The ancient Greeks revered owls and believed them sacred to Athena. Affiliated with the goddess of wisdom and learning, the owl was considered wise and kind. Many people used to believe that owls swooped down to eat the souls of the dying. If they heard an owl hooting, they would become frightened. A common remedy was thought to be, turning your pockets inside out and you would be safe. (Old Superstitons.com)

........................................................... The Owl is perhaps one of the most mysterious and misunderstood of our animal brethren. Some Amerindian people are fearful of the Owl as an omen because she represents the dark, the night, and the unseen. They call Owl's feathers "deceiver feathers" because of their silent flight. But on the medicine wheel, Owl sits in the East, the place of illumination.

For many cultures Owl is a symbol for wisdom. Her keen eyesight in the dark, ability to accurately pinpoint and identify any sound, and silent hunting style has sometimes earned her the name of "cat with wings." Because Owl can see what others cannot, where others are deceived, Owl sees and knows what is there. Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, had a companion Owl on Her shoulder which revealed unseen truths to her.

The Celts regarded the Owl as one of the oldest and wisest animals in existence, the only bird younger than the Eagle, who is in turn only younger than the Salmon, the oldest being on the earth. She is one of the four most frequently mentioned birds in Celtic lore. There is mention of the Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd in the Welsh Mabinogion; this Owl is instrumental in helping Arthur find the missing Mabon son of Modron, who had been lost since the beginning of time.

One Irish (and Scottish) word for the Owl is Cailleach Oíche, which literally means "hag of night." Cailleach can mean "old woman," “hag," or "witch," depending on the context, and is also the name of a pre-Christian Celtic goddess sometimes considered the Crone aspect.

If Owl is your personal medicine; no one can deceive you about what they are doing, no matter how hard they try. You may be a little frightening to be around, since so many people have ulterior motives and which Owl sees right through. Owl knows more about the inner workings of a person than that person him/herself. Owl is often the medicine of sorcerers and witches. Owl sends her messages oftentimes through dreams. (courtesy of The Topaz Owl’s Nest)