Now, what is owl tattoo meaning?
This gorgeous and elegant birds that without sound moves through the night, apart from their iconic hoooo, hooo (sometimes also used as the owls pointing fingers at the who – symbol of curiosity and thinking).
Owl is a deeply meaningful bird of pray that has inspired humans since ancient times, just like the eagle.
It can hold both positive and negative meaning, depending on the culture and context.
Associated with a broad range of ideas including dark ones such as death and misfortune, and virtues such as wisdom and benevolence, the owl is a common mythological figure and fairytale character.
As owls effectively hunt under cover of darkness, they represent the stillness of night and the hidden worlds that are contained within the realm of night.
Their nocturnal lives are connected with fear, death and dark themes, where they are very much alike their other dark feathery friends – ravens.
Furthermore, owls are associated with magic, especially the snowy owls – which is why Hedwiga from Harry Potter was one.
More further in history, there are many fairy tales that portray owls as wise and knowledgeable, often company to witches and warlocks.
The owl means a person doesn’t have to be clever but to have a good intuition that keep them from making a wrong decision.
It can also be commonly used together with a clock in a tattoo to symbolize the wisdom and the time it takes to acquire it.
In modern Western belief, the owl is usually associated with wisdom and vigilance and generally has positive connotations.
Owls can thank this to both Ancient Greek and Egyptian mythologies. This animal was the main symbol of Athena, the goddess of wisdom.
In Ancient Egypt, owls were also seen as the main gatekeepers of the underworld, helping protect the souls of those who unintentionally strayed into this land. They were seen as auspicious symbols of courage, higher assistance, and supernatural wisdom.
So, let’s go through the main symbols of owls:
- courage
- wisdom
- dreams
- change (white owl)
- endurance
- magic
- supernatural
- fear
- death
Going further West, in the Native American tribes there is a belief that owls are the spirits of a deceased ancestor or other spirits. Owls are believed to serve as a bridge between worlds — life and the afterlife
In the furthest East, in Japan and China, owls symbolize good fortune and protection will banish negative energies and bring about abundance: mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Just like in the Ancient Egypt, in the Celtic mythology is the guide to and through the Underworld, a creature of keen sight in darkness, and a silent and swift hunter.
