you are able to reflect back on it at a later time. However it is important to note that asking others is not often going to be very useful, unless they are very good at interpreting and have a personal and deep relationship to you. Since signs are going to be personalized to your craft, and made just for you. They are intimate, and personal. Brain storming together, and learning is absolutely important, and sometimes getting another perspective is helpful but in the end you have to take what resonates to you. 

There are a variety of animals that are common for witches, especially new witches. Such as Ravens, and Crows, and other various birds. Other animals can include cats, birds, rabbits, ultimately as you connect further with the elements you will find all creatures will be more comfortable around you. 

Ravens and Crows often give warnings, and many associate them with bad omens. However they are more friend then foe, as they can be a sign to not go a certain direction, or perhaps simply a warning of things to come. Sometimes it is unavoidable, sometimes it is directly avoidable; such as a raven redirecting your path, or guiding you. It is important to remember that these types of birds are attracted to witches, even new witches, and often you will see them even near you, and yet they are not directly giving you a message. You will find they are almost like guardians, lurking nearby your home and only speaking when they need too. These birds often will be giving omens or signs to those who are not you, but perhaps a neighbor, it’s important to note if they seem to be speaking to you, or if they are perhaps elsewhere. Since they have an unnatural sense of things, and even those who don’t listen to the birds may still warn of signs in the area. We must take time, reach out and understand the energy and connections of these friends and understand how they assist you and those around you. 

Observe their movement, patterns, and personalities. Know that these signs are not always a call to action, but are often simply information that you are able to take and meditate on. You must couple all of this with your intuition, acknowledge the feeling that resonates with you deeply. 

A good example here is one time I was on a walk in a city type area, and deep within a canal was a fox. This alone is not a sign or message, however we have to note the behavior of the animals. In this case, the fox was chittering at me rather incessantly. It then followed me and continued to talk at me, at this time I was not actively practicing however looking back the memory is extremely vivid, and I can feel within my intuition that it resonated as a message at the time. 

The more we become aware of our surroundings or certain types of animals, the more that they become aware of us. Remember that this is an exchange of friendship, not an expectation. 

Smaller creatures such as insects can also be bearers of deities or messengers. Often spiders, ants, and some of the more “least favorite” insects are symbols of certain deities. In Ancient Egyptian times the dung beetle, or Scarabs were considered to be sacred. They could be a symbol from Khepri. Moths may be symbols of certain deities, or something such as a blue and black butterfly can be sent from Nyx, or spiders and snakes sent by Loki. Demonic deities are often associated with flies, even creatures that we may not “love” are still valid in their associations. 

Let’s take spiders for example, many people may take those as “bad” omens. Remember that no creature, insect, or animal is inherently bad or good, and understand that they are neutral and simply in constant existence and communication. They can be symbolic, for me spiders are representations of creation, and espionage. If a spider is showing as an omen or sign, instead of simply existing inside because its cold outside, they often represent that someone is talking about me, a warning that the person may be plotting. This is often because I associate spiders with Lolth, a deity that is fictional created with the game Dungeons and Dragons, and I think of them as “spies” for Lolth, as they often in lore listened. Deity will send me signs and symbology based on what I know, and what resonates with me. The spider has no ill intent, nor does it deserve to be immediately murdered for giving me that sign. (This exception comes from poisonous spiders, if they show up they do, sadly, have their life taken. Since I have other animals that it could hurt. Deity is not likely sending me a sign in these cases, since this is a danger to my pets. Deity is not sending things to harm you, so remember that you have to remove the mundane possibilities.) 

Here is another video, remember to take these videos with less literal approach, and as a perspective and gain more information and insight. 

Signs, Omens & Synchronicities: What They Are & What They Mean

A few callouts from this video is that deity does not work in the same flow we do, it is not linear. We as humans live our life in a very linear, only going forward momentum of time. While deity and the universe does not have to see time in that way, it accesses time separately in a way that is harder for our minds to grasp. 

Weather

Sudden shifts in weather such as strong winds, sudden rain, or dramatic shifts that may not have been already predicted. These things can often be signs or messages from our deities, deity itself, the elements, ancestors, and other entities. A good example of this is when I am extremely emotional and have a very large emotional reaction, or an extreme amount of emotional pain I am often sent rain. I find these storms and large rainfall has happened in every large, painful event in my life. As a follower of Thor; this is not something that is unfamiliar, and it makes sense and aligns with my practice. These storms often bring me comfort, help to hide my pain (as this is something I tend to do), and feels like an embrace from my deity. While rain is a mundane thing that happens, it will also react to my strong emotions often times. These are not always omens or signs saying “hey something is about to happen” as signs don’t always act in that way. Most times, this is Thor reminding me I am not alone. An encouraging push to keep going, to take time, to take that moment for me and my emotions. Thor knows that, and the rain often helps heal. Water also represents emotion, healing. They work together, the element water and my deity Thor. Together they are showing me their presence, it is not just a deity but also my relationship with water. Remember that not only are deities apart of all things, but all things are part of them. So they will work together, and not simply be solely from a deity, but also from the elements. 

Wind will have its own interaction, versus water or fire. Something as simple as a candle refusing to be blown out, when it has been bringing you comfort may feel that fire is trying to stick with you, be there and remind you of the comfort and passion. 

Once again it is important to know that weather patterns exists with or without us, and to note the personalities and reactions your local weather has, find the things that resonate with you, or perhaps happen often around you such as rain for me. Often these things will resonate in your life, because again–they do not work on the same time we do. It may be that your relationship with water is growing now, and you can look back on your life and see where water has brought you comfort, or where wind has danced with and around you. Signs are not always, again, calls to action, but rather information, messages, comfort, warnings, this is information such as your friend telling you “Hey careful, there’s a test today I hope you are prepared.”. Meditation and mindfulness are important in balancing the mundane with the supernatural. 

Fauna and Nature

Certain flowers or fauna may resonate deeply with you or your deities, ancestors, or spiritual guides. An example here is Moonflowers, and how they resonate deeply with Nyx and many of her followers. Unusual signs such as perhaps the moonflower blooming during the day, or a lot of them sprouting up around your home can be signs of nature, signs of Nyx, they can be symbolic of comfort or similar to rain for me, that you are not alone. They will have personal meanings and resonate, you may start associating something with a deity or spirit guide, or with a certain symbolism. This is important to take your personal symbolism into account. You may find synchronicity in your signs, seeing them repeated in readings, dreams, etc. This may be a good way to discern the mundane from the supernatural. 

The more you learn about the local fauna, and even their meanings and intents, as we know that all things have their own resonance and energy, such as crystals. Amethyst for healing, quartz for intuition and protection, rose quarts for love and passion and self care, so on and so forth. Fauna, flowers, plants, trees, all have their own resonance and energies too. These are not simply just for spellwork, cooking, or purely selfish and personal usage, they also have their own messages and personalities. They have their own feelings and meanings. Research and journal your local fauna to become more aware, build a relationship with them. Offerings can also be given to plants, or even just gently talking to them; as we know even science acknowledges that plants thrive in environments with positive reinforcement. The closer you are to nature, the closer it is to you. 

Dreams or Visions

Dreams in many cultures and practices have significant symbology, they are often a bridge between the conscious, subconscious, and spiritual realms. We’ve discussed dreams before, and how they can sometimes be the mundane mind cataloging and categorizing the day and memories, but can also have symbolic imagery and messages. Intuition and the energy of the dream helps us discern the difference between our subconscious, and our deities, ancestors, or spiritual guides assisting us. This is the same as anything else, journal what you recall, go over it and look into the symbology and representation.

For example if you dream of yourself lost in the woods, then you may be feeling lost in life. You may feel alone, and your mind is going through and working through that. If you find that you leave the woods and find a meadow, it may either say you are finding a moment of peace or encouraging you to find a moment of peace and self care.

It’s important that you understand events, symbology, and personal resonation. Meditate on it, and the energies that you feel and what is identifiable in your life, experience, culture and practice. 

Personal Intuition & Reflection

Ultimately we need to really learn to understand and connect to the energies around us. As we’ve said, nature is not here to serve us; but often friendship and bonds can be made with nature, deity, and the elements. With that, not all signs are external. Personal reflection, meditation, energy resonance, and intuition are all important and play a big part in understanding. While we often look to nature, divination, synchronicity, and patterns for guidance it is important that personal reflection and intuition play a role. These can come in many forms.

• “Gut feeling” is a common term that is used when something may feel wrong, or we just have a gut feeling or instinct that is a pull, it may often be unclear the reason but is a form of intuition.
• “Can’t shake the feeling” certain words, images, ideas, or thoughts that reoccur that you are unable to “shake off” may be a pull to something that you can meditate on.
• Energy Shifts in the surroundings, or the feeling that something is off or charged in a space, event, or within someone. These can often pull you in the direction of your intuition, your energy work is important so you can notice these shifts.
• Physical sensation sometimes often occur as well, such as chills, tingling, warmth, discomfort, or other sensation when coming into contact with people, objects, or places. 
• Feeling “drawn towards” something or someone, a deity, a symbol, a song, an art piece. These can often be important later on in your journey, and can go in a journal or your book of shadows for contemplation. 

In order to disconnect yourself from anxiety, fear, or wishful thinking make sure to ground yourself, meditate, you can ask for confirmation signs from spirits, ancestors, deities, or the elements, as well as double check yourself with forms of divination and meditation. Trusting your intuition, seeking guidance from within yourself and using your checks and balances, grounding, and meditation to help separate anxiety, wishful thinking, and the mundane from the signs and messages you are gifted.

Reminder that signs and messages are gifts, and have to deal with you and your relationship to the elements, nature, deity, deities, ancestors, or spirit guides. They are not something to take for granted, and these entities are not here to serve us, but rather a bond of friendship and consideration. 

Developing your Awareness

There are ways to hone your ability to see signs, or even receive them more often. Like any skill intuition is strengthened with practice, and the bonds that you create will assist you further in your journey. There are some ways that you can practice, hone, and level up your skills. 

• Journaling. Write down your feelings, things you notice, anything that resonates or stood out to you. Write down what it could mean and revisit often and meditate on what you’ve written down.
• Connecting with the elements will help hone your connection and bond with nature, the elements, and understanding and interpreting your messages. 
• Energy work is a big way to connect, feeling the shift in the energy around you, understanding the natural state of things and how their energy normally feels will help you feel the shifts in energy that resonate to give you an idea of when things are changing, or shifting. 
• Meditation is crucial, now meditation isn’t just sitting there blankly. Though we see this depiction often in Buddhism, with monks, or well attuned eclectic pagans you can meditate while listening to music, being in a safe and comforting environment or even with white noise. Whatever helps put your mind at ease and in a state of mindfulness and consideration.

Common Symbolism

We can consider some common symbolism, you can simply google or look these up, read through books, or even consider your own personal journey. I stress again: Remember your own journey and what resonates with you, but here is some “common” symbolism that popular culture follows. This is a base guideline, remember to take what resonates and leave what doesn’t.

Raven / Crow	Wisdom, warning, transformation, messages from spiritual realms, ancestors, change
Owl	Knowledge, wisdom, intuition, guidance
Snake	Rebirth, transformation, change,
Wolf	Instinct, leadership, protection, connection
Deer	Guidance, growth, spiritual aid
Fox	Cunning, adaptability, trickster, sly, secrets
Butterfly	Change, journey, growth, transformation

These are just a few common examples, however they may resonate differently for you. For example snakes for me are associated with one of my deities, Loki, Owls can be associated with Athena, deer can be associated with Artemis. They may differ for you, it is important to take these meanings with a grain of salt, and find that deep personalization. Context also matters, A crow landing near you during meditation is different than seeing it eating in a parking lot. Since, once again, animals are not here to serve humans, but rather walk beside us equally in this world.