Category Archives: Animals

There are many symbols in the world and animals like the fox, hare, raven and deer are among them. Most are all documented in ancient myth, folk lore and Native American culture.

Animals represent luck or omens of our fortunes, struggles and people who walk beside us. Interpretations of their presence vary like all else between coasts and tribes. For example, I see the snake as a sign of mischief or jealousy. Others may see it as a charm, beauty and courage. But nearly all people recognize one particular creature as an entity of bad luck, trouble and even death: the owl.

According to a few sources, it is said that the owl is a powerful figure of control, force and wisdom, which is why you might see them perched beside a wizard or a witch. If you see one during the day or if it hoots while flying near your home, you are being warned of a future ailment or death. Some say they are messengers of evil.

But I like to believe there are two sides to every story.

Two years ago in late winter, families and friends lost a dear member of the community. His name was Bill. He was a good friend of my mother’s and he and his family used to babysit me when I was very small. He called me “Gilligan”. He was known for always doing what was right for his people. Over the years he developed an internal illness that affected his entire body and one night at the hospital the doctors told him they needed to sever his leg or else it would reach his heart and he would die. We were told that he pleaded with them over and over to find another way so they wouldn’t have to take any part of him, but their response was the same. The operation was scheduled for the next morning.

No one is sure what happened, but sometime during that night, Bill passed away in his sleep. And I was sad. We all were. The loss of him hurt a great deal, but after hearing his story, I have always felt that his passing was an admirable way to go. I think what was going through his mind in his last moments was the fact that he was born a whole man. And he was going to die as a whole man. I think he was ready

A week after we received the devastating news, an unexpected visitor appeared. I was sitting in home-room at school reading Economics when dozens of boisterous groups crowded near the entrance of the building. Curious, I sneaked out of studying and went outside . Students were towering over each other, their eyes focused beneath the crevice of the roof and some were taking pictures but they all kept a safe distance. I looked up… and right there sitting on the bell was a burrowing owl.

He was possibly the cutest bird I have ever seen!
He was so small and silent but he had an ancient aura about him. And while his beauty struck me silent at first, I began to fear him.

There was one feature that quickly turned my insides: his bright, golden eyes. When you walked by he would open them and just stare right through you. When I brought my mother to see him at the end of the day I pointed this out.

“He’s evil,” I told her, cowering away. “No he’s not,” she said, “He’s just a messenger. Look at his eyes more closely; there’s nothing ugly inside of them you need to be afraid of. He just wants to tell you something.”

I did as she said and looked at him more closely. When I did, I suddenly saw a familiar face behind those big, bewildering eyes.

“Oh. Hello, Bill!” I smiled, “What brings you here so far from home?”

The owl held its powerful stare in mine but he wasn’t scary anymore. It almost looked as if he were smiling at me. I talked to him for a little while (because I’m a nut) but all that time he remained very still. Soon before I left, he hooted, then flew away and he never came back. Nothing happened afterward either; there was no other deaths or sickness in my family. The owl may have been lost on his journey or he simply needed a place to rest for the day and had nothing to do with me or my life. Or maybe it was Bill, saying goodbye to Gilligan.

Ever since that day I have reacted differently to many creatures. Not because I may have trumped the superstition by accident or that I believe it was a spirit bidding me farewell. I know now that the owl is merely a messenger and nothing more. He flies through the night and day to bring you beauty and perhaps a word of warning of future obstacles. Don’t wrongly judge our wise friends of the night however, and thank them instead, for they, too, ward off evil and bring happiness to all those lucky enough to see them.

- J.