Here's What It Really Means When You See A Coyote

While a chance encounter with the neighborhood stray cat will likely leave you unphased, spotting a coyote in the suburbs might feel more like a clandestine meeting. Even if you're not apt to believe in these sorts of things, having any sort of encounter with a wild animal can feel just a bit magical. As it turns out, these encounters could be with a spirit animal who is trying to convey a special message. "A spirit animal is characterized as a teacher or messenger that comes in the form of an animal and has a personal relationship to an individual," shamanic healer and intuitive Colleen McCann told Goop. "Other names might be animal guides, spirit helpers, spirit allies, power animals, or animal helpers. It is believed that you do not choose the animal, rather it chooses, or has already chosen you."

Unless you're living out in the country, a coyote sighting is a bit rare. According to California Psychics, coyotes are a revered species in Native American culture, due to the fact that they are rather important messengers of personal transformation. "A coyote sighting is generally a message to take a look within, to not take life too seriously, to lighten up, and to learn to laugh at ourselves and even our mistakes," said California Psychics. "Coyotes also remind us that anything we do to others will come back to us—good or bad."

Given that coyotes live in packs and are prone to communicating often and effectively with one another, seeing a coyote might point to the fact that you are not communicating with others to form bonds in your life that are necessary for survival. According to California Psychics, a coyote sighting might be the universe's way of telling you that need to work harder to cultivate stronger partnerships by meeting the wants and needs of others. Additionally, the more playful side of coyotes plays a role in this spirit animal sighting. If you feel as though you are stuck in a rut and have a hard time enjoying life amid a number of responsibilities and burdens, the coyote will appear to remind you to take life a bit less seriously. In other words: Stop striving for perfection.

Coyotes can also appear in dreams to relay important messages, according to Dreaming and Sleeping. If you are hunting a coyote in your dream, it likely means that you will soon find success in future endeavors. However, when your dream involves a friendly coyote, you might need to keep an eye on a friend that has the intention to trick or betray you.

At the end of the day, embracing some of the traits of a cunning and family-oriented coyote is not so bad.