Kestrel as a Messenger of Spirit

Every year, I find myself drawn to the lands of Germany, where I spend a few wintering days in quiet contemplation. These “betwixt and between” days, nestled between Christmas and the New Year, offer a liminal space to reflect. For me, the year never truly begins on January 1st—it feels more like a door that gently creaks open, starting as early as the Winter Solstice in December.

Upon returning this year, I sought to ease myself into my creative and working flow by taking an omen walk. These early January walks often reveal signs and messages from Spirit, offering guidance for the year ahead. As I did last year, I entered the walk with a quiet hope of catching a glimpse of the elusive Little Brown Owl in Richmond Park who gave me last year’s guidance for the year ahead.

Though I yearned to find them, their familiar presence among the trees was absent (or so I thought!). Still, I carried on, undeterred. The air was sharp and cold, and the ground lay hidden beneath a delicate blanket of snow. Sunlight glinted off frozen puddles while the clouds above glowed with a soft, ethereal orange tint. The world around me felt transformed—an almost otherworldly realm, tranquil and imbued with a quiet sense of wonder.

As I marvelled at the beauty of Earth, my eyes caught the silhouette of two birds perched atop a trimmed willow tree in the distance. Intrigued, I moved closer. To my amazement, two kestrels sat—a male and a female.

Until that moment, I had never seen a pair of kestrels together. My encounters had always been fleeting—one bird whizzing past or hovering in the distance. But now, standing in their presence, I felt something truly special. Even as I locked eyes with them, they remained unbothered, allowing me to marvel at their beauty beneath their tree.

At that moment, I knew that the omen for the year had found me.

What Is an Omen?

Before I delve into the Spirit message of the kestrels, let me first explain what I mean by an omen. To me, omens are phenomena that emerge from Spirit into our physical, three-dimensional world, offering us insights and answers to the questions held in our hearts. These revelations are not fixed declarations of fate but rather gentle pointers—directional signs and inspiration for our journey forward.

To invite such guidance, I regularly take what I call “omen walks.” I begin with a burning question, whisper it to Spirit, and then walk with an open heart, observing the world around me without expectation. These silent walks often transport me into an ethereal realm, where I sense a clear connection to Spirit, and it is much easier to hear, see, and feel the Spirits of things.

The Kestrels’ Message

As I watched the kestrels take flight, hovering with Grace over the open grasslands in their hunt for prey, their movements revealed the first insight for 2025. Kestrels exhibit a behaviour known as “wind hovering,” where they face into the wind and match its speed to remain perfectly still in the air. Their heads remain remarkably steady, their gaze fixed on a single point as they wait for the perfect moment to strike.

The first lesson was clear: This will be a year of seeing more clearly—but only if we are willing to put in the effort required to gain that clarity. Like the kestrel, we cannot stay perched in the trees’ safety. We must summon the courage to take flight, to rise above the ground level of our lives, and to see with a broader, higher perspective. Clarity comes when we commit to this balanced effort, and it will not arrive if we do not create the right environment around and within us to thrive.

But there was another layer to their message. The kestrel’s ability to hover with such precision lies in its partnership with the wind. By facing directly into it and matching its speed, the kestrel achieves the stillness it needs to focus. This highlights the importance of working in harmony with the natural elements—Earth, Water, Air, and Fire—not just as external forces but as energies that reside within us.

This year calls us to align with the natural rhythms and cycles of life rather than to resist them. Struggling against the flow expends unnecessary energy, often driven by ego-driven desires. Instead, we are invited to lean deeply into these elemental forces, trusting that they will hold us as we pursue our soul’s path. Life is not to be feared—it is to be lived.

Like the kestrel, we must lean into the Divine currents, raise our frequencies, and trust that we will be supported as we step boldly into 2025.

An Ultraviolet Perspective – Sight Beyond the Ordinary

There was a second piece to the kestrel’s message. It has been noted that kestrels can see in the ultraviolet light spectrum, allowing them to detect urine trails left by small mammals. This ability helps them locate hidden prey. Whether this is scientifically accurate or not, this thought dropped into my consciousness for a reason. It offered another profound insight.

Ultraviolet light exists beyond the range of human vision. To me, this symbolises the importance of expanding our perception, of seeing beyond what is immediately visible. Just because we cannot see something does not mean it does not exist.

The lesson here is twofold. First, we are encouraged to refine and elevate our consciousness, reaching beyond the ordinary to embrace the extraordinary. This may require stepping out of the “dirt” of daily struggles and elevating ourselves to a higher frequency of thought and awareness.

Second, not all that glitters, is gold. In a world full of distractions, we must remain discerning. Some things that appear valuable on the surface may lack true substance, and it is up to us to distinguish the genuine from the illusory.

Final Reflections

The kestrels reminded me of the importance of trust and surrender.

Just as they partner with the wind as an ally to hover with precision, so must we lean into the flow of life, trusting that we will be supported.

This year, hold your vision clearly, free of attachment, and step boldly into the journey ahead. Raise your frequency and consciousness, expand your sight, and embrace the Divine presence that walks with you.

Life is calling. Will you answer?

As a final note, remember, I had a little wish in my heart that I might see a little brown owl… well… as I made my way home, I was blessed with the sight of one in my local tree at the exit of Richmond Park. It felt to me like a clear sign that Spirit is walking alongside me, and therewith, You, and that if I remain open and willing to See, then Spirit may gift me with glimpses of the Divine, and the messages imparted that are so often hidden to us when we are closed down and distracted. An underlying magic lives at the heart of all that exists, and I intend to commit to seeking that undercurrent.