Owl Symbolism: 9 Spiritual Meanings of this Mystical Bird
Updated 2024.10.22
Owls are fascinating predator birds that can be found abundantly in art throughout history.
Humans have been interested in Owls for thousands of years. There are early Owl cave etchings in France dating back to 15-30,000 years ago.
Tom Warren writes that Owls can also be found on Greek coins and Roman vases.
In addition to this, Owls also regularly appear in dreams and meditations as Spirit Animals and Animal Totems, which only adds to their mystique.
Symbolically Owls often mean wisdom, enlightenment, guidance and discovery.
Aside from these general themes, below are 9 spiritual meanings of Owls:
1 - Use your excellent vision
Owls can rotate their heads 270 degrees to see more panoramically around them.
If an Owl has appeared to you, it can serve as a reminder that you too have great vision capabilities to see the space around you.
2 - Listen to your environment
There are over 200 species of Owl and most are nocturnal. While Owls do have excellent night vision, they can’t hunt in complete darkness using just their vision. In total darkness, they use their ears to pinpoint their meal.
When an Owl appears to you, it can be a sign that what you need to achieve can’t be pinpointed with the eyes, but instead by listening to your environment.
3 - Be silent in approaching your goals
The Western Screech Owl has a noiseless flight. This allows them to sneak up on their prey and catch them without too much energy lost.
If an Owl appears to you in a dream or meditation, it can be a symbol reminding you that silence can help you achieve your goals with less effort.
4 - Practice detachment in response to danger
When captured, Elf Owls play dead until the danger has passed.
In response to conflict, Owls may appear as a sign to detach and not respond with any sign of care or resistance until the danger has passed.
5 - Accept an alpha female lifestyle
In the Owl world, females are larger and more aggressive than males. Because the birds are dimorphic, females are often also more richly colored than males. In fact, female snowy Owls are 30% heavier than males and have more distinctive markings.
If an Owl is your totem animal, it may be a sign to embrace an Owl-like hierarchy in your life. For example, if you’re an “alpha” female, embrace it. If you have an “alpha” female in your life, allow it.
6 - Great wisdom is supporting your path to enlightenment
In Norse Mythology, the name for Owl is Katyogel, meaning goddess of wisdom. In the Norse landscape, if you see an Owl in the daylight, it means you are on the right path to your destiny.
In Norse lore, having an Owl as your Totem can mean you have wisdom supporting your path and acts as a confirmation you are on the right path towards your highest soul’s potential.
7 - You have a guide to the underworld
In death, Owls act as a Messenger Guide between this world and the next. In Norse mythology, they help us look into the darkness and use it to become wise.
An Owl can be a Spirit Guide appearing to help you navigate life after death. Embracing an Owl as your Spirit Guide can help you navigate the death of a person, job, dream, way of life or path forward. Many things die and we grieve them all.
Owls as spirit messengers can guide us through these many deaths.
8 - Consider slow courtship in relationships
According to San Diego Zoo, Owls engage in slower courtships. They have to overcome their fear of each other before mating. To do this, the male makes offerings and drops food at the females’ feet to gain her trust. Even still, it can take some time before she moves closer.
In love, when an Owl appears to you, it can be a sign that slower courtship in your relationships may be necessary at this time.
9 - Pay attention to competitors
There are two main types of relationships in nature: cooperation and competition. In terms of the latter, Owls hunt other Owls. A main predator of the Barred Owl is the Great Horned Owl.
Owls appearing as your totem can serve as a reminder to keep your competitors in mind at the current time and select your path wisely.
So to recap, the 9 symbolic messages of the owl are:
1 - Use your excellent vision
2 - Listen to your environment
3 - Be silent in approaching your goals
4 - Practice detachment in response to danger
5 - Accept an alpha female lifestyle
6 - Great wisdom is supporting your path to enlightenment
7 - You have a guide to the underworld
8 - Consider slow courtship in relationships
9 - Pay attention to competitors
All in all, if you have Owl as your animal totem, they can help you navigate challenging environments by using your fine tuned senses and stealth, plus provide you with access to additional wisdom, through a gateway to the Spirit World, on your path.
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