Spiritual Meanings Of Turkey Crossing Your Path:
It is about abundance
“Give thanks in all circumstances…” —1 Thessalonians 5:18
Whenever I see a turkey, especially around Thanksgiving, it immediately makes me think about abundance.
A turkey sighting helps me to realize that the bounty I chase is in my backyard.
It tells me to be grateful for what I have instead of constantly wanting more.
I find so much of my “wealth” from family, in adventures in the great outdoors, and I am thankful that I have two functioning arms to hold them and eyes to see this world.
This message of abundance resonates intimately with the season of Thanksgiving, where turkeys take center stage.
That day, in particular, I try to take stock of the abundance that is my life — regardless of the size.
I need to live my life with that kind of mindset, too — not just on Thanksgiving.
What it is telling me is that the depth of life is not based on our accomplishments or things we have but on love, joy and peace bursting forth every moment.
These days, when I meet a turkey on the road, I see it as simply time to take a break and admire all around me.
Because I am grateful and not so caught up in what is missing but in how much richness there already is within my connections, my health, and my daily life.
It is about giving and receiving
“Give, and it will be given to you.” —Luke 6:38
When I think of the balance in life, especially between giving and receiving, one analogy that comes to me is turkey.
They thrive as a group and depend on each other for survival.
Their giving and receiving are so natural.
They allow me to be a model of balance in my own life.
There have been times when I literally gave so much of myself away that by the time it all ended (be it relationships, work or a creative project), I was utterly spent.
My energy was akin to this vacant well and I had nothing more to reflect the calm to me.
A turkey that gives and receives within its community is here to show me that there needs to be balance.
It is not selfish to lean back and accept support for myself. In fact, it’s necessary.
The turkey teaches me that giving and receiving are two sides of the same coin.
It is all part of a good, equilibrated flow of energy.
As much as it is necessary to give, so should you learn how to reciprocate receiving help.
On the flip side, I have also been in situations where I was too focused on taking—seeking validation, help or comfort without really being there as much as I ought to.
I see it as a little nudge from the universe to normalize things — when I encounter a turkey on my path.
It is a circle, not a static state; whenever I give too much or take too much, it interrupts the flow.
Over the years, I realized that allowing myself to do both elements more attracts peace and satisfaction.
Healthy relationships are two-way deals, and whether you share your emotions, time or small acts of kindness, energy has to keep flowing.
Generosity is not only about giving until there is nothing left.
It is about keeping the energy flowing, not only the love but also allowing myself to receive love, help, and new possibilities.
The turkey is my sign: it tells me to stop giving, fill up my cup, and let others overflow me. And when I have been too much in a mindset of taking, the turkey signals me to give back and give in order that abundance continues.
It demands a sense of awareness and self-awareness, and it’s something that comes into motion.
There is an art in such a balance, and that turkey helps point me towards it.
It is about family
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” —Psalm 133:1
When I think of a turkey, one word comes to mind—family.
Turkeys are highly social creatures.
They establish flocks in which to live and then cooperate to survive.
When a turkey crosses my path, it is usually a message to me that I need to pay attention to how I may be connected with others.
I have learned that these bonds — with family, friends or your tribe/community are all necessary components of a satisfying life.
The strong family structures of turkeys demonstrate the power of unity.
Every time I see a turkey, I think of how my relationships are growing (or struggling) and if I am filling the giver bucket back up for those that most matter.
Having the turkey around, I also think about my place in the wider community.
The turkey allows me to remember to get back in touch with where I come from.
It is about humility
“Life is a long lesson in humility.” – James M. Barrie
Turkeys may not be flashy birds, but they bear deep spiritual significance.
The experienced I had with the turkey will always be a dose of humility in reaching success.
The turkey shows me that true strength is light with humility.
Not in how I need to offer my attention and approval all the time.
It feels amazing to know myself and be okay with slow, silent progress.
It is about fulfillment in simplicity
“And my God will supply every need of yours…” —Philippians 4:19
I am always amazed when I watch turkeys feeding because they are able to eke out nutrition from so many of the basic things that nature has available.
Fulfillment comes from the easiest things life provides us.
The turkey encourages me to stop and consider what I have already.
It is about patience
“There is a time for everything…” —Ecclesiastes 3:1
From the turkeys, one of the biggest lessons I learned is to have patience.
Turkeys are waiting for the perfect opportunity to get what they want.
When a turkey crosses my path, it signals to me that it is time for me to slow down and know that I can trust in the unfolding of life as an effortless process.
It is easy to be sucked into that whirlwind — rushing, pushing, trying to make things happen. However, seeing the turkey I know that all things in time are good.
Impatience does not serve me, and everything will fall into place if I trust in divine timing.
It is about gratitude
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.” —Psalm 107:1
The turkey is tied to Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is a holiday that we take to come together and observe how blessed we really all are. However, the other side is that when I see a turkey outside of that holiday, it sends me into a mental state of showing gratitude.
I give thanks for all the things I have in my life that easily get lost in the shuffle.
The thing with gratitude is that it helps bring more abundance into my life.
The turkey is a physical totem that contentment is not trying to get more, it is an awareness of what I already have in this moment.
I’m Bulgarea Candin Stefan and I have started Spiritual Whirlwinds to pass my learnings from my spiritual journey. Spiritualwhirlwinds.com provides a space of spiritual awakening with guided meditations, e-books, mantras, and pendulum readings.