When you see a coyote, you might think it’s just a lucky sighting, but does seeing a coyote have a deeper spiritual meaning than just that? Join SpiritualBlossom to learn all about coyote spiritual meaning. Find out what coyotes symbolize and what it means when a coyote visits you in dreams. Learn about the meaning of having a coyote as a spirit animal and read some intriguing coyote trickster stories.
When was the last time that you went for a walk and you saw two wild eyes staring back at you? It might have been the coyote. Sometimes seeing a coyote is just a chance encounter, but other times there's a deeper meaning when you see a coyote. What is the spiritual meaning of coyotes, and what do they symbolize? What does it mean to dream about coyotes, and what are some of the myths and legends about them? Perhaps most importantly, what does it mean when the coyote is your spirit animal? Read on to find out.
What are Coyotes?
Members of the dog family, coyotes have been around since about 850,000 years ago and they are medium sized predators. Depending on their species they can be between 15 and 46 lbs. They are known for eating small creatures like rabbits, and mice, but packs of coyotes have been known to take down much larger animals together. Originally native only to North America, coyotes headed into Central America and today they can be found not only in the wild, but in urban areas also. There are 19 subspecies of coyotes, and they can live about 10 years in the wild but up to almost 20 years in captivity.
They're fast runners reaching speeds of up to 43 mph and know how to run on their tiptoes to be silent and go undetected. They are some of the most vocal wild animals and can make 11 different sounds including growling, barking, howling, whining, and even howling in a group. They tend to avoid humans and prefer to flee than to stand and fight but if they feel threatened by a human they will attack. Just be careful about letting your pets outside because they don't mind eating your pet’s food that you set out and they won't hesitate about eating your pets. They raised their families in packs and females who have not had a litter of pups yet will help other females raise theirs.
What is Coyote Meaning and Symbolism?
Coyotes symbolize different things to different people, but most people who are familiar with coyotes agree they are some of the most intelligent and adaptable animals in nature. They also represent individuality including thinking for yourself and they symbolize trickery or mischief.
Intelligence
Coyotes have keen senses of smell, hearing, and vision which help them to see in the night. They know how to disguise themselves underbrush right in people's yards, and you probably won’t know they are there. They are also known for outsmarting people and other animals. They figure out how to raid chicken coops, and eat crops. Despite the fact that this annoys human beings to the point that a lot of people have tried to eliminate them, their population is larger than ever. They are considered to be one of the cleverest members of the canine family and they're considered to be very tidy, leaving behind very little debris and keeping an immaculately clean den. Read about another member of the canine family, the mythological werewolf here: Do Werewolves Exist?
Adaptability
While coyotes eat mostly meat, they will eat grass and fruits and take their pick of what's available. The color and thickness of their fur depends on where they live. Coyotes who live in colder regions typically have gray fur while coyotes in warmer regions will have reddish fur. North American coyotes tend to have more dense fur and Central American coyotes have shorter, more bristly fur. They survive in the wild and in human cities. They take advantage of roadkill and tasty morsels left in the trash as well as snacks left out for wildlife. If they want to take down large prey like dear, they will hunt in packs. One Zodiac sign that adapts well to a variety of situations is Gemini.
Individuality
Because coyotes change their behavior depending on the situation, they represent individuality. They will travel in packs when it benefits them, but they don't have a problem surviving on their own at other times. While many coyotes keep the same mate for life, they spend several months of the year apart before they find each other again. They make decisions based on what is best for them, and they don't worry about whether somebody agrees with that or not. One Zodiac sign that does what they believe is right regardless of what other people feel about it is Libra.
Mischief
The Aztec god Huehuecoyotl is a god of mischief, joy, sexual pleasure, music, and dance. He is called “Old Coyote '' and is depicted with human body parts and a coyote’s head. He was sometimes portrayed as having a coyote’s body and head but with human hands and feet. He is also a shapeshifter, transforming at will, and playing pranks on the other gods of his pantheon. He was known to sow discord and create wars. He could breathe life into things and alter the course of fate. He could transform into a female, and some refer to him as a bisexual or hermaphrodite god because of this, and he took many male and female lovers. He was also known to steal other men’s wives or lovers away to have them for himself. A creature of myth known for its insatiable sexual appetite is the vampire and you can read about it here: Are Vampires Real?
What Do Dreams About Coyotes Mean?
Dreams about coyotes can represent any of the special things that they symbolize. However, you should pay attention to the details of the dream to find out what specific message the coyote is sharing. Dreams about coyote pups will mean something different than dreams about packs of coyotes. Dreams about coyotes growling will mean something different than dreams about coyotes with badgers.
Dreams About Coyote Pups
Coyote pups represent wonder, safety, or playfulness. When you dream about coyote pups sleeping peacefully, that means that you are safe and secure and have nothing to worry about. When you dream about coyote pups playing together, you're being told to enjoy your life and stop worrying so much. If you dream about tiny coyote pups looking at you with their sensitive soulful eyes, you're being told to see the world through eyes of youthful wonderment and awe and enjoy the beauty of creation. One kind of person that feels that creation is beautiful is a witch and you can read about them here: The Truth About Witches
Dreams About Coyote Packs
When you dream about coyote packs, you're being told that there is strength and numbers and to be reliant upon your friends, family, and professional groups at this time. There comes a time to be an individual but there also comes a time to team up with others to make the most impact. One Zodiac sign that loves sharing time with friends is Sagittarius and you can read about them here: Sagittarius Traits and Love Compatibility
Dreams About Growling Coyotes
Dreams about growling coyotes can symbolize standing your ground or about being safe. If you have a dream that you are being defended by a growing coyote against danger, it means that you should stand your ground and fight, but also accept help from allies. If you have a dream that a coyote is growling at you, safety should be your first priority. Make getting through whatever dangerous obstacle lies before you the top goal and meeting other goals can be figured out at another time. One Zodiac sign that is fiercely protective of those they love is Taurus and you can read about them here: Taurus Zodiac Traits and Love Compatibility
Dreams about Coyotes and Badgers
Coyotes and badgers often hunt the same prey so you might think that they would be enemies and direct competition of one another, but sometimes they team up as hunting buddies. They have different skills. Coyotes are good at chasing prey, but badgers are excellent diggers. Sometimes a badger will dig up prey, and the coyote will chase it and catch it. Dreams about coyotes and badgers represent teamwork. When you dream about coyotes and badgers, you're being told to collaborate even if it's somebody who you feel is your competition because you will do better work together than alone. One Zodiac sign that loves to have a team on their side is Aquarius and you can read about them here: Aquarius Zodiac Traits and Love Compatibility
Coyote Myths and Legends
The coyote takes a prominent role in some pre-Christian myths of the Americas. In some stories, he is a hero while in others, he is the cause of all death on earth. He is especially helpful to the god Montezuma, and he has been credited with stealing fire so human beings didn't have to be cold.
Coyote and Montezuma
To some American indigenous tribes like the Tohono O’odham people, Montezuma is a hero god and he had a strong bond with coyote. Coyote knew there was going to be a great flood that would destroy everybody, but he warned Montezuma, and they built boats and escaped the flood. After the flood, Montezuma sent coyote out in all four directions to see how far away the sea was. Montezuma was entrusted with governing mankind, and the Great Spirit saw to it Montezuma could have a repopulated earth. Montezuma eventually turned wicked and turned against coyote, but not before coyote helped save him so that he could help rule the new people of earth. To read about the earth signs, see here: What are Earth Signs on the Zodiac?
How Coyote Created Death
An American indigenous tale says that when the world was new there was no such thing as death. Soon, there was no room for anyone else on earth and the chiefs had a meeting to decide what to do. Someone suggested that people die for a short time to make room for other people, but coyote said that people should die permanently. That idea was rejected and the medicine man built a house where they would call the spirits of the dead to them and house them there for a short time before they returned them back to earth. The spirits of the dead would enter the door after the medicine men sang to welcome them and one day, coyote decided that this was not good and he found a way to close that door forever. He believed that people should make their way to the spirit land instead of going back to earth. The story says that’s why we die. To read about Samhain a holiday that venerates the dead see here: All About Samhain
How Coyote Stole Fire
An American indigenous story says that there was a time when there was no fire. No one had any way to keep warm or cook. Fire was kept away by Thunder and everyone except for coyote was afraid of him. So, coyote made a wager with Thunder to play a game of dice and he told Thunder if he won he could kill him but if Thunder lost, he had to give coyote fire. Coyote was crafty and he turned the dice right side up in his favor when Thunder wasn't looking. Thunder was confused and thought coyote cheated but he couldn't prove it. Coyote called all of the animals to help him carry away the fire, but Thunder tried to prevent them. Thunder threw the fire at coyote and pieces of it flew everywhere. The animals grabbed pieces of the fire and ran off with it, bringing it back to earth.
The Coyote Spirit Animal
When the coyote is your spirit animal, it teaches you deep truths. The coyote teaches you to be brave, adaptable, cunning, and to follow your own path. The coyote has always been known for doing what it feels is the right thing even if others disagree. Like in the story of how coyote stole fire, the coyote isn't too proud to be sneaky to accomplish goals. Sometimes you have to keep all the facts to yourself when you're making good things happen, and sometimes you have to be very open and honest about what you're doing. When the coyote is your spirit animal, it teaches you versatility in accomplishing things and finding a variety of different ways to be successful. Coyotes are not considered to be a threatened species, so if you want to do something kind for your spirit animal when it is the coyote, all you have to do is set out some treats for them. They will appreciate it.
Sometimes seeing a coyote is just a random sighting, but other times it's so much more spiritually significant than that. The coyote can visit you to bring you messages of being independent, of being adaptable, of using your intelligence to your advantage, and sometimes they advise you to be crafty and mischievous. Dreams about coyotes can hold much deeper truths than this, and when the coyote is your spirit animal it teaches you all of its gifts and powers. May the spirit of the coyote touch your life with playfulness, opportunities, and teach you when to act as an individual or when to join a team. So Be It.
Do you like to know more about the spiritual power of the coyote? Get a reading with a SpiritualBlossom psychic started to find out today!
About the Author: Lady Saoirse has studied magic and lore for most of her life but started walking her own Magical Path after being spiritually reborn in the desert. Today she is a High Priestess for The Temple of the Goddess, she is a psychic advisor and spiritual counselor, she shares her gifts as a Psychic and Content Writer for SpiritualBlossom. She has written for Mysticsense and PaganPagesOrg emag.
