Eagle owl - Uhu

(Bubo bubo) Photo: Dreamstime

The owl belongs to the genus Bubo. It is the largest owl in the world. Their pumpkin orange eyes and feathery ear tufts make them one of the most striking owls in the world. It usually nests in caves, in rocks, in old nests of other birds or in tree hollows. It is very faithful to the place and it is usually active at night, it has an excellent hearing and it can also see in the dark, making it a successful hunter. It feeds on small mammals such as hedgehogs, reptiles, amphibians and birds. It can grow up to 1.96ft (60cm) and weigh 5.5lb (2.5 k).

Owls in Mythology: There are many stories of superstition about owls and barn owls. They appear in numerous stories and they used to be referred to as "birds of the witches" during the Middle Ages. It is said that they took part in witches' covens. They have always been considered something special due to their striking eyes, cheeks-like folds of the face and beak resembling a hooked nose. Formerly, it was believed that the grandmother of the devil could become into an owl and it was considered a demon bird. In Italy, they came to believe that its eyes could kill. In Ancient Greece, it was considered a bird of ill omen. In the Old Testament, it appears as an image of destruction (Ps 102.7, Isaiah 13.21, and Zephaniah 2.14). Shakespeare also considered them messengers of misfortune. In other regions, such as in Bern, in Switzerland, it was said that the cry of the owl announced the birth of a baby. It would also bring luck that an owl nested in a dovecote. Likewise, in Greece, they were considered as birds of wisdom and they were the escorts of goddess Athens. Currently, its image decorates the Greek coin of 1euro.

The owl in the interpretation of dreams: It represents experience and wisdom.

Owl Essence: It helps us strengthen our senses and be able to identify what is good and correct for us and what is not. It is very good for spiritual cleansing.

On the body level: This essence helps you achieve greater self-discipline and control of the body. The owl is upright and knows when the right time to accurately use its strength is.

On the emotional level: The owl helps us to overcome our internal unconscious fears, such as fear of the dark or fear of being left alone. With its sharp eyes, the owl is a successful hunter, which can guide us toward the darkness of our internal forest and toward our own shadow. We learn to deploy all our inner potential and to trust in our intuition.

On the spiritual level: It is the bird of wisdom. Its healing mission is to lead us into the darkness of our soul so that we consciously observe our shadow and accept it. It shows us a capacity that is numbed within us and that we must learn how to use it. In the same way that most of the universe is actually dark and empty, and that that is neither good nor bad, it is simply that way; we come to understand that it is precisely there where the power of the universe lies. In the quietness of the night, some visions and ideas are formed; there lies the force of Creation and self-creation in confidence with God. The owl is the master of silence and of wisdom, which challenges us to work with our unconscious and to recognize what the patterns of behavior and programs that prevent us from doing so are and, as a result, we are able to release them lovingly. By doing this, we start a process of growth and maturation, gaining experience to our life.