Owl Totem

Owl's Wisdom Includes:

  •  Stealth

  •  Secrecy

  •  Silent and swift movement

  •  Seeing behind masks

  •  Keen sight

  •  Messenger of secrets and omens

  •  Shape-shifting

  •  Link between the dark, unseen world and the world of light

  •  Comfort with shadow self

  •  Moon magick

  •  Freedom

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There are very few Native tribes, and I say tribes and not Nations, that have a deathly fear of the owl. The Apache Nation is a perfect example. The Nation as a whole does not fear the owl and, in fact, some wore owl feathers on their clothing and headdresses. It is the Mescalero that fears the owl. I know a Mescalero medicine woman (a real, practicing medicine woman) who is so terrified of the owl she does a special ceremony if she even sees a photo of one.

This apparently comes from the beliefs of these various tribes, few as they are, that the owl carries the spirit of the recently deceased to the Great Spirit. Thus, the death messenger. The sound of an owl makes these people stop in their tracks. The sight of one is enough to scare them and, heaven forbid, if one flew at them, they would surely die of fright.

As a totem, owl medicine is a feminine trait. It is at home, and comfortable, in the night. It has great awareness of all that is around it at all times. It has predator vision, which means it sees clearly what it looks at. It has great intuition; it is the totem of psychics and clairvoyants. It has the courage to follow its instincts. It is a meat eater, which means it can be a fierce warrior if challenged or if something dear to it is threatened.

Owls come in all sizes from a tiny miniature that actually lives inside the cactus in the desert to the great horned owl, which is the only bird that can out-fly the golden eagle. A fully grown great horned is an awe inspiring creature. Its talons are furry and closely resemble the paws of a baby mountain lion with claws extended.

Owl medicine is wonderful to have. Those who carry it cannot be conned because their vision shows them the truth of the situation.

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Owl medicine is symbolically associated with clairvoyance, astral projection and magic. Owl is called the `Night Eagle' due to its' habits of sleeping during the day and working at night. Owl sits in the East, the place of illumination. Humans are normally afraid of the night, the dark and the unseen, but night is Owls friend.

Owl hunts its prey at night. Not only can Owl see in the dark but can also accurately pinpoint and identify any sound. Owl feathers are called `deceiver feathers' as Owl flies silently, its prey only aware of its presence when it strikes.

Owl is know in many cultures as a symbol of wisdom. This is because Owl can see what others cannot, which is the essence of true wisdom. Where others are deceived, Owl sees and knows what is there. Owl is telling you to use your powers of perception, your silent power of observation of the present situation. Owl can bring you messages in the night through deems and  meditation. Pay attention to them as they always bring the truth to enlighten your present situation.

There are a few too many to add here, but see how different cultures see the Owl.

 http://www.owlpages.com/mythology/index.html