Owl Medicine
©
by Marguerite Elsbeth
We
have all heard conflicting stories about Owl and its
medicine, or its supernatural power to protect, cure,
heal, and to prevent or cause harm. Some traditions
teach that Owl is beneficial, while others indicate
that Owl brings misfortune. The truth is for you to
decide.
Owl
Fact & Myth
Owl
is territorial, a vicious fighter and a courageous defender
of the nest. This is why Owl inspired and protected
the Greek armies, and why Roman soldiers believed Owl
signified truimph in battle. The Japenese drink a toast
to Owl before a hunting expedition, and Russians believe
Owl is sacred because it once saved the life of Genghis
Khan.
Owl
is monogamous in love. Therefore, Australian aborigines
believe Owl represents the soul of women. Frecnc spinsters
call on Owl to help them find a husband. Also in France,
when a pregnant woman hears the cry of Owl, her child
will be a girl.
Owl's
approach to rearing offspring is sometimes brutal. Many
Owl chicks starve or are killed by sibilings, depending
on food availability. Perhaps because of these cruel
survival tactics, African Swahili tribesmen believe
Owl brings illness to children. Moroccans believe that
Owl's cry can kill an infant. Still, some Owl offspring
always survive to produce more Owls; consequently, Owl
amulets protect Babylonian women during childbirth.
Dawn,
dusk, and the dead of the night is Owl's domain. Owl
is the Hopi god of the dead, guardian of fires, and
tender of all undgerground things. Owl attends Lilith,
the Sumerian Goddess of death, and in Mexico is called
"messenger of the lord of the land of the dead".
Popular belief holds that seeing Owl or hearing its
cry means impendind death, sickness, and misfortune.
Therefore, Owl is too evil to name in Cameroon, and
is known only as "the bird that makes you afraid".
You
may have Owl Medicine if you frequently see, hear, or
dream of Owl, or if you have gifts of invulnerability,
insight, invisbility, keen observation, wisdom, and
curative healing powers.
Owl
Medicine
According
to mythology, if a person does something wrong, they
may become Owl. Gwydion the Magician turned the unfaithful
Blodeuwedd of Celtic Myth into Owl for betraying a magical
secret. The Supreme Being of Borneo turned his wife
into Owl after she told secrets to mortals. In Poland,
girls who are married turn into Owl when they die.
Witches
are sorcerers transform into Owl. The majority of indigenous
tribal people around the world believe they do too,
as shape-shifitng is a common practice amoung shaman
and magicians of various cultures.
If
Owl Comes Calling
If
you are visited by Owl, do not panic. Instead, try to
interpret what the visit might mean. For instance, you
can interpret Owl's cry by number.
