Entries tagged with nature spirits

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THE LITTLE OWL: Wisdom

Ancient Athenians observed the Little Owl (Athene noctua) nesting in their temple to Athena, Goddess of Wisdom. Perched on the niches atop the pillars of the Acropolis, the Little Owl and her friends stared out at the bustling city beneath them. At night inside the temple, the Little Owl’s glowing yellow eyes seemed magical and penetrating. To the Athenians, the Little Owl was both the Friend of Athena and Her Representative. (The Little Owl even bears Athena’s name of Athene.)

As Athena’s Emissary, the Little Owl promised victory to the Greeks at the Battle of the Marathon (490 B.C.) over their enemies, the Persians. While fighting the invaders, the Greek soldiers saw the Little Owl perched nearby. So inspired by Her Presence, they drove the Persians back to their ships. Afterwards, the Athenians issued a silver tetra drachma coin with the likeness of the Little Owl and the Goddess Athena. The Little Owl, on the coin, kept a watchful over Athens. (These coins were called “Owls.”)

Avoiding forests, the Little Owl prefers the open countryside of orchards, farmlands, and hedgerows. Active during the day, she perches on a fence post watching for prey. Sighting a rodent from her hedgerow perch, the Little Owl suddenly takes off to drop down on her victim. The Little Owl’s flexible lifestyle allows her to stay in one place. If one food source is depleted, she takes advantage of another source. To see her family through scarce times, the Little Owl will store extra supplies.

The Little Owl actively defends her territory through guile. Preferring not to fight, the Little Owl will call or chase the intruder. She will try to avoid the intruder if at all possible.

The Little Owl, as the Ancient Greeks knew, teaches wisdom. So flexible in her way of life, she can thrive where she chooses to live. During hard times, the Little Owl has her stores live off. Unlike many other Owls, the Little Owl had a happy relationship with people. Learn the many aspects of wisdom from the Little Owl.

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BARN OWL (SUB-FAMILY): Power of Life and Death

Owls are divided into two families- Strigidae (the True Owls) and the older family of Tytonidae, to which only the Barn Owl and the Bay Owl belongs to. Barn Owls can be thought of as the more ancient version of “Owl.” They do not hoot like True Owls but instead make a hoarse “Khurrew” noise. In addition, they have heart-shaped faces, longer beaks and heads, and forked tails. Barn Owls live in Europe and the Western Hemisphere, and Bay Owls live in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia. This makes the Barn Owl Sub-Family, one of the most widespread land birds in the world.

A master mouser, the Barn Owl (Tyto alba) can pinpoint the locations of small rodents with only sound. As a nocturnal hunter, she has such an acute sense of hearing that the Barn Owl can swoop down on a mouse, in the dark night. Because the Barn Owl is so good at hunting, many people think she spends many hours just loafing about.

In Europe, the Barn Owl had a sinister reputation because people associated her with darkness and death. Best known for her eerie skeletal appearance and bloodcurdling scream, the Barn Owl was regarded by the British as the Bird of Doom. Since she nests in church belfries and abandoned buildings, she became associated with ghosts.

In Mongolia, the Barn Owl is a Bird of Life. Genghis Khan attributed her with saving his life. While being pursued by his enemies, Khan hid in a bush. Fortunately for him, the Barn Owl decided to roost on that particular bush. His enemies thought that, since she was there, Genghis Khan had to be elsewhere. Since then, Mongolians held the Barn Owl in high esteem.

The Barn Owl is associated with the Hag Goddess, the Cailleach of the Celts. The Barn Owl represents Her Power over the unseen forces of the night. The Gaelic word for this owl is “cauileach-oidhche,” the white old woman of the night.”

In addition, the Barn Owl is associated with the faeries. Gwyn ab Nundd, the King of the Faerie has an owl companion. His owl represents the balance between light and darkness. Therefore, Barn Owl is the connection between this world and that of the faeries.

The Barn Owl teaches about the power of life and death. In folklore, the Barn Owl either saved people or predicted their death. In reality, she is a secret benefactor to people, for she kills numerous rodents that bring diseases to people. The Barn Owl provides life to ordinary people in this way. Silently killing rats hiding in the dark, she demonstrates the wise use of the power of life and death. The Barn Owl cautions people to use this power only for good.

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THE SNOWY OWL: Active Patience

One of the world’s largest Owls, the Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca) hunts in the desolate and bitterly cold Arctic tundra that she calls home. Because of the long nights of numbing cold, the Snowy Owl has layers of fat to help her survive. Since food is often scarce, she can fast for forty days at a time. In addition, the Snowy Owl conserves her energy by remaining still as long as possible. While waiting for an opportunity presents itself, she remains continually observant.

In her pursuit of food, The Snowy Owl is a strategist. She may seem lazy however the Snowy Owl is actively looking for a lemming to appear. She can hunt day or night. If need be, she will play dead. When an intruder comes near her nest, the Snowy Owl will swoop down and strike them with her talons. Sometimes she will feign injury, dragging her wing on the ground to lure a fox away from her young owlets.

The Snowy Owl forms close ties with the lemming, which goes beyond the usual predator and prey relationship. To make up for their short lives as owl food, lemmings breed in great numbers. When lemmings are in short supply, the Snowy Owl travels in search of rabbits. Not attached to any particular place, the Snowy Owl will go as far as the Caribbean in search of food. Wherever the Snowy Owl goes, she attracts attention. Because of her large size and elegant white plumage, people notice her perched on a haystack or on an airport runway waiting for an unsuspecting rodent.

The Snowy Owl is associated with the Norse Goddess Skadi. This Goddess is depicted travelling the Arctic, clad in furs, carrying her bow and arrows. The Snowy Owl and Skadi are associated with winter and strength. They remind people of the lessons that winter teachers.

The Snowy Owl teaches active patience. During the long Arctic winter, she fasts and waits for summer. Hunting for lemmings, she patiently perches on a rock listening for them to move about underground. When there are no lemmings, the Snowy Owl searches patiently for other food. She is rewarded for her efforts. Learn active patience from the Snowy Owl.

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OWL FAMILY: Inner Wisdom

Another in the series of animals, Gods, and spirituality

This worldwide Order of Birds ranges from the tiny Elf Owl of North America to the huge Eagle Owl of Eurasia. As predators, Members of the Owl Family regard anything that moves as fair game. While the Elf Owl eats insects, the Eagle Owl feasts on deer. Because most Members of the Owl Family fly at night, they occupy the same niche in the eco-system as hawks and eagles. Native Americans called the Owl Family “Night Eagles”.

Members of the Owl Family are divided into two groups. The older, smaller group of Barn Owls and Bay Owls (Tytonidae) are distinctive with their heart-shaped faces. They have longer skulls, beaks, and legs than the newer group of owls (Strigidae) do. The round-headed owls, that most people see, are from the larger Strigidae Family.

Because so few birds are nocturnal and the majority of owls (Strigiformes) are, people respected but distrusted them. Japanese regarded Barn Owls and Horned Owls as demonic. In Borneo, Scops Owls were thought of as ill omens to be avoided at all costs. The Romans believed that any owl sucked the blood of babies. Meanwhile, parents of various Native American nations would tell their children when they misbehaved that “owls will get you.” In Mexico, people will say “when the owl cries, the Indian dies.”

A fearsome being, the Slavic Strzyga (Strigoi) is a “vampire” spirit who takes the form of an owl. With her two lines of teeth, the Strzyga will suck blood, take people’s life energy, and finally eat their insides. Remembering her human life, the Strzyga will hunt down the people who had hurt her. Because of her hunting at night, people will rarely venture out after dark.

Various owls are associated with different Gods. In Hawai’i, Pueo (Hawai’ian Owl) is a protector. As ‘Aumakau, Pueo is the ancestor guardian who watches over the family. Because a Barn Owl saved Genghis Khan from his enemies, Mongolians revered her. Meanwhile, Celts look upon the Tawny Owl as one of the five oldest animals on earth. One of the animals associated with the Norse Goddess Frigga is the Great Horned Owl.

Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of Wisdom, has a sister – Alakshmi who takes the form of an owl. Often, Alakshimi will give Her Sister bad advice. As an owl, She indicates the arrogance and stupidity that accompanies excessive luck. Depending on the region of India, owls can either be good fortune or messengers of death.

The Cailleach of Celtic mythology is often linked with the Barn Owl. As a Hag Goddess, the Cailleach has dominion over the night and the winter. Meanwhile, the Barn Owl has a ghostly presence at night. Moreover, the Gaelic word for owl is “cauileach-oildhche,” which means “night-cockerel” or “the white old woman of the night.”

Ancient Greeks welcomed the Little Owl as their Goddess of Wisdom’s Friend. Athena is shown with the Little Owl (Athene noctua). One of this Goddess’ epithets is “Glaukopis,” which means “Bright Eyed.” The owl represents her wisdom and sharp vision.

Hypnos, the Greek God of Sleep, takes a form of an owl from time to time. In some of the myths, He flaps his wings to bring sleep. Considered to be benevolent, Hypnos could put even the Gods to sleep. Like the owl, He governed the liminal place between wakefulness and sleep. (The Romans called Hypnos, Somnus.)

Members of the Owl Family represent the fears, anxieties, and wisdom of people. However, to see owls as they truly are, brings about a greater appreciation of their role in nature. Owls are master predators that keep their territories from being overrun by rodents. Various owls have exploited all kinds of environments ranging from frozen tundra to arid deserts. In fact, the Barn Owl makes her home on nearly every continent on earth. Members of the Owl Family live in dead trees, on buildings, and burrows in the ground. They hunt during the day as well as at night.

Owls seek their own counsel in what they do. They seize what opportunities there are and then exploit them to the maximum. The Owl Family teaches you to follow your own inner wisdom. Seek your own counsel and increase your opportunities.

For further reading:

Mike Clelland, “The Messengers: Owls, Synchronicity and the UFO Abductee.” 2020.

Mike Clelland, “Stories from the Messengers: Accounts of Owls, UFOs and a Deeper Reality.” 2020.

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List of Entities from “The Illustrated Guide to DMT Entities” (Part 3 of 3)

Mother Ayahuasca

Includes Grandmother Ayahuasca and Aya

Mother Ayahuasca is the Living Spirit of the Ayahuasca Vine. Known as the “Great Mother of All Life,” Mother Ayahuasca is deeply connected to all plant and animal life. She and the Others are regarded as Goddesses. Moreover, the relationships that are established in the DMT Realm will continue into the waking world.

Nature Spirits

Includes Plant and Fungi Spirits

Spirits of the Magic Mushroom (and others) will often contact the user when their particular plant (or fungus) is ingested. The Mushroom Spirits will often speak to users of other entities in the DMT Realm such as the Machine Elves. Most people believe that the psychedelic plants have unique spirits. However, no one is sure if the Spirit is the plant itself or a Being living in the plant.

Snakes

Includes Jaguars and Other Animal Spirits

Since many users employ Ayahuasca for their experiences, they often encounter animals from South America such as anacondas and jaguars. People have reported seeing Rainbow Jaguars and Serpents. Meanwhile, Twisting Snakes, which seem to resemble the double-helix DNA molecule, will surround a person. Also, a person may shapeshift into one of these animals. In visionary experiences, encounters with these Beings are quite common.

Octopus

Including Octopoid Beings

These Beings resemble the Pre-Columbian art of tentacled Gods found in South America. Since They are from technologically advanced environments, the Octopoid Beings often treat humans as puppies. Users report that these Beings will operate on people. However, other people have claimed that Octopus entities will respond in the same way that a human approaches them.

Chemical Spirits

People believe that LSD and other psychedelic chemicals have Spirits who speak to people. Since many of these chemicals are distilled from organic materials, it seems these Spirits could be the children of Plant Spirits. People report that the Chemical Spirits are delighted in teaching the user. In his experiences, David Jay Brown (Note 1) felt a chemical intelligence. He described this Intelligence as “a being, that sniffs you, scans you, assess you, and interacts with you…So that what happens during the experience is a truly co-creative act.”

Mother Gaia

Mother Gaia is the female spirit of Lovelock’s Gaia Hypothesis (Note 2). This hypothesis says that the Biosphere of Earth is an intelligent female organism. Mother Gaia is a distinct planetary spirit, who is related to Mother Ayahuasca. She encourages ecological awareness among users. After interacting with Mother Gaia, many people will feel a need to care for Earth. Mother Gaia is also known as “Mother Nature,” “The Gaian Mind,” or “Planetary Matrix.”

Beings of Light

Includes Pure Energy and Bodiless Beings

People report religious, spiritual and mystical experiences with Beings of Pure Light or Energy. These intelligent lights, with various personalities, can be physically felt. They are also encountered in Near-Death and UFO contact experiences.

God (Judeo-Christian God)

This Being is the “Creator of the Entire Cosmos.” Most users who have encountered God use 5-MeO-DMT (Note 3) instead of N,N-DMT. Usually, a person will only experience a presence or a voice that they perceive as “God.” How a person encounters God is dependent on their cultural expectations. (Most are usually influenced by the Bible.)

Notes

Note 1. David Jay Brown with Sara Phinn Huntley authored “The Illustrated Guide to DMT Entities.” Park Street Press. 2025.

Note 2. The Lovelock Gaia Hypothesis is a bioecological theory that says “the biosphere of Earth functions like a single, self-regulating organism.”

Note 3. There are two DMT chemicals in use to achieve altered states. One is N,N-DMT which launches users into hallucinogenic and visionary experiences. N,N-DMT is the psychoactive ingredient in Ayahuasca and other plants. The other chemical is 5-MeO-DMT, which launches users into a void. This DMT, a modern ceremonial drug, is derived from a toad (Bufo alvarius). Caution is advised in using 5-MeO-DMT since it can be disorienting with its powerful effects.