The Owl

(Author Unknown)

    

There are very few Native tribes, and I say tribes and not Nations, that have a deathly fear of the owl. The Apache Nation is a perfect example. The Nation as a whole does not fear the owl and, in fact, some wore owl feathers on their clothing and headdresses. It is the Mescalero that fears the owl and some are so terrified of the owl they will do a special ceremony if they even sees a photo of one.

This apparently comes from the beliefs of these various tribes, few as they are, that the owl carries the spirit of the recently deceased to the Great Spirit. Thus, the death messenger. The sound of an owl makes these people stop in their tracks. The sight of one is enough to scare them and, heaven forbid, if one flew at them, they would surely die of fright.

As a totem, owl medicine is a feminine trait. It is at home, and comfortable, in the night. It has great awareness of all that is around it at all times. It has predator vision, which means it sees clearly what it looks at. It has great intuition; it is the totem of psychics and clairvoyants. It has the courage to follow its instincts. It is a meat eater, which means it can be a fierce warrior if challenged or if something dear to it is threatened.

Owls come in all sizes from a tiny miniature that actually lives inside the cactus in the desert to the great horned owl, which is the only bird that can out-fly the golden eagle. A fully grown great horned is an awe inspiring creature. Its talons are furry and closely resemble the paws of a baby mountain lion with claws extended.

Owl medicine is wonderful to have. Those who carry it cannot be conned because their vision shows them the truth of the situation.