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[liz666]

 Hi all :-)
I've not had much experience with totems aside from Spider but recently Owl has come into my life.  I have a basic idea of the associations for Owl-wisdom, stealth,etc but I'd love to know more about the gifts and lessons Owl has to bring.  Please help!  I'd be very grateful :-)
BB Liz

Comments

[mahpiya_luta]

Owl's Wisdom Includes

[mahpiya_luta]

Dawn, dusk, and the dead of the night is Owl's domain

[liz666]

Thank you so much! Spider has taught me so much over the years but has been quite absent of late-I started having Owl dreams (Barn Owl to be specific) a few months ago along with an increasing sense of being watched and I'm currently experiencing a lot of changes in my life that I think Owl is trying to draw attention to.
I really appreciate the wealth of information you've given me here and thank you very much for the speedy reply! I have a place to begin now :-)

Blessings
Liz

[mahpiya_luta]

Owl frequently visits me, so that is how/why I accumulated so much info. I hope something in all this helps you.

Spider is also one of my guides. She is an amazing teacher.

[mahpiya_luta]

Owl Wisdom

Owl medicine is symbolically associated with clairvoyance, astral projection, and magick, both black and white. Since ancient times, the owl has been associated with wisdom, deep learning and the Underworld deities. Later, it came to be connected with black magick. It is a bird of prey and a night hunter. The owl is a powerful, noiseless flyer with good hearing and sight. It is armed with a vicious beak and talons for protection and hunting. It is so alert to its surroundings that it appears to turn its head completely around when watching something.

There are two families: the typical owls, with about 167 species; and the barn owls, with about 14 species. There are anatomical differences between the two families, but many generalizations apply to both.

[mahpiya_luta]

The large eyes of owls (smaller in barn owls) are directed forward, and are encased in a capsule of bone called the sclerotic ring, which allows little eye movement. Owls must turn their entire heads to look sideways, facilitated by relatively long and flexible necks that permit the head to be rotated through 270 degrees. In most owls the eyes are surrounded by a facial disk of stiff feathers. As relatively few owls hunt their prey in full daylight, their hearing is particularly important. Many owls have asymmetrical skulls, with the ear openings at different levels; this enables the bird to get a "fix" on the sound made by a prey animal. Owls range over the whole globe except in the Antarctic region; the common barn owl has one of the largest ranges among living birds. The nesting habits of owls are highly variable. Some nest in holes in trees or among rocks, others nest in large tree-nests, and others, such as burrowing owls, nest on the ground. All lay pure white eggs. Owls feed entirely on living animals, with the size of the prey

[mahpiya_luta]

Some genera of owls have many species; the largest genus contains more than 50 species. Some owls of this genus are well known, such as the eastern screech owl of eastern North America. Many of the tropical species, however, are known from only a few museum specimens, and their habits have not been studied. All species belonging to the largest genus of owls look much alike, and . . . are differentiated most strongly by their distinctive voices. Among the largest species of owls are the eagle owls. They have tufts of feathers on their heads that are called "ears" but are not related to true ears. Only the great horned owl is found in the Americas, but there are 17 species in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Most widely distributed is the northern eagle owl, found from Scandinavia and Spain to Japan. It is about 71 cm (28 in) long. Smallest of the family is the elf owl of the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is 13 cm (5 in) long, and nests in woodpecker holes in large cacti.

[mahpiya_luta]

From very early times the owl was a creature of the Great Goddess. It was often combined with the goddess figure to make and owl-woman in the early matriarchal cultures, such as Le Tene. Stelae, figurines, and amulets belonging to the Megalithic era of France, Spain, Portugal, and Great Britain show a goddess with great staring eyes; this figure has come to be referred to as the Eye-Goddess. In Peru and Ecuador, the owl image decorated spindle whorls along with a birth-giving goddess. In Crete, during the third millennia B.C.E., jug vases shaped like a winged owl with female breasts were a ritual vessel; the breasts were perforated for pouring. Originally, such Middle Eastern goddesses as Mari, Lilith, and Anath were closely connected with owls. A Sumerian relief of the goddess Lilith shows her naked except for a horned tiara; she has owl talons for feet and is accompanied by owls. The Hebrew translation of this goddess’s name is "screech owl." As the patriarchies gained control, people began to believe the owl, and the goddess with

[mahpiya_luta]

Warm hearted, jovial, and fun loving, owl people have lively minds, an independent outlook and an adventurous temperament. They like the great outdoors and its freedom from confinement and limitation. Owls require freedom of mind and expression, and freedom to go where they please, think what they like and say what they feel. Their minds are so alert that they are inclined to develop more interests than they can cope with and thus become masters of none. Their inquiring minds entice them into lengthy discussions and arguments. They enjoy talking about things that interest them at the time, but are less enthusiastic about other people’s interest. They are individualistic and sincere and have jovial dispositions, but they are prone to explosive bouts of anger if they are provoked. Their boldness and frankness can sometimes come across as insensitivity or just plain rudeness, and they can be bitterly sarcastic when hurt. Although they require freedom of movement, they can sometimes run away from their responsibilities in a blind dash to

[mahpiya_luta]

Magickal Attributes: Owls symbolize wisdom, the ability to see things that are hidden, stealth, swiftness, darkness, freedom, dreams, shape-shifting, secrets, omens, clairvoyance, astral projection, magick, deception, observation, total truth, night, death and misfortune. They are connected to the Underworld and the Moon. They are connected to The Goddess in general, as well as Athena, Mari, Lilith, Anath, Gwynn ap Nudd, Blodeuwedd, Yama and Cailleach. Associated with the Crone aspect of triple Goddess. It is seen as a guide through the Underworld. Useful as a familiar when we need help seeing in the 'dark', when we need keen sight for seeing those who may deceive us and into obscure events. Silent and swift movement. In meditation, often a guide to and from the Underworld. Moon magick and wisdom to make positive changes. Stealth, Seeing behind masks, Keen sight, Comfort with shadow self and Freedom.

Shape shifting quality: An owl is always alert and aware of its surroundings giving the appearance of wisdom.

[mahpiya_luta]

Bibliography: Animal Speak, Animal Magick, Totem Cards, Encyclopedia En Cart, Wyldkat, Animal Spirit Guides Shamanism