A Dose of Owl Medicine
Earlier this month, I was walking my dogs through the woods, listening to a podcast. I remember feeling deep resonance with what the speaker was saying when an owl swooped down across the path just over my head before landing in a tree next to the trail. We looked at one another for a few moments.
When a wildlife encounter like this happens, I pay attention to what is going on with me at the moment, my thoughts, my actions, my circumstances, stuff like that. Then, I look at the medicine, essence, symbolism of the animal and feel into how it applies.
If you read myths and folklore about owls, you’ll learn that owls symbolize a great many things in many cultures, but they are often associated with wisdom. In ancient Greek mythology, Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom honored the owl as a sacred creature. She had a companion owl perched on her shoulder, on her blind side, which revealed unseen truths to her. Owl medicine is wisdom not of the intellectual kind but wisdom of the soul.
Knowing this, I made a note of the time stamp on the podcast and the following morning, I went back to listen again to what the speaker was saying. If owl medicine is wisdom and the ability to see true reality, beyond the illusion, see if you can hear some soul wisdom in these words of Jamie Smart, the podcaster.
"I listened to Syd Banks say 'You're looking for silence. Everybody in the world is looking for silence because everyone in the world is looking for their inner selves. When I say looking for your inner self, I mean your true self, the one that's creating life in the first place. So if you're looking for happiness, if you're looking for security, if you are looking to have a nice contented quiet life, in actual fact, you are searching for your inner self. Who you really are.' I saw that the very thing we've been looking for is something we carry with us everyday of our lives, something we already have, something we already are."
Pretty cool, right? Hold on, it gets better.
Seven days later, this happened...
Again, I was on my morning walk and I was talking to a friend on the phone just as I entered the woods. Suddenly, an owl swooped down, crossing the trail in front of me.
“Oh my gosh, I just saw an owl! I gotta go.” I said and abruptly hung up on the friend. (Sorry, dear friend! :) )
You see, I had made the decision earlier in the week to practice staying present while I walked in nature. No podcasts, no phone conversations. Just time to soak up all nature has to offer me, and clearly, I wasn’t following through. This owl had startled me out of my phone conversation, reminding me of my intention to walk in the woods in silence, fully present.
As I continued walking on the trail, he flew along just ahead, landing on various branches almost as if he was guiding me.
Wisdom. It's all around you. Open up to it and pay attention.
Medicine received. Thank you, owl.
On another note, Bob and I made the decision to cancel Magic Tree Sanctuary’s events for the summer. It wasn’t a decision we made lightly but know that guest safety is a top priority for us and we look forward to welcoming you to an event soon.
That said, The Cabin at Magic Tree Sanctuary is available for guest stays of up to 4 people. If you are in need of a weekend away, solo or with friends, you can learn more about the cabin and check availability here on Airbnb.
Otherwise, if all you needed was a dose of owl medicine, perhaps consider how you can open yourself up more fully to the wisdom found in nature.
Forest Love,
Julie
A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren’t we like that wise old bird? ---Unknown