Many of you have shown curiosity about all the owls that usually make a fine display on my desks, or that I wear as rings or necklaces.
When I was a child, I very often encountered a barn owl that, spreading its snow-white wings, would follow my path and eventually perch near the window of my room, remaining motionless for very long periods of time and allowing me to observe it at length.
I was never afraid of it and, on the contrary, I had an almost reverential admiration and respect for that beautiful, heart-faced bird that could move elegantly in the dark.
As an adult, my passion for this type of nocturnal bird of prey has consolidated and changed. My attention has, in fact, shifted to owls.
The owl is a beautiful nocturnal bird of prey whose scientific name is Athene noctua.
Today it is a protected species, widespread in Italy and often confused with other nocturnal birds such as the owl and barn owl.
Like other nocturnal animals, the owl comes out mainly at sunset, rarely during the day although it can be very alert throughout the day.
Its preferred habitats are near civil settlements, where there is human presence, in hilly areas. It avoids areas above 1,000 m altitude because the snow severely limits its food sources.
We find evidence of the positive significance of this nocturnal animal as far back as ancient mythology.
The Egyptian hieroglyphic Owl symbolised death, night and passivity, and also indicated the sun below the horizon as it plunged into the sea to give way to darkness. In Aztec mythology, the Owl characterised Techolotl the god of the underworld. In Greek and Roman mythology this animal was sacred to the goddess of wisdom Athena-Minerva.
For the ancient Greek world, the Owl symbolised wisdom and the goddess Athena chose it as a privileged being into which to transform herself and hide her identity. Considered sacred to the goddess Athena, therefore, it represented knowledge, good fortune and hope.
For the Greeks, an owl was therefore a lucky omen heralding triumph in wars and protection for the guards.
Known as a bird capable of seeing beyond darkness, the owl has the gift of going beyond the barriers of illusions to investigate the hidden causes and meanings of events.
Superstitions aside, this bird of prey is considered a bird-symbol of environmental quality. Its presence, in fact, indicates that in the countryside or surrounding green areas there is a low percentage of air pollution and smog.
The owl almost always sings at night; during the day, due to the noise, these predominantly nocturnal animals are difficult to hear. However, it can happen, albeit very rarely, to hear an owl sing, and popular beliefs have given different meanings to these songs, we will discuss this further below.
The owl is capable of remaining absolutely still, concentrating on the slightest sound that allows it to detect the presence of prey or danger.
It is considered the bird of meditative knowledge and rational wisdom.
As it is very sensitive to moonlight, i.e. to the reflected light of the sun, it is known, consequently, to antiquity as a prompter of reflections on an intellectual level.
The owl reminds us how to deal with everyday life by looking beyond appearances.
The safety of living comes from our ability to look into the face of what appears dark because, the owl suggests, in the darkness lie the key steps to realising our true selves.
One of the most popular clichés about the owl's song is that it heralds the imminent death of someone close to us. Nothing could be more untrue, of course, although, in some ways, the concept of death linked to the owl's cry is not so far-fetched. When you happen to hear the shrill sound of the owl, you simply have to gather your thoughts about the moment you are experiencing.
The owl brings the death of certain parts of our life that, for our own good, we have to let go. The meaning of death is this, to close the relationships that we cannot close, the so-called toxic ones, the relationships with certain people around us. The owl is one of the ways in which the Universe warns us and suggests that we let go of situations that are capable of doing us great harm.
Hearing the hooting of an owl around midday brings good luck, a change of life for the better is just around the corner and could happen soon. Hearing the owl hooting repeatedly during the day is a call to be careful, there is something to check and to look at with different eyes.
If, on the other hand, the owl's song is heard at dawn, the meaning is very positive and heralds a day of satisfaction. Many cultures associate seeing and hearing an owl in the morning as angelic communication. The Guardian Angel is inviting you to live a full life and to do only good deeds towards all those with whom you have occasion to interact.
In this case, the owl appears as a positive symbol, the Universe is watching over you and protecting you, urging you to do your best in every situation.
In various ancient cultures, from Native American to Roman, the owl was associated with bad luck.
According to Christian symbolism, however, from the darkness of the night, the owl represents the mysterious side of life, seeing beyond appearances. The most mystical of Christians considered the appearance of an owl to be an invitation to read the deep wisdom of the night. Symbolically, every period of difficulty that we encounter has, within it, the seed of a challenge that we can and must overcome.
Every challenge overcome takes us to a higher level of awareness and strengthens our moral strength and chosen life values. When listening to the song of an owl, one should try to look inside oneself and ask how difficulties can make us stronger. The owl is a powerful spiritual call, an invitation to strengthen faith.
Often associated with magicians and soothsayers, the owl symbolises understanding, light after the solution of a problem. Being nocturnal animals, they evoke darkness as synonymous with gloom, but the Owl, with its keen gaze, penetrates the darkness and personifies light as coming out of darkness indicating revelation. If it appears in our lives, in any way, it is time to go deep within ourselves. This animal also guides and protects us on the journey of the Kingdom of Shadows, teaching us, always, the way back.
For this reason, too, it is a symbol of wisdom and wisdom, this bird of prey, together with the Owl, represents clairvoyance.
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