Owls are one of the most misunderstood of God’s creatures. All over the world, the owl symbolises something in different cultures.
The Swahili people of East Africa believe owls bring illness to children, while the Zulu people of South Africa know the owl as the witchdoctors’ familiar.
According to Native American legends and myths of some tribes the owl is a symbol of death. Conversely, this creature is considered good luck amongst Russian hunters. In ancient Greece, if an owl flew over Greek soldiers before a battle, they took it as a sign of victory.
Good or bad, we can’t escape the power and mystery of this amazing bird.
Glowing eyes wide shut
Silent wisdom of ages
Sentry of the skies
©Vivian Zems
Victoria hosts dVerse today – Haibun Monday. Our topic is owls in various forms
November 13, 2017 at 8:41 pm
The owl is so symbolic… as Minerva the eagle of Athena… you cannot miss the deep symbolism in this magnificent bird.
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November 13, 2017 at 9:03 pm
I know! A mysterious creature indeed.
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November 13, 2017 at 8:50 pm
It carries different meaning among the tribes of Native Americans as well.
The owl totem animal allows you to see what others can not, and is all about
that mystery you bring up there in the end.
Wisdom is what I have most often known it as related to.
Perhaps we can borrow a bit of its.
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November 13, 2017 at 9:01 pm
A beautiful creature.
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November 13, 2017 at 8:54 pm
I’ve been fascinated by the various associations of cultures to owls. Thank you for introducing me to a couple of new ones. Glowing eyes wide shut in the haiku caught my attention.
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November 13, 2017 at 9:02 pm
Thanks Victoria☺
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November 13, 2017 at 9:29 pm
I love learning new facts about owls (as well as other things) and you’ve taught me some new things today, Viv. I like the idea of an owl being a witch doctor’s familiar and that Russian hunters think that owls bring good luck.
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November 14, 2017 at 12:08 am
Thanks, Kim! I learnt new things too… such mystical creatures.
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November 13, 2017 at 10:10 pm
The amazing thing to me about the owl’s eyes is they look forward like ours do. They are unusual kinds of birds. I can see why they stand out and are the source of legends.
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November 14, 2017 at 12:06 am
The eyes are the scariest. We’re used dogs and cats- but not such huge saucers for eyes!
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November 13, 2017 at 11:25 pm
That second paragraph is so interesting.
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November 14, 2017 at 12:05 am
Thanks 🙂
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November 14, 2017 at 12:33 am
Interesting to read the different myths and interpretations of the owl ~ Love this line – silent wisdom of the ages ~
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November 14, 2017 at 7:48 am
Thanks, Grace !
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November 14, 2017 at 3:03 am
“Sentry of the skies”…how wonderful.
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November 15, 2017 at 6:35 pm
Thanks Sherry!
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November 14, 2017 at 4:35 am
Nice reflection on the varied symbolism of owls!
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November 14, 2017 at 7:44 am
Thanks 😊
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November 14, 2017 at 4:42 am
Thanks for bringing out cross-cultural symbolism! Excellent piece, especially the term ‘eyes wide shut’!
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November 14, 2017 at 7:44 am
Thanks, Reena!
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November 14, 2017 at 8:42 am
I love to think of the owl as the sentry of the skies. The nocturnal bird seems to be mystery itself!
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November 14, 2017 at 6:26 pm
It certainly is 😊
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November 14, 2017 at 11:29 am
Love the different images of the owl. I don’t think it is “misunderstood”, it just shows that we humans grab whatever is around us and give it meanings to fit our desires. It is humans that are misunderstood, perhaps.
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November 14, 2017 at 6:25 pm
Perhaps. ..😊
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November 14, 2017 at 1:40 pm
So many meanings — glad you explained them here. As I’ve always said, I always learn something at dVerse! Perhaps the reason it has so many different meanings…many animals don’t … is beause it is such a majestic bird — when it spreads its wings — when it turns its head in ways that no human can — when you see its saucer all-seeing eyes. Perhaps it’s a testament that it has been ascribed so many meanings….which your title also suggests!
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November 14, 2017 at 7:52 pm
Thanks Lillian. …it’s absolutely magical!
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November 15, 2017 at 2:04 pm
I enjoyed the intriguing folklore about owls and your powerful haiku!
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November 15, 2017 at 6:20 pm
Thanks Lynn, they are gorgeous creatures aren’t they?
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November 15, 2017 at 6:47 pm
For sure!
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November 15, 2017 at 6:48 pm
😊
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November 15, 2017 at 11:00 pm
As I’m reading this I wondered how crows were thought of in the cultures that see owl as harbinger of death. As the crow is seen in other cultures. Love your haiku. Wisdom and all seeing, nicely done.
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