Owl Meaning and Symbolism in the Bible

The Owl is the bird of intuitive knowledge, linked to the moon in its most mysterious aspect.

Due to its relationship with the dark and occult, it is the Totem Pole of psychics and seers and today it is an appreciated good luck talisman for many people.

This Night Eagle was the bird of death in Egypt, India, China, Japan and Central and South America. In many cultures, even today in rural populations, their hooting is interpreted as a harbinger of death.

Owl – Meaning

The ancient Bedouin believed that the souls of the dead were shaped like a bird, usually an Owl, which hovered over the grave for a certain time.

It had esoteric meanings for many ancient civilizations, especially the Chinese, which related it to thunder and the summer solstice.

The symbolism of the owl has to do, in many cultures, with wisdom, it is the guardian of the underworld and the holder of all kinds of knowledge.

For the North American Indians of the prairies, the Owl was a supernatural protector. The Hopi viewed them as the masters of Night Medicine.

Messengers of darkness and guides through the mysteries of the night, they lead us through our darkness, through the dark tunnel of fear, towards enlightenment.

They are related to perception, visualization and dreams, observation and discernment. They also warn of dangers and discover the darkness of others.

Owl feathers honored ceremonial costumes. The owl’s wing feathers are the softest that exist and allow it to fly almost silently.

Able to see through the darkness, related to the occult and depicted drawn next to fortune-tellers, because his fixed gaze, his extraordinary night vision and his ability to turn his head almost 180º, support that he is an all-seeing, gifted being plus a keen sense of hearing.

For the Greeks, Pallas Athena (Roman Minerva) was “the one with the Owl’s eyes”, because they are the ones who watch when everyone sleeps. This Goddess represents wisdom, reflection and rational knowledge, she is also Goddess of all arts and the Owl was her sacred Animal.

Another Greek myth, that of the shepherd Endymion, in love with Selene, the Moon, to whom the Gods granted the desire not to sleep, to keep his eyes open to see his beloved every night, or what is the same, to wake up of consciousness thanks to the power of love and intuition.

A white heart is drawn on the face of the Owl. These birds show us the ability of clairvoyance, to see the truth without any veil, which is only reached through a look capable of penetrating the depths and a pure heart, far from mental interpretations.

The Owl and the Owl are great observers of everything around them and are related to the awakening of consciousness.

When we look beyond what is seen, from our deep and true existence, we awaken to reality: the true light that transcends the night is revealed to us.

Owl Medicine includes the power to see behind masks, silent and swift movement, sharp vision, messenger of secrets and premonitions, the link between the dark and invisible world and the world of light, feeling comfortable with shadow, the power of the moon.

It is the guide for listening to the deep and unequivocal voice of intuition: the powerful latent faculty that comes directly from the light of Cosmic Consciousness that illuminates the mind and the senses, the manifestation in our being of the seer intelligence or the intellect that rests on the Truth, the intimate connection with the Source, the Creator.

For every occasion there is a story to tell and one of the symbols of Halloween is certainly the owl. In ancient times, finding an alternative reading key was the order of the day, but nowadays interpreting symbols is the prerogative of connoisseurs only.

The image of the owl carries numerous meanings that vary according to the mythological tradition to be considered.

From Indian to aboriginal tradition, from classical myths to Renaissance theories, the barn owl is the bearer of mysterious and obscure meanings. Macabre meanings that easily lead him back to Halloween images.

In the alchemical tradition different faculties are recognized: night vision, shrewdness, magic, telepathy, as well as clairvoyance and the wisdom that derives from it. The darkness that brings light and wisdom is none other than the man of genius, melancholy, who “sees” in the dark.

This nocturnal animal – who does not know the day – senses and foreshadows the resolution of a problem. It brings to mind “the man of genius” who is by nature melancholy. The owl – like the melancholic genius – symbolizes a sharp and intelligent intellect, combined with a sad inclination.

It is invoked to scrutinize the world through the eyes of another person, for distant vision or to track down lost objects, to act guided by inner vision, to discern more clearly in dark and difficult moments. We realize that finding a disguise that recalls the owl is not easy, but you could certainly be original.

Owl – Symbolism

Why the graduation owl is considered a good luck charm? What beliefs is linked to the tradition of using the bird of prey as a symbol of an achievement and a new departure?

Numerous ancient beliefs revolve around the mysterious bird that loves to live at night, some of which consider it an auspicious animal, others a bearer of misfortune.

Being a nocturnal bird, indeed, the nocturnal bird par excellence, the symbolism linked to the owl refers to elements such as dreams, the afterlife, shadows and the unconscious, sometimes positively and other times negatively.

Due to the close link it has with recent graduates and with everything related to the degree, the Telematics University Niccole Cusano of Udine has decided to dedicate an entire post to this magical creature, to discover its myths and legends.

The nocturnal bird with big eyes has a varied symbolic value, which changes from population to population, based on the more or less ancient traditions and beliefs to which it is linked.

Some popular beliefs identify it as the bird of ill omen, others consider it the symbol of wisdom; alchemy and freemasonry use it as a symbol.

In the magical world of fairy tales, the owl, sometimes represented with glasses to accentuate their wisdom, is a wise and friendly animal.

For the Sumerians, the Egyptians and the Hindus he was considered the guardian of the afterlife, the one who accompanied the spirits to the afterlife by connecting the physical world (our planet) with the spiritual one.

For the American Indians he was considered the messenger used by the dead to communicate with the earthly world, but he was also the protector of night travel.

Darkness was once considered a difficult reality, metaphorically identified as the obstacle that prevented the vision of light, and consequently of hope.

The owl’s large eyes, able to see in the dark, were considered the means by which to overcome the darkness and set out towards dawn, light and hope. In India it was customary to place owl feathers under the pillow to convey to those who slept on it the ability to ‘see beyond the dark’ and to have premonitory dreams.

Hence the tradition of associating owls with degrees, whether it is related to the legal, engineering, economic or humanistic fields. Among the Native Americans, the bird with large eyes was reproduced in totems, as a symbol of wisdom and insight.

Some African populations, as well as the Australian aborigines, considered the owl to be the messenger capable of unlocking the secrets of symbolism. For some tribes it was associated with witchcraft and black magic rites.

In China, the sacrifice of birds of prey and the placing of ornaments on buildings were considered rituals to protect houses from fires.

In Spain, a legend tells that the bird acquired nocturnal habits from having witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus. Its same verse seems to reproduce the sound of the word ‘Cruz’, which means ‘cross’.

In the north of France the owl is a messenger of death; the sound of him in the vicinity of a sick person is an omen of death.

In Anglo-Saxon countries there is a widespread belief according to which the raptor, hanging at the entrance by its wings, would drive away mice and small rodents.

Owl – Meaning in the Bible

In many cultures, animals play, or did, a fundamental role. Populations such as the Australian Aborigines, the American Indians and the Egyptians attributed a profound symbolic meaning to each creature.

These animals had the task of guiding individuals throughout their lives and each man, in times of difficulty, could appeal to his totem animal for help and valuable advice.

The owl, a powerful nocturnal bird of prey, was one of the main animals to which almost mystical characteristics and of great importance were attributed.

The symbolic meanings of the owl may vary slightly based on the place in the world it refers to. This animal, however, is present in almost all cultures and in each of them plays a role of fundamental importance.

To confirm this theory, there are numerous ancient representations depicting owls and owls (almost interchangeable animals that share many meanings).

The oldest representation, not surprisingly, dates back to 30,000 years ago and was found in the wall of a cave in France.

This means that the owl, since the dawn of humanity, has attracted and attracted humans and that its symbolic meanings are very ancient and those born with man himself.

Among the American Indians, for example, it symbolized wisdom, foresight and foresight.

All these aspects are mainly due to the particular characteristics of the animal: it is in fact able to see in the dark (a fact interpreted by the Indians as the ability to see the future), to understand climate changes before they occur and to announce them through the nocturnal song.

For the Egyptians, however, the owl had the special task of watching over the souls of the dead and accompanying them on their journey.

Being a typically nocturnal animal, in addition to having inexorably linked the owl to the darkness of the night, also created this double bond with the world of the afterlife. Not surprisingly, in many cultures like ours, the owl is seen as an unfortunate, disturbing and dark animal.

For the Egyptians, however, it was very different. In their case it was not a sort of “ferryman of souls” to the underworld but the companion of a happy journey that could lead to the Upper World or the Lower World. This last world, in fact, was not a hell in the Christian conception of the term but another plane of existence.

Again, for the Australian Aborigines it was a messenger totem in close connection with stages and shamans.

The owl could, according to their beliefs, communicate with those who proved to have powers above the norm and be a help to the entire community.

Generally speaking, the owl is seen as a symbol of wisdom and profound self-knowledge. Its link with darkness and death, in reality, symbolizes the renewal of life and the phases of the individual’s growth that must necessarily go through destruction (in order to regenerate).

The greatest ability of the owl is to know how to bring to light what is in the dark and to be able to live in the dark itself.

Symbolically, this means that those who are guided by the owl totem can find enormous strength within themselves and use it to win the most difficult battles in life.

The owl also helps to have a clear view of things and shed light on unclear situations.

Conclusion

Whoever is guided by this animal, by appealing to its strength, can manage to live a clear, serene life, far from chaos and confusion. The silhouette of the owl is taken from various types of gadgets and accessories.

Among the most recurrent ideas is the immortal pendant; or, remaining in the context of jewels and pseudo jewels, a pair of earrings, a brooch, a ring or a watch that shows the cute bird of prey on the dial.

The clothing sector also offers a variety of possibilities ranging from the classic, trendy and informal t-shirt to glamorous garments.