Owl
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Keywords
Wisdom, knowledge, stealth, initiation, change, detachment, protection, seeing hidden truths, facing shadows, death, transformation
Protection & Truth
This spirit animal heralds a time when we must face our shadows, that which lies hidden, and connect to the spiritual realm to gain greater insight into our own psyche. Being strongly connected to the element of air, Owl takes us on a flight to the Divine, the Akashic records and helps us to see things in a whole new way.
There is no room for lies and self-deceit any longer and thus, Owl reminds us to stay true to ourselves, that who we really are. Owl will dig out all the skeletons in our closets and do away with illusions and deceptions of any kind. It is like a spiritual spring cleaning of our shadow parts, bringing them to light to be dealt with, accepted and transmuted.
In various myths of the Divine in different epochs and spiritual and religious traditions, Owl had a potent role. In Greek mythology, she was associated with the Goddess Athena who held this animal sacred. Initially, she had Crow as her companion but grew tired of the pranks, so she chose Owl instead for her wisdom and serious nature. It was also said that Owl was a protector because she is ever watchful and when she was seen flying over an army meant that victory was certain. Owl, thus, is viewed to able to see hidden truths that she revealed to the Goddess.
Different Cultures, Common Themes
Celts and Egyptians alike saw this night active animal as a connection to other realms, especially to the dead. In Native American tradition and also in the Western ones, Owl stands for wisdom and knowledge. The Baltic people of Lithuania and Latvia see her connected to the Goddess Ragana whose domains are witchcraft, magic, protection, death and boundaries.
The Celts saw Owl as a symbol of wisdom, stealth, initiation, change and detachment. She assists with clairvoyancy and deeper knowledge. On this level, she teaches that death is only a new beginning and not the end-all of life, merely a different form as energy cannot be destroyed, only transformed, and life is energy.
Owl also brings great intuition, courage and teaches us to follow our instincts. Omens and secrets are her domain, as well as the Underworld. With this ability, we can detect lies and deceit and protect ourselves from them. In Celtic culture, barn owls hold an especially sacred place. According to myth, they can see the hidden and hear the unspoken because, even compared to other owls, barn owls possess exceptional hearing and sight.
Due to their ability to see in the darkness, owls, in Celtic tradition are ascribed magical powers because they can see in the dark. They are associated with the Underworld and moon Goddesses and the crone aspect of the triple Goddesses. The general association applyors with death and darkness also applies to owls. In Celtic Welsh tradition, Owl is linked to death, renewal, wisdom, moon magic and initiations. She is associated with the Goddess Blodeuwedd, a form of Arianrhod whose other form is an owl who can see into the darkness of the human soul. Likewise, Owl’s wings bring comfort and healing to all those who ask it of her.
The Hidden Realms
In a Celtic myth, Blodeuwedd was fashioned by the magicians Math and Gwydion, Lleu’s uncle, from flowers of broom, meadowsweet, and oak. When Blodeuwedd conspires to kill Lleu with her lover whom she has an affair with, they come across some obstacles. Arianrhod, Lleu’s mother, has decreed that her son cannot be killed by day or night, indoors or outdoors, riding or walking, clothed or naked, nor by any weapon lawfully made. However, Blodeuwedd tricks Lleu into revealing when and how he can be killed: at dusk, wrapped in a fishnet with one foot on a goat, the other on a cauldron. The weapon has to be a spear that is forged for one year during the hours of mass, thus being unlawfully crafted.
When Blodeuwedd arranges for Lleu to be killed thus, he transforms into an Eagle and flies away. Later, the magician Gwydion manages to find him and turn him back into human form. Lleu takes revenge, part of which is to turn Blodeuwedd into an owl which is despised by the other birds and thus hunts at night, while the other birds sleep.
In Cherokee mythology, Owl holds an exalted place. Together with Puma, she was the only animal who didn’t fall asleep during the seven days of creation. This is the reason, both these animals are nocturnal. Another reason for their sacredness is that they both have human characteristics. Owl’s eyes are large and round and sit in the face pointing forward, just like human ones. They can also open and close their eyes individually like us. Eastern Screech Owls are seen as consultants on punishment and sickness, and Owl represent vision and insight.
Working with Owl
Modern research has shown that most people die at night. Because of the human fear of death and darkness, Owl, as a night raptor, is often associated with death in many cultures, like in ancient Egyptian and Sumerian mythology, as well as in modern ones. But she is also a symbol of wisdom, insight and guidance when we find ourselves figuratively in the dark, granting clairvoyance and premonition.
With Owl as our mentor, we are able to navigate any darkness in our lives and find our path again when we feel lost. We learn to observe more closely, stop running around wildly, whether physically or mentally and take the time to watch and observe. This will result in us noticing many interesting and helpful things that had previously eluded us. In this way, we can also detect our fears and traumas and release them to move forward into a brighter and more fulfilled way of being.
A good way to work with Owl is to connect more to and work with the lunar cycles, the Divine Feminine, the passive and receptive aspects of the Goddess. Your psychic abilities in seeing things at their essence for what they truly are will grow enormously during this time of deep connection. You learn not to speak without purpose but rather derive inner strength and insight from the power of silence. Your communication will be honed so that you relay information and your own inner wisdom with clarity, effectiveness and efficiency.
Owl supports you in speaking your truth and in working with the hidden realms. Thus, Owl is a harbinger of truth and supports us in self-actualization.