(Cailleach, Oidhche, Comachag)
The word "cailleach" in the Scottish-Gaelic means old woman!, "coileach-oidhche" is the word for
owl, believe it or not it means "night-cockerel"! These birds were most
often associated with the Crone aspect of the Goddess. The owl is often
a guide to and through the Underworld, a creature of keen sight in
darkness, and a silent and swift hunter. It can help unmask those who
would deceive you or take advantage of you.
Owls are believed
to have played a more prominent role in early Celtic cults, and could
perhaps have derived from a more broadly based deity of a common
European descent. Predating the Greek cult of Athene, for whom the owl
was an animal attribute, were images of these mysterious birds in Celtic
lands.
Owls are believed to be a sacred animal to the famed
Cult of the Head. They often appear with human heads and with bovines,
such as rams and bulls, all of which have been determined by scholars to
be objects of this strange cult. In modern Scottish and Welsh
languages, the owl, by the etymology of the word alone carries negative
connotations of death and darkness. Then, in later Gallo-Roman times the
Owl lost its cult significance, but has been linked to a Celtic goddess
associated with fertility.
The most famous myth dealing with
the owl is in the story of Bloudeuwedd, contained in the Mabinogi. Lleu,
one of the central characters of the story has a wife created for him
by the magician Gwydion, because his mother forbade by her own word that
he would never marry any ordinary woman. Bloudeuwedd is her name, and
as the tale goes she tricks Lleu into divulging the secret to his own
mortality, convincing him to even demonstrate how.
In the
process, Bloudeuwedd then kills Lleu, who avenges his death by turning
her in and owl, from which she receives her namesake in Gaelic.
A prime example of owl imagery are the handle fittings found with a
famous cauldron found in Bra, Jutland that dates to the 3rd century B.
C.. The cauldron was found in a bog in Bra, and was believed to have
been a votive offering that was broken into pieces before it was
deposited. When put together, the cauldron spanned over a meter in
diameter and was adorned by several owls and bulls heads.
In
the Celtic style, the fitting bears the face of an owl through an
arrangement of shapes that terminate at the end of some columnar tendril
designs. This owl is typical of La Tène work and is defined by the
large eyes and sharp, curved beak that stand forth from background of
intertwining designs.
In Ancient Greek mythology the Owl was a
creature sacred to Athena, Goddess of the night who represented wisdom.
Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom had a companion Owl on her shoulder,
which revealed unseen truths to her. Owl had the ability to light up
Athena's blind side, enabling her to speak the whole truth, as opposed
to only a half truth. The Ainu in Japan trust the Owl because it gives
them notice of evil approaching. They revere the Owl, and believe it
mediates between the Gods and men. The bird features prominently Celtic
folklore where it is considered both to be sacred and to have magical
powers, again because of its abilities in the dark. Zulus and other West
African nations consider the bird a powerful influence in casting
spells, and think that using parts of the owl gives great strength to a
person involved with magical incantations.
To the Welsh, the
Owl is a night predator -- the only bird capable of defeating the swift
falcon and then only at dusk, its time of power. The Owl symbolizes
death and renewal, wisdom, moon magick, and initiations. Their Goddess
Arianrhod shapeshifts into a large Owl, and through the great Owl-eyes,
sees even into the darkness of the human subconscious and soul. She is
said to move with strength and purpose through the night, her wings of
comfort and healing spread to give solace to those who seek her. A star
and moon Goddess, Arianrhod was also called the Silver Wheel because the
dead were carried on her Oar Wheel to Emania (the Moon-land or land of
death), which belonged to her as a deity of reincarnation and karma. The
Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess in Wales, her palace was Caer
Arianrhod (Aurora Borealis), or the secret center of each initiate's
spiritual being.
However, many cultures have focused on the
dark side of the Owl's symbolism. People have always been suspicious of
the Owl because of man's fear of the dark, or night, and those things
that might dwell there. In general, the hooting of an Owl is considered a
portent of death or bad luck, and it may even prophesize death, as the
death of Dido was foretold. It is a medical fact that most people die at
night, and for that reason also the Owl has been seen as the messenger
of death.
In the Middle East, China, and Japan, the Owl is
considered as both a bad omen and an evil spirit. For Christians the Owl
traditionally signifies the Devil, powers of evil, bad news, and
destruction. Similarly, in the Old Testament the Owl is an unclean
creature that stands alone as a figure of desolation. In an Australian
Aboriginal myth the Owl is the messenger of bad news. Yama, the Verdic
God of death, sometimes sent out the Owl as his emissary.
Indigenous peoples of the Americas consider the Owl to be the Night
Eagle because it is silent and deadly in flight, and is a solitary bird
with all-seeing eyes. The Owl is generally regarded as a bird of
sorcerers because of its association with--and abilities in--the dark.
It symbolizes deception and silent observation because it flies
noiselessly. The Owl is feared by peoples who believe that the death
warning is in its hoot.
In the Navajo belief system, the Owl is
the envoy of the supernatural world and earth-bound spirits. The Pawnee
understand the Owl as the Chief of the Night and believe that it
affords protection. The Cherokee honor the bird as sacred because of its
night-time vision, and wish to draw that power to themselves to see in
the dark.
Symbolism:
Perception, Silent Observation, Wisdom, Deception
The Owl has a dual symbolism of wisdom and darkness, the latter meaning
evil and death. They are symbolically associated with clairvoyance,
astral projection and magick, and is oftentimes the medicine of
sorcerers and witches, you are drawn to magickal practices. Those who
have owl medicine will find that these night birds will tend to collect
around you, even in daytime, because they recognise a kinship with you.
The two main symbolic characteristics of the Owl, its wisdom and its
nocturnal activity-- have made it represent perception. Considering
perception in a spiritual context, Owl medicine is related to psychism,
occult matters, instincts, and clairvoyance-- the true ability to see
what is happening around you.
The owl can see that which others
cannot, which is the essence of true wisdom. Where others are deceived,
Owl sees and knows what is there.
Use your power of keen,
silent observation to intuit some life situation, Owl is befriending you
and aiding you in seeing the whole truth. The Owl also brings its
messages in the night through dreams or meditation. Pay attention to the
signals and omens. The truth always brings further enlightenment.
The Owl, symbol of the Goddess, represents perfect wisdom. Owls have
the ability to see in the dark and fly noiselessly through the skies.
They bring messages through dreams. The Owl is the bird of mystical
wisdom and ancient knowledge of the powers of the moon. With wide-open,
all-seeing eyes, Owl looks upon reality without distortion and
acknowledges it, yet is aware that with ancient magickal and spiritual
knowledge, he or she can make changes.
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