The Chicken and the Eagles – Spiritual Story

A long time ago in a remote valley, there lived a farmer. One day he got tired of the daily routine of running the farm and decided to climb the cliffs that brooded above the valley to see what lay beyond.

He climbed all day until he reached a ledge just below the top of the cliff; there, to his amazement was a nest, full of eggs.

Immediately he knew they were eagle's eggs and, even though he knew it was profoundly un-ecological and almost certainly illegal, he carefully took one and stowed it in his pack; then seeing the sun was low in the sky, he realized it was too late in the day to make the top and slowly began to make his way down the cliff to his farm.

When he got home he put the egg in with the few chickens he kept in the yard. The mother hen was the proudest chicken you ever saw, sitting atop this magnificent egg; and the cockerel couldn't have been prouder.

Sure enough, some weeks later, from the egg emerged a fine, healthy egret. And as is in the gentle nature of chickens, they didn't balk at the stranger in their midst and raised the majestic bird as one of their own.

So it was that the eagle grew up with its brother and sister chicks. It learned to do all the things chickens do: it clucked and cackled, scratching in the dirt for grits and worms, flapping its wings furiously,flying just a few feet in the air beforec rashing down to earth in a pile of dust and feathers.

It believed resolutely and absolutely it was a chicken.

One day, late in its life, the eagle-who-thought-he-was-a-chicken happened to look up at the sky. High overhead,soaring majestically and effortlessly on the thermals with scarcely a single beat of its powerful golden wings, was an eagle!

What's that?!, cried the old eagle in awe. It's magnificent! So much power and grace! It's beautiful!

That's an eagle, replied a nearby chicken, That's the King of the Birds. It's a bird of the air… not for the likes of us. We're only chickens, we're birds of the earth.

With that, they all cast their eyes downwards once more and continued digging in the dirt.

And so it was that the eagle lived and died a chicken… because that's all it believed itself to be.

The author of this spiritual story is unknown and greatly appreciated.

If you liked this story, you'll love this! We've compiled a list of the top 10 spiritual stories that our readers love. You can read them here.

What Is the Spiritual Meaning & Moral of the Chicken and the Eagles Story?

The chicken and the eagles is a story about the profound journey each soul undertakes in discovering its true nature and potential.

At its core, this story is a reflection of the human condition—an allegory that unveils the boundless potential within each of us. The eagle, raised amidst chickens, grows up believing it is one of them. It embodies the human struggle, often defined by societal norms and perceptions, limiting beliefs that confine us to a version of ourselves far beneath our innate greatness.

It mirrors our journey of self-discovery, wherein we adopt identities and beliefs that may not align with our inherent nature. The eagle, unaware of its majestic origins, lives its life confined to the ground, denying itself the freedom and splendor of the skies.

This parable is a poignant reminder of the limitations we impose upon ourselves. How often do we live our lives confined by the labels society places upon us? How frequently do we limit our aspirations and dreams, believing we are merely chickens when, in truth, we possess the potential to soar as eagles?

Yet, amidst this tale lies a subtle invitation—a call to awaken. The moment of realization for the eagle comes when it gazes upon its true kin soaring high in the sky. It's a stirring moment of recognition, an awakening to its innate potential and birthright.

In this moment, we find the heart of the story—the essence of our spiritual journey. It beckons us to look beyond the constraints of societal conditioning, to embrace the vastness of our being. The eagle's yearning, its awe-inspired cry, reflects the yearning of the human spirit to break free from self-imposed limitations.

Moreover, this parable is a testament to the power of perception and belief. The eagle's belief in its chicken identity anchored it firmly in a reality far beneath its true potential. Similarly, our beliefs shape our reality, influencing the paths we tread and the heights we aspire to reach.

The profound significance lies not merely in the story itself but in its resonance with our lives. It's a call to shed the limiting beliefs that confine us, to embrace our true nature, and to soar to the heights of our potential. It's an invitation to gaze upon the skies and recognize the eagle within ourselves—the symbol of our untapped capabilities and boundless spirit.

Ultimately, the parable of the chicken and the eagles follows the journey of self-discovery—a quest to recognize our innate divinity and embrace the freedom to soar to the heights of our true potential. It reminds us that we are not bound by the perceptions of others or the limitations we've adopted; rather, we are infinite beings, capable of reaching the skies if only we awaken to our true nature and believe in our inherent greatness.

Personal Reflection Questions

Spiritual stories are an opportunity to reflect on your own life. Here are 10 questions you can use to go deeper with the teachings in this story:

1. Reflect on the farmer's decision to climb the cliffs and explore beyond the familiar valley. Have there been moments in your life when you felt compelled to venture beyond your daily routines, seeking new perspectives or possibilities?
2. Consider the symbolic meaning of the eagle's egg in the story. How might it represent untapped potential or unexplored aspects of yourself that, if acknowledged, could lead to a more fulfilling life?
3. Explore the conflict between legality, ecology, and the farmer's decision to take the eagle's egg. Have there been instances in your life where you grappled with ethical dilemmas, and how did those choices shape your journey?
4. Reflect on the nurturing environment provided by the chickens for the eagle. In what ways do social influences and surroundings shape your self-perception and beliefs about what you are capable of achieving?
5. Ponder the irony of the eagle growing up believing it was a chicken. How does this narrative resonate with moments in your life where you may have limited your own potential due to self-perceived limitations or false beliefs?
6. Explore the theme of identity and self-perception. Are there aspects of your own identity that you may have adopted or restricted based on societal expectations or past experiences, hindering your ability to soar?
7. Consider the moment when the eagle sees another eagle soaring in the sky. How does this mirror instances in your life when you've been inspired by witnessing others achieve greatness, and did it prompt any self-reflection?
8. Reflect on the response of the nearby chicken to the eagle's admiration for the soaring eagle. How might societal norms and expectations limit our aspirations, and in what ways can we challenge those limitations?
9. Ponder the eagerness of the eagle to embrace its true nature upon discovering the existence of another eagle. Are there elements of your own identity that you might rediscover or embrace, breaking free from self-imposed constraints?
10. Consider the ending, where the eagle continues to live as a chicken despite glimpsing its true potential. How does this serve as a cautionary tale about the power of self-belief, and what steps can you take to explore and embrace your own soaring potential?