A Tale of Two Little Owls

Above: One of the siblings

At midsummer, two Little Owl fledglings sat together on a crooked oak branch which extended high above a quiet lane at White House Farm. On this particular morning, I left the farmhouse and made my way along the road just after a lorry had roared by. This sort of towering vehicle is a rare sight here and I soon realised my timing was fortunate! The roof of the lorry had just caught the oak branch and knocked off the little owls, sweeping them beneath the rear end of the vehicle and over one of its wheel arches. The driver stopped and freed one owl, but there was no sign of the second.

After I found Ross at the farm, he hurriedly took the rescued owl to the vets and to our astonishment it was unharmed by the incident. On returning to White House Farm with the little owl, we noticed its sibling sitting by the farmhouse. It was clearly in shock, resting motionless but otherwise appearing fine. Ross returned both owls to a hollow, high up in an old ash pollard where we had often seen them perching. This ash stands opposite the great family tree; a hearty, veteran oak where the owl nest lies in a deep hollow. The owls soon returned to their parents at the family nest. We hear them most nights which brings us great delight......a host of sharp "keew kewws" and an occassional "woop" hoot travel through the leafy woods.

Above: Ross returning a Little Owl to the ash tree

In totem terms owls are linked with sensitivity, insight and maturity. Through its silent flight at night, an owl perceives truths which are usually veiled and it knows when to speak and when to hold peace. An owl spirit guide detects untruths and as owls are skilled hunters, the totem has an in depth knowledge of the inner realms. A very helpful power creature to have!

Above painting: Owl Wisdom, Willow Arlenea www.designsbywillow.com

The ancient Greeks regarded the owl as a symbol of Athena, the goddess of logic, wisdom and heroic endeavour. In Hinduism, the owl is connected to Lakshmi, the goddess of wisdom, courage and wealth. For many Native American tribes, the owl appears in legends which describe the bird’s knowledge and courage. The owl also has the ability to assist with inner sight and astral travel in Shamanic rituals and journeys.

Above: Statue of Athena with owl; Ancient Greek coin, dating to the 5th century BCE, depicts an owl with an olive sprig. The inscription translates to "of the Athenians". The other side of this coin shows the head of Athena.