neptunesdolphins | Entries tagged with wildlife

Beauty and strength are what most people admire most about the tiger, the only cat (Note 1) with a striped coat. The largest living cat in the world, she possesses both grace and mystery. Because of her reputation as a dangerous foe, people have hunted the tiger to prove their bravery.

During the day, the tiger rests in the shade. Sometimes she likes to lie in a quiet pool of water to escape the heat. (Unlike most cats, the tiger likes to swim.) At dusk, she begins her hunt for food. Using her keen eyesight and hearing, the tiger looks for deer or wild pigs.

A solitary hunter, the tiger prefers a large range where she sees no other tiger. She does not choose her prey but will stalk and ambush any nearby animal. Using the cover of trees, the tiger carefully places each foot on the ground, moving slowly towards her prey. When the tiger is next to the unfortunate animal, she explodes in a rush and bites his neck.

Most people see the tiger as a man hunter, since she has been responsible for deaths of more people than any other cat. One famous tiger, the Champawat Tigress killed 436 people in the early part of the Twentieth Century. However, the tiger does not actively hunt people but will kill someone if she happens upon them. Although the tiger spends most of her time hunting, her reputation as a vicious killer is undeserved.

In parts of India, people have a deep relationship with tigers. Offerings are made to Waghoba, the Tiger God (Note 2) for protection of their families and their livestock. When a person encounters a tiger, they bow and fold their hands. Then they ask for the tiger to let them pass, and wait for the cat to walk away. When a tiger kills a person, a statue of the God (or Goddess Washin) will be placed at the place of attack. Offerings are made, and the people ask Waghoba for forgiveness in neglecting his worship.

Because of the tiger’s fearsome beauty, she has been a part of religious life in China. There, five mythic tigers guard the universe. (Note 3) In Taoism, the forces controlling the universe are the Yin of the tiger and the Yang of the Dragon. For the Chinese, tigers protected graves from being disturbed. To dream of a tiger meant nobility and power.

In China, the White tiger guards the West and stands for the virtue of righteousness. In Feng Shui, White Tiger balances the rooms with Black Tortoise, Green Dragon, and Red Bird. (Note 4) In addition, He is a protector against evil, trampling the five poisonous (venomous) animals – the lizard, snake, spider, toad, and centipedes. Meanwhile the White Tiger will bring safety and prosperity.

For Hindus, Shiva, the Destroyer and Creator, rides a tiger. Dawon is the sacred tiger of Parvati, who rides him into battle. In India, the Bengal Tiger (the National Animal) is a symbol of strength, power, and fearlessness.

Meanwhile, the Moslems of Sumatra believed that the tiger punished sinners on the behalf of Allah. And, Malaysians consider it bad manners to refer to the tiger by name, so they call Her “Lady”. In Korea, tigers are the protectors against bad spirits, and bring good luck.

The exquisite grace and power of the tiger evokes awe and fear in people. Capable of killing animals twice her size, the tiger is one of nature’s most feared predators. What the tiger teaches people is for them to act swiftly and with resolve. Although powerful and quick over short distances, the tiger cannot out run the wild ox or buffalo. She must stalk them, and then explode into action to kill the unfortunate animal. The tiger’s quick action and resolve ensures her a meal. Just be mindful when you act or you may get a fierce reputation like the tiger.

The Tyger By William Blake (1794)

Tyger Tyger, burning bright,

In the forests of the night;

What immortal hand or eye,

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies.

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire?

What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,

Could twist the sinews of thy heart?

And when thy heart began to beat.

What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain,

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil? what dread grasp.

Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears

And water’d heaven with their tears:

Did he smile his work to see?

Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger Tyger burning bright,

In the forests of the night:

What immortal hand or eye,

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

Notes:

Note 1. Cats are traditionally divided into two groups – Big and Small Cats. Big Cats (Pantherinae) differ from Small Cats (Felinae) in several ways. They roar instead of purr, with their roars being very loud and resonant. Unlike Small Cats, Big Cats attack animals larger than themselves. They suffocate the prey with a strangle hold on the neck or by covering the prey’s snout with their jaws. Messy eaters, Big Cats do not groom themselves as meticulously as Small Cats.

The Cat Subfamilies: Felinae includes the puma, ocelot, jaguarundi, and margay cat. Pantherinae includes the bobcat, jaguar, lion, leopard (panther), lynx, and the tiger.

Note 2. The Tiger God Waghoba has different names in different regions of India. He is called for example, “Waghro” in Goa and “Bageshwar” in Central India. Conservationists believe that the relationship between the Indian people and the Tiger God promotes tiger conservation.

Note 3. The Five Tigers of China:

Red rules South, Summer, Fire

Black rules North, Winter, Water

Blue rules East, Spring, Earth

White rules West, Autumn, Metals

Yellow rules Center, Supreme Ruler, Sun

Note 4. The Four Divine Beasts of the Chinese Cosmos:

White Tiger: West, Autumn, Metal

Azure Dragon: East, Spring, Wood

Black Tortoise: North, Yin, Water

Red Bird: South, Yang, Fire.

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.

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.

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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THE TIGER: Act Swiftly and with Resolve
BARN OWL (SUB-FAMILY): Power of Life and Death
THE SNOWY OWL: Active Patience
OWL FAMILY: Inner Wisdom

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THE TIGER: Act Swiftly and with Resolve

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

THE SNOWY OWL: Active Patience

OWL FAMILY: Inner Wisdom