13 Common Ways The Universe Sends Us Signs & Messages, According To Experts

Here are 13 common ways the universe can send messages, plus how to actually figure out what the message is.

Lions, for example, represent courage and leadership, so you might start seeing lions everywhere as you're stepping into a new position at your job. Or take hawks, as another example, which represent protection and trust. You might start seeing hawks a lot if you've been feeling nervous or unsure of yourself, reminding you to trust that you're protected.

For example, angel number 111 represents new beginnings, and if you were to see it when thinking about moving to a new place or getting back on the dating scene, this would be the universe saying, "Yes, do that!"

Our intuition is like our connection to the universe, and it can show up in four primary ways:

When you get an intuitive hit (i.e., feeling a pit in your stomach around someone who's no good for you, or seeing the image of a baby around a friend who's about to discover they're pregnant), it's akin to the universe telling you to pay attention and trust your instincts.

For instance, you might be thinking that it's time to buy a house, and then a few minutes later, walk by a couple that's raving about how great their real estate agent was in helping them find a home.

You might hear your favorite song during a first date, which would be a good sign, she explains. Or perhaps you're flipping through radio stations and hear a lyric about persevering when you're thinking about how you've been struggling lately, which would, of course, be a sign to persevere.

Dreams are as mysterious as they are fascinating, and sometimes, they even serve as a way for the universe to send us a message. There are a number of common dream symbols that relate to specific messages, such as snakes, which speak to transformation, or spiders, which warn against lies and criticism.

In the case of new opportunities, it's like the universe is saying, "This is lined up for you—don't miss it."

For example, Richardson previously wrote for mindbodygreen, "Seeing a billboard ad for a certain book on your way home, then having a friend mention out of the blue that they're reading this same book, and then seeing a flyer that the author will be appearing at your neighborhood bookstore," is essentially the universe saying you should get that book.

As another example, Richardson says, a strong wind kicking up out of nowhere as you ponder pulling back from a business partnership while taking your daily walk would also be the universe giving you a sign. Pay attention to what you were thinking when you noticed the weather change.

In this case, this is a sign from the universe that your loved ones are energetically with you and watching over you.

There are Earth angels all around us that can act as messengers from the universe (perhaps without them even knowing it!). If you're walking around town in a bad mood, for instance, and see a happy-looking guy wearing a shirt with a smiley-face on it, it's like the universe saying, "Hey, try to lighten up champ."

Colors are another way the universe sends us signs, especially when we ask for signs in the form of certain colors. Richardson notes you might set the intention that you'd like to receive signs with the color indigo for ways to improve your mental health, for example, and then get handed an indigo-colored flyer about a new yoga studio near you opening up.

And sounds won't always be bad either—perhaps you hear a bell chime when you have a great idea, or hear someone's phone ring outside when you're thinking about calling an old friend. Again, it all depends on the context of the moment when the sign appears.

Here's our full guide to how to recognize when the universe is giving you a sign for more information.

The universe is always reaching out and sending us messages to help guide us on our life's path—but we can only hear those messages when we're open to receiving them and know the signs to watch out for.