If you’ve ever seen an owl, you might be drawn to traits like their asymmetrical ears or their bright, bulging eyes. However, this nighttime predator is not just fascinating, thanks to its physical qualities. Instead, an owl’s spiritual qualities are just as—if not more—significant. So, if you’re wondering, “What do owls symbolize?” you’re not alone.
There are symbolic aspects of the owl that have continued to pass through human culture for thousands of years. Hallmarks of wisdom, intuition and protection, owls are often associated with the supernatural and are the keepers of “death” in a transformational sense—related to new beginnings.
Unfortunately, since the owl’s habitat is shrinking, so are their numbers, many of which are reaching critical numbers. So, if you see one, pay attention! Not only is it an increasingly rare experience, but there may just be a hidden powerful meaning and symbolism behind the sighting.
Animal communicator and evidential medium Nancy Mello shares with Parade exactly what an owl sighting may mean—whether you see one in nature or find yourself dreaming about them.
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What Do Owls Represent and Symbolize?
“Owls symbolize our own intuition, knowledge and wisdom,” Mello says, explaining that they are our “ancestors,” representing “our deep genetic lineage and code that is connected from the beginning of time.”
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What Is the Spiritual Meaning of an Owl?
Unlike Tootsie Pop’s mascot, the Tootsie Pop Owl, who never seemed to have any answers (even to his own question of, “How many licks to get to the center of the Tootsie Pop?”), any number of species of owls can show up into your life as a wake-up call, so to speak.
According to Mello, “The spiritual meaning of an owl is our deep understanding of the world around us, in the light or the dark…beyond what we are currently seeing.”
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Is an Owl a Good Omen? Are They Warning Signs?
“Owls can be a good omen simply because of the kind of animal they are,” Mello shares. “I always find a bit of playfulness with owls—perhaps because they perch high up and have amazing vision. They don’t miss much.”
Because owls have a unique perspective of the world around us, when one of them shows up in your life, you should sit back and take a new “look” around. After all, “It could mean that you, too, will have a ‘bird’s-eye view’ of things soon,” explains Mello.
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What Is the Superstition About Seeing an Owl?
Many cultures, including Native American tribes throughout history, believed owls were a sign of death. The Apache people thought this if one dreamt of owls. The Aztecs and Mayans also held owls as ominous and foreboding of death by serving as “messengers and companions” of the Gods of Death.
As an evidential medium, Mello doesn’t believe there is a need to panic if one sees an owl. Instead, she explains, “If death is indeed on the way, the owl is leading the person home, and they are showing you the ‘wisdom’ in that understanding.”
An owl sighting is a little less of a premonition of bad things to come (making the situation scary) and more of a comforting “let me guide the way” message instead.
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What Does the Owl Symbolize in the Bible and Christianity?
The Bible’s teachings are far-reaching, from reducing stress to learning how to combat jealousy. There are mentions of owls, too, mainly grouped in with other birds of prey and spoken of as being “unclean.”
For example, Leviticus 11:13-18 states that:
“These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, the red kite, any kind of black kite, any kind of raven, the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, the white owl, the desert owl, and the Osprey.”
The “unclean” part comes from the idea that owls, and other prey birds, are considered impure because they consume meat with blood still on it. Blood, in general, is considered to be “unclean.”
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What Are the Colors of the Owl?
There are more than 225 different species of owls in the world—19 of those living in the United States—leading to a variety of colors and patterns among them. They do lean towards a rather limited and muted color palette, but that aids in their exceptional camouflaging abilities.
A couple of owl colors, in particular, stand out to Mello, who says, “While black owls can symbolize the Universe or a higher power (think of a lot of religious leaders wearing black in the world), I always find brown owls to be the most comforting.”
Personally, Mello feels that brown owls are “the color of nature, and it makes me feel protected and safe, almost like I am being watched over.”
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What Does It Mean When You Dream About Owls?
“Owls in our dreams represent our higher consciousness and/or our ancestors,” Mello explains. “The Universe is showing us that we are protected, safe and that even for a moment, everything is okay.”
If you find that an owl is “watching” you in a dream (which could be a bit creepy with those sizable omnipresent eyes), Mello reassures that it’s just your ancestors “watching out for you.”
She suggests trying to remember how you felt at that moment of waking up, explaining that the feeling is usually “magical.”
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What To Do if You Keep Seeing Owls
Again, it bears repeating: If you see an owl, it is a big deal! Unlike Cardinal or Blue Jay sightings (which can be spiritual omens as well), glimpsing an owl is more of a rarity.
Mello suggests, “If you see an owl, trust where you are in your life, and be gentle with making any big changes. A lot of times, if you continue to see an owl, it is one of your passed loved ones that is ‘keeping an eye on you.'”
Most importantly, remember to “enjoy that brief moment of connection between the two of you and understand that life is everlasting.”
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