Mar 17, 2020

DESIGN | Symbolism | Owl

All my work is packed with symbolism, whether it be hidden or in a more obvious form.

Here is one that you will find in my art.

| OWL |

• There are different aspects of the birds symbolic meaning.

• Words associated with the owl are ; wisdom, mystery, transition, messages, intelligence, mysticism, protection, secrets.

• The owl lives a solitary existence , only coming together to breed.

• A efficient hunter, its feathers are adapted for silent flight.

• The owl is associated with wisdom (you often see an owl depicted sitting on a book) It’s huge eyes also have this association. The ‘little owl’ is the attribute of the goddess of wisdom, Athena / Minevera.

• The owl is a symbol of the feminine, the moon & prophecy.

• Native American traditions hold that the owl represents vision, insight & keeper of sacred knowledge. The owl is nocturnal and is a feminine symbol of the moon. The moon , acting as a mirror to the sun has its own ‘second sight’ symbolism.

• The owl can swivel its head 279 degrees, so that it can see behind itself.

• The Italian word for owl, strix or strega also means witch and the owl is associated with occult knowledge and secrets. The witch Hecate, goddess of the underworld had an owl as a companion.

• The owls screeching, was often associated with the supernatural by superstitious country dwellers. And was thought to be a bad omen or presages of death, when heard.

• Cherokee shamans viewed Eastern Screech-Owls as consultants on punishment and sickness.

• In India, the god of death (Yama) is an owl.

• Since it chooses to make its home in derelict buildings, it can often be associated with decay and destruction.

• In ancient Egyptian, Celtic, and Hindu cultures the symbolic meaning of owl revolved around guardianship of the underworlds, and a protection of the dead.

• Romans and Britons, believed the owl could come and go between realms of the living and the dead. The same belief is also held by Native Americans, Africans, Chinese, Japanese, Indians. It is believed that the owl is a psychopomp (able to guide the souls of the dead towards the afterlife)