Guided by the owl
Today, let us uncover what the owl as a totem animal can teach us and show us. It is an animal that has always fascinated me and played an important role in my spiritual journey.
In so many ways, the owl reminds me of cats, not only because they eat mice. When raised in captivity they are quite affectionate towards their handlers and caregivers. Their neck can rotate up to 270 degrees due to a blood pool at the base of their necks. They are great hunters and it is not uncommon for bigger owl species to hunt smaller ones. They are tough predators. I also learnt that barn owls hiss, like cats.
Through the ages owls were associated to knowledge. They symbolised it. These amazing creatures have unimaginable sight and the first clue for absolute knowlegde is observation. Seeing and noting the smallest occurence. These birds are tied to wisdom, intuition and the occult, that is hidden knowledge. Their accurate vision can symbolise the human concept of a 6th sense.
They are nocturnal creatures, thus with their power to see in the dark, they see things most do not. Owls are great guides when one needs to navigate in the dark and to face the unknown. They are the guides of most clairvoyant individuals, as they invite you to see beyond illusions. Viewing beyond the superficiality of life, lies and deception. Calling upon the owl helps us uncover hidden motives.
Owls are known for their link to the divine sphere as they are frequently associated to different dieties throughout human history. Three that come to my mind now are the Goddess Athena, the Goddess Hekate and the Goddess Lilith. The Goddess Athena is closely linked to Wisom, Justice and Stategic warfare and strong intuition. The Goddess Hekate is associated to the night, hidden knowlegde and healing. The Goddess Lilith is often symbolised by an owl as she is immemorial knowledge herself.
Sirens, the mythical creatures, not the warning sound, are often tied to Owls as they are both present in history and mythology and are both liminal creatures( thus the owls association to Mater Hekate, Goddess of Crossroads Hekate Trivia). Sirens in ancient scriptures are depicted as creatures with women heads and owls bodies,guiding the souls to the after life through their association to air and water.
The last part is their hunting skills. Owls, creatures of the night are phenomenal hunters thanks to their keen eyesight and assymetrical hearing. They are apex predators after all. Unfortunately for us, we live in a very ferocious world, and the analogy of prey and predator can be used in various context. The owl as a spirit guide can show us how to make decisions, avoid deceit and hunt the right opportunities.
Owls are formidable creatures that have a lot to teach us as humans and as spiritual incarnations too. Do not be afraid to call upon their guidance.
Joele Hubert