Need help from Native American/Spiritualists

[ewagner]

We were awakened the other night by a loud crashing sound that seemed to come from just outside our door. When we investigated, we found nothing, but then, coming from across the street in the park we heard two owls. (At least I think the second was an owl) The first was the familiar "hoot" of an owl and the second was a high-pictched screech (which I assumed was a screech owl) . The sound of the second sounded almost desperate and in pain and seemed to react directly with the sound of the "hoot" owl. We listened for about 10 minutes before it finally stopped.


I can't help but think this has some meaning. Can anybody out there tell me what symbolism the owls represent?

Many thanks.

[TXvote]

1. Owl superstitions

down south, maybe it's Cajun, some people believe the sound of an owl is a portend of death. In this case maybe somebody fighting for their life (owl to owl). Either way, some mamas would toss salt over their childrens heads if they heard what you heard.

In some native traditions, the owl represents deception (quiet wings, silent hunter seeking prey). Deception is sometimes an assett, sometimes a kick in the pants. Sounds like one deceptive owl was getting its commupance.

[ewagner]

2. Thanks

There was/is soooo much happening in our lives right now that we were really spooked by this (My son was embarking the next morning on a 1200 mile cross-country trip ... he arrived safely this evening but not until he suffered two of the most terrible days on the road he has ever experienced.)

I was a little spooked when it happened but didn't say anything to my son or wife. When my son called to let us know he was safe tongiht, the owl incident was the first thing he mentioned. It was on his mind too.

[SOteric]

3. Because of their

heart-shaped face, their nocturnal habits and the apparent intelligence in their eyes, Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest tend to believe that the owl represents the spirits of departed loved ones who are trying to contact us in the waking world.

[Pobeka]

4. Western barred(sp?) owls feed on spotted owls

I know true tales of professional owl callers who have to wear hard hats because of this problem so they don't get owl talons speared into their heads.

Perhaps you had a similar situation, one owl attacking another because it was hungry, or maybe it was a territorial squabble?

[Baclava]

5. You really want to know?

WitchWords Pagan Newsletter - Beltane 2003 - Volume 1, Issue 3
Beltane Issue - Volume 1 Issue 3 - 30th/1st April/May 2003


HISTORY, MYTHOLOGY AND FOLKLORE


13. Owls - Mythology and Folklore

(Cailleach, Oidhche, Comachag)
The word "cailleach" in the Scottish-Gaelic means old woman!, "coileach-oidhche" is the word for owl, believe it or not it means "night-cockerel"! These birds were most often associated with the Crone aspect of the Goddess. The owl is often a guide to and through the Underworld, a creature of keen sight in darkness, and a silent and swift hunter. It can help unmask those who would deceive you or take advantage of you.

Owls are believed to have played a more prominent role in early Celtic cults, and could perhaps have derived from a more broadly based deity of a common European descent. Predating the Greek cult of Athene, for whom the owl was an animal attribute, were images of these mysterious birds in Celtic lands.

Owls are believed to be a sacred animal to the famed Cult of the Head. They often appear with human heads and with bovines, such as rams and bulls, all of which have been determined by scholars to be objects of this strange cult. In modern Scottish and Welsh languages, the owl, by the etymology of the word alone carries negative connotations of death and darkness. Then, in later Gallo-Roman times the Owl lost its cult significance, but has been linked to a Celtic goddess associated with fertility.

The most famous myth dealing with the owl is in the story of Bloudeuwedd, contained in the Mabinogi. Lleu, one of the central characters of the story has a wife created for him by the magician Gwydion, because his mother forbade by her own word that he would never marry any ordinary woman. Bloudeuwedd is her name, and as the tale goes she tricks Lleu into divulging the secret to his own mortality, convincing him to even demonstrate how.
In the process, Bloudeuwedd then kills Lleu, who avenges his death by turning her in and owl, from which she receives her namesake in Gaelic.

A prime example of owl imagery are the handle fittings found with a famous cauldron found in Bra, Jutland that dates to the 3rd century B. C.. The cauldron was found in a bog in Bra, and was believed to have been a votive offering that was broken into pieces before it was deposited. When put together, the cauldron spanned over a meter in diameter and was adorned by several owls and bulls heads.

In the Celtic style, the fitting bears the face of an owl through an arrangement of shapes that terminate at the end of some columnar tendril designs. This owl is typical of La Tène work and is defined by the large eyes and sharp, curved beak that stand forth from background of intertwining designs.

In Ancient Greek mythology the Owl was a creature sacred to Athena, Goddess of the night who represented wisdom. Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom had a companion Owl on her shoulder, which revealed unseen truths to her. Owl had the ability to light up Athena's blind side, enabling her to speak the whole truth, as opposed to only a half-truth. The Ainu in Japan trust the Owl because it gives them notice of evil approaching. They revere the Owl, and believe it mediates between the Gods and men. The bird features prominently Celtic folklore where it is considered both to be sacred and to have magical powers, again because of its abilities in the dark. Zulus and other West African nations consider the bird a powerful influence in casting spells, and think that using parts of the owl gives great strength to a person involved with magical incantations.

To the Welsh, the Owl is a night predator -- the only bird capable of defeating the swift falcon and then only at dusk, its time of power. The Owl symbolizes death and renewal, wisdom, moon magick, and initiations. Their Goddess Arianrhod shapeshifts into a large Owl, and through the great Owl-eyes, sees even into the darkness of the human subconscious and soul. She is said to move with strength and purpose through the night, her wings of comfort and healing spread to give solace to those who seek her. A star and moon Goddess, Arianrhod was also called the Silver Wheel because the dead were carried on her Oar Wheel to Emania (the Moon-land or land of death), which belonged to her as a deity of reincarnation and karma. The Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess in Wales, her palace was Caer Arianrhod (Aurora Borealis), or the secret centre of each initiate's spiritual being.

However, many cultures have focused on the dark side of the Owl's symbolism. People have always been suspicious of the Owl because of man's fear of the dark, or night, and those things that might dwell there. In general, the hooting of an Owl is considered a portent of death or bad luck, and it may even prophesise death, as the death of Dido was foretold. It is a medical fact that most people die at night, and for that reason also the Owl has been seen as the messenger of death.

In the Middle East, China, and Japan, the Owl is considered as both a bad omen and an evil spirit. For Christians the Owl traditionally signifies the Devil, powers of evil, bad news, and destruction. Similarly, in the Old Testament the Owl is an unclean creature that stands alone as a figure of desolation. In an Australian Aboriginal myth the Owl is the messenger of bad news. Yama, the Verdic God of death, sometimes sent out the Owl as his emissary.

Indigenous peoples of the Americas consider the Owl to be the Night Eagle because it is silent and deadly in flight, and is a solitary bird with all-seeing eyes. The Owl is generally regarded as a bird of sorcerers because of its association with--and abilities in--the dark. It symbolizes deception and silent observation because it flies noiselessly. The Owl is feared by peoples who believe that the death warning is in its hoot.

In the Navajo belief system, the Owl is the envoy of the supernatural world and earth-bound spirits. The Pawnee understand the Owl as the Chief of the Night and believe that it affords protection. The Cherokee honor the bird as sacred because of its nighttime vision, and wish to draw that power to themselves to see in the dark.

Symbolism
Perception, Silent Observation, Wisdom, Deception

The Owl has a dual symbolism of wisdom and darkness, the latter meaning evil and death. They are symbolically associated with clairvoyance, astral projection and magick, and is oftentimes the medicine of sorcerers and witches, you are drawn to magickal practices. Those who have owl medicine will find that these night birds will tend to collect around you, even in daytime, because they recognise a kinship with you.

The two main symbolic characteristics of the Owl, its wisdom and its nocturnal activity-- have made it represent perception. Considering perception in a spiritual context, Owl medicine is related to psychism, occult matters, instincts, and clairvoyance-- the true ability to see what is happening around you.

The owl can see that which others cannot, which is the essence of true wisdom. Where others are deceived, Owl sees and knows what is there.

Use your power of keen, silent observation to intuit some life situation, Owl is befriending you and aiding you in seeing the whole truth. The Owl also brings its messages in the night through dreams or meditation. Pay attention to the signals and omens. The truth always brings further enlightenment.

The Owl, symbol of the Goddess, represents perfect wisdom. Owls have the ability to see in the dark and fly noiselessly through the skies. They bring messages through dreams. The Owl is the bird of mystical wisdom and ancient knowledge of the powers of the moon. With wide-open, all seeing eyes, Owl looks upon reality without distortion and acknowledges it, yet is aware that with ancient magickal and spiritual knowledge, he or she can make changes.

[Maddy McCall]

6. Here's a little information:

In the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex, which developed during the Mississippian Period (CE 1000-1500), animals were ranked according to their physical characteristics. Animals of the upperworld were most respected and awed, animals of this world were more familiar and easier to understand, and animals of the underworld were often feared. Ok, as long as an animal's characteristics were pretty clear cut, then the animal was consumable by everyone, unless that animal happened to be your clan totem. Say, if you were of the raccoon clan, you would not eat coon meat.

But some animals were more feared than simple underworld animals because they blurred the lines between the three worlds or between easily understood divisions of animals. For instance, bears were seen as especially powerful because they could walk on four legs like, well, a bear, or they could walk on two legs like a human. They were seen to have awesome power.

Owls fall into that same wishy-washy division. Unlike most birds, they are nocturnal. That made them powerful to Indians whose worldviews were shaped by the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex (aka Southern Cult). They have huge eyes, and the symbol for the sun, the center of Indian cosmology, was the eye. Therefore, their huge eyes made them a manifestation of the sun and the eternal fire. Indians in the SCC believed that the sun saw them, so the owl also watched over them as a protector from spirits or people who might harm them.

YES INDEED owls are POWERFUL figures in many American Indian belief systems. Related to the sun, the eternal fire, with huge eyes seen as awesome protectors, they were revered and in many social systems, only the paramount chief possessed adequate power to consume owls. Anyone else might be harmed by their power.

(By the way, women in the SCC were seen to have the same power, because of menstruation--women's menstrual blood was extremely potent, as well as life-sapping, and that is why warriors had sex prohibitions before battles. It had nothing to do with all that pollution crap that kids are taught in Anthro 101.)

Gee, sorry to right a novel on this. Hope this info helped. It's my field, and I really like these kinds of questions and discussions. I kind of oversimplified and generalized this, because not all groups percieved all animals the same way, but in a general sense, what I said above applies. :-)

Perhaps your feathered friends were protecting you. ;-) (Or maybe they were having kinky owl sex. :wow: )

[scarlet_owl]

7. Some thoughts from an owl "expert".

Traditionally in this country, owls are omens of doom and misfortune. In some Southwestern Native cultures, owl was seen as a problem-solver. In others, it was seen as an oaf who was easily fooled. Ancient Greeks considered the owl to be the wisest of birds, and the special animal of Pallas Athena herself. Now for the sciency stuff:

Considering where you live, you probably heard a Great Horned Owl or a barred owl. The name "screech owl" is misleading, although all owls can scream. Their call is more of a high-pitched, horselike whinny. Most larger owls will scream occasionally, especially if they feel threatened. My guess is that you heard an owl killing it's prey. The other sound could have been a dying smaller owl, or another animal. Or, and I hope this is the scenario, you heard a pair of owls hooting in courtship. They will call out to each other, and sometimes duet with each other's hoots. It is getting to be the courtship season.

Check out

http://www.owlpages.com/

I hope some of this helps.

[Elidor]

8. Sounds to me like you heard two owls fucking

Maybe I'm just crass. The only meaning I see is Woody the Owl tore off a piece. Wild Kingdom and all that.

[NJCher]

9. I heard that once, too

If it's the same thing, I truly empathize with you. It was the creepiest, most horrible sound.

It was in the summer, not long after I moved here. I live in an old carriage house on a private estate set back into the mountain. Even though it's New Jersey, there is still a lot of wildlife around here and especially back here, where there are no lights and its nearly pitch dark. One hot night I heard this horrible screeching sound. I went to the door and heard more carrying on, which was truly frightening. It came from grove of trees near the mansion, which was empty at the time. The screeching and moaning built to a fever pitch and then I heard what I thought was something dying its last breath. It was so unnerving and disturbing that I will never forget it. I told my husband about it the next day and he told me I had just heard two owls getting it on.

Oddly enough, that night I went back to reading my book and there was a knock at the door. At this point I was so rattled I nearly had to peel myself off the ceiling. I peaked out the window to see who was tapping at my door and it was a fricking raccoon! We used to keep some kitty food inside the front entryway and he wanted some! He couldn't get the door open so he was knocking. At least it made me laugh enough that I calmed down.

Now, in one other odd note to this story, three years later, my neighbor in the mansion has purchased these owl statues. Their heads turn and they are quite lifelike; in fact, so much that it's kind of creepy. They are all over the place and they remind me of that scary night.

Thanks to the owl researchers--that was very interesting.


Cher

[ewagner]

10. Many, Many thanks to all of you!

I suppose I am given to superstition now an then, and when trying times come upon me, I think my senses are more keen to "signs" of some sort or another.

Thanks for all the incredible information.

Like I've said before about the DU community: You guys (women included) are the absolute best!

[mouse7]

11. FBI agents staking you out making crappy turkey calls as cover? n/t

[ewagner]

12. Maybe not so funny...

after going up to moveon.,org and voting on those Bush in 30 seconds, ads, I wouldn't be surprised how many lists I'm on.......

That and the letters to the editor that never made it to print! They were probably forwarded directly to the FBI......

I thought about adding a sarcastic smiley face but I think there's some truth to it!