Owls

I have always loved owls, but they didn’t come fully into my awareness until my forties. Red-tailed hawks have always been the most prominent of the raptors in my daily life. But owls started appearing when my next phase of growth shifted from conscious awareness to honing and tuning my subconscious intuitive skills. Owl symbolism in some cultures carries heavy meanings, but in my experience are symbolically not animals to be feared. 

In the community where I was raised, when you reached sixth grade, we went to sixth-grade camp for a week. I remember a brief interaction with a Barred Owl. There was an ambassador from a wildlife rescue who had brought in an owl as part of a teaching program. I remember walking up to the man holding the owl and looking at it in awe. He took my forefinger and guided it toward the owl’s neck and said, "Go in until you touch his neck." My finger got lost in the feathers; I can’t even remember if I even reached his actual neck. I remember thinking this gorgeous, majestic creature was just a big puffball! Or so I thought. Let’s dive in.

Wisdom 

We’ve all heard them referred to as the wise old owl. Ancient civilizations, especially the Greeks, regarded the owl as the sacred companion of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war. The "owl of Athena" became an enduring symbol of insight and intelligence. However, the wisdom attributed to owls is not just intellectual but also intuitive. Their ability to see through darkness serves as a metaphor for penetrating beyond surface truths and recognizing things or energies that go unnoticed by the untrained eye. Owls remind us that wisdom often comes from silence, observation, and the courage to see what others might overlook. Owls ask us to connect with our higher selves and view things from a spiritual perspective.

Guardians of Night

Owls are nocturnal and their lives are intimately tied to the moon, shadows, and darkness. In spiritual traditions, darkness is considered the realm of dreams, intuition, and the unconscious mind. The owl is often viewed as a guide through the unknown, with their familiar call (hoot) and silent flight symbolizing forces that exist beyond ordinary perception. They can also reveal things that are unseen, especially noted in Native American and shamanic traditions, where the owl is invoked to uncover hidden truths, expose deception, or offer guidance through visions and dreams. You may be surrounded by people, places, or things that are not in your best interest. The owl can help bring these elements out of darkness and into your awareness. An encounter with an owl might suggest that it’s time to trust your instincts or pay attention to signs and synchronicities. The appearance of the owl can herald a message from the spirit world or a call to cultivate one’s own inner seeing.

Mystical 

The Celtic and Egyptian cultures see the owl as a gatekeeper to other realms. The owl’s connection to the night and the unseen also aligns it with themes surrounding transition in spiritual symbolism. In Celtic mythology, the owl knew the way to the underworld and is sometimes called the "Night Hag" or foreteller of death, not as a harbinger of doom, but rather a representation of souls moving from one state of being to another. The owl’s presence in this context is not threatening but comforting, offering safe passage and the promise of renewal. In spiritual terms, death isn’t always literal—it may signify the end of a phase or the transformation of consciousness. The message of the owl, then, is one of surrender and faith: to release what must be left behind and believe in the cycle of endings and new beginnings. In this way, the owl also stands for regeneration and hope.

This little story isn’t meant to represent owl symbolism but is just a sweet memory I want to share. 

Several years ago, when I was a medical volunteer at the raptor hospital, I arrived early for my weekly Sunday shift. I was reviewing the patient charts and preparing medications and food when I kept hearing hooting from the patient room down the hall. The birds inside were ones with more serious injuries that required regular treatment, so they needed to be kept in a quiet, secure space. We housed them individually in large, covered carriers to help reduce stress. The nonstop hooting was coming from two barred owls in separate carriers across the room from each other. I stood at the doorway, listening to their conversation and imagining what they might be talking about. This went on for days and became the talk of the hospital—everyone enjoyed listening to their banter. When they recovered enough to be moved outside, they were placed in the same enclosure, and their bond remained. I don’t know if they were released together, but if not, I can only hope they found each other and lived happily ever after.

The owl’s spiritual symbolism is as layered and complex as the bird itself. 

It encompasses wisdom and intuition, death and rebirth, adaptability and mystery. To walk with the owl is to accept the invitation to see beyond appearances, to trust in one’s own vision, and to honor the cycles of spiritual transformation that shape our lives. Ultimately, owls serve as a powerful reminder that knowledge is both a gift and a responsibility, that darkness holds treasures for those willing to seek them, and that wisdom often arrives on silent wings, in the spaces between waking and dreaming. By embracing the spiritual lessons of the owl, we open ourselves to guidance, protection, and the timeless dance between light and shadow.

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~ Noel (Spiritual Rookies)