Maybe you’ve seen one of those viral videos on social media recently of animals walking in circles, and you’re wondering what’s up with that. Some people think it means the end is near. Others say the animals just went nuts or that it was all staged for the video.
I mean, anytime something strange happens, there’s always gonna be people who wanna find an explanation or say it’s fake. But some people believe animals can sense things in the spiritual world that we humans can’t. And it makes sense when you think about it, animals are often more in tune with their surroundings than we are, so maybe they feel something off that we don’t notice.
Are they trying to tell us something? Is there some hidden message in their repetitive behavior? Let’s explore some of the popular theories about what’s really behind those hypnotic viral videos of animals walking in circles.
What’s Really Going On?
Over the past year or so, there have been tons of videos popping up on social media, from TikTok to X, of animals just walking in circles. The theories people come up with are pretty interesting. But usually, there’s a more straightforward explanation.
The sheep are probably just stressed out or confused. This circular walking thing they do, called “rounding”, often happens when they’re in a new pen or separated from the rest of the flock. It’s thought to be a way for them to feel like they have some control over their situation.
Interestingly, a few years back, something weird happened in China. There was a flock of sheep that just started walking in circles, non-stop, for 12 whole days. And no, this was no “rounding,” nobody has any idea why! The sheep just kept going around and around for nearly two weeks.
The great sheep mystery! Hundreds of sheep walk in a circle for over 10 days in N China's Inner Mongolia. The sheep are healthy and the reason for the weird behavior is still a mystery. pic.twitter.com/8Jg7yOPmGK
— People's Daily, China (@PDChina) November 16, 2022
For others, though, there are more deep, spiritual meanings. And the six most common theories people have are these, along with what it might mean in the Bible.
The End of An Era or Cycle (Apocalypse)
Circles have always represented something fascinating to me. The way they go on forever without end, it’s quite symbolic. They depict eternity and infinity in a simple, elegant way. I think that’s why so many ancient cultures used the circle in their art, architecture, and spiritual symbols. It captures the sense of the eternal and never-ending.
That idea of the cycle of life is pretty neat, too. Life moves in circles, with seasons repeating themselves and animals being born, growing old, and passing on. Then, a new generation is born, and the cycle continues.
So when you see sheep walking in circles like that, it does make you wonder if it means something more. Maybe on some deeper, instinctual level, the sheep recognizes that one phase of its life or that flock is ending. Perhaps the older sheep will soon pass on, and a new leader will emerge. It could be the sheep’s way of acknowledging that the cycle is turning to another page.
Just like the circle itself represents the endless cycle of life, death, and rebirth, the sheep walking in circles could point to the natural turning of the wheel and the start of a new era.
An Omen or Warning
Some interpret the animals walking in circles as a bad omen or sign of dark times ahead, like war or disaster. The animals are believed to sense disturbances in the energy or vibrations around us.
See, animals have senses that are way better than ours. They can hear sounds and feel vibrations in the earth that we can’t even detect. So, if the environment is changing in some way, the animals will pick up on it before we do.
They could sense disturbances that we can’t. Maybe bad weather is forming far away, or small tremors mean an earthquake is coming. Their instincts tell them to be on alert. And walking in circles could just be a sign of their unease.
The Coming of Jesus
Some believe the viral videos of sheep walking in endless circles are a sign of Jesus’s return. Certain Christians interpret passages from the Bible, like Matthew 24, as prophecies that in the end times, “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” They see these strange animal behaviors as a fulfillment of such verses.
According to this view, God created animals with an innate sense of the spiritual realm – almost like a sixth sense. So when major supernatural events are impending, animals can detect changes in the spiritual atmosphere. Their strange behavior, like the circling sheep, is a reaction to sensing these spiritual disturbances that precede Jesus coming back to earth.
Impending War
Animals are thought to have a sixth sense that allows them to detect changes in the environment before humans. Their circling behavior could be a premonition of conflict or unrest on the horizon that we can’t yet perceive.
Throughout history, there have been examples of animals exhibiting strange behavior before the outbreak of war or violence. Flocks of birds suddenly fleeing an area or strange animal groupings and noises have preceded events like the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Battle of Edgehill in England, and other notable clashes.
The circling sheep videos may be a modern example of this uncanny ability in animals. Their repetitive behavior could be a warning sign that turbulence is coming, whether in the form of political upheaval, international conflict, or other unrest. But for those inclined to believe in animals’ sixth sense, the videos are an eerie reminder of their perceptiveness. The sheep may know something we don’t.
Biblical Meaning
The recent viral videos of animals walking in circles could be a sign of biblical prophecy. In the Bible, sheep are often used as a metaphor for followers and believers. Their circling behavior could represent humanity going astray from the righteous path, wandering without proper guidance.
According to the book of Isaiah, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way.” The sheep’s circling may be a warning that we have lost our way spiritually as a society. Some point to 2 Peter 2:17, “These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.” The circling sheep could signify humanity trapped in a dark spiritual mist, thirsting for purpose and meaning.
Here’s the big question: Are we following the path set out for us, or have we strayed like lost sheep with no shepherd? The circling sheep invite us to pause, re-center ourselves, and make sure we are walking the righteous road.
Meaning In Islam
Some Muslims interpret sheep or all animals walking in circles as a sign of the approaching apocalypse and the return of Prophet Isa (Jesus). According to Islamic eschatology, Prophet Isa will return at the end of the times to defeat the false messiah, known as Dajjal.
The strange behavior of animals is seen by some as one of the minor signs that will precede the Day of Judgment. Circular movements performed by animals like sheep are believed to symbolize the cyclical nature of time coming to an end, ushering in the final era.
