Barred Owl Archives - Owl Medicine: Shamanic Healing

Barred Owl

During our walk tonight, Karl and I heard the call of a Barred Owl again along the same stretch of woods as last time. We both stopped dead in our tracks when we heard it. (Actually all four of us became utterly still at the same moment, Brutie and Pacha’s senses suddenly on high alert.) It was so weird – two hoots and it stopped. One to get our attention and a second to confirm the connection.

We waited for just a bit, perhaps 30 seconds, before deciding to continue walking home. It’s interesting how l-o-n-g thirty seconds can seem in a situation like that, when you’re expectantly waiting for something to happen that may never actually materialize. It can seem like an eternity!

I find it fascinating that in all our 36 years of living here, we only heard our first Barred Owl ever (here in our neck of the woods) last month. (Follow that link and you can hear the recording I made of its call.) And now, three weeks later, it spoke to us again.

Two New Neighbors

When I looked up Barred Owl on the Peterson’s Guide to Birds app on my phone, I discovered that they are known to not only nest in the hollow of trees but also in the nests of Red-Shouldered Hawks.

I realize that some readers of my blog who live within a 25 miles radius of us do actually encounter Barred Owls often. I assume you also have plenty of Red-Shouldered Hawks too. But they’re both new neighbors to us – and I find it fascinating that they’re known to have that symbiotic connection vis-à-vis nesting.

I haven’t had a chance yet to look them up again in my resources, but given that both have featured very prominently in the skies overhead lately, I think I should.

Red-Shouldered Hawk – Photo: L. Weikel

Red-Shouldered Hawk

I see I wrote about the Red-Shouldered Hawks doing a mating dance over our head(s) back on March 9-10, 2021. I’d never heard their call or seen them before. Inasmuch as one screeched its head off just this past Sunday, literally causing Pacha and Brutus to duck their heads defensively when they heard its call and saw its shadow glide across our yard, I find their reliable sense of timing impressive in its consistency.

I’m just thrilled that both Red-Shouldered Hawk and Barred Owl have decided to come into our lives together this year. I look forward to learning more about what they’re heralding.

(T+84)

Barred Owl – Photo: Lehigh Valley Zoo (lvzoo.org)

Magical Day

Between us, Karl and I experienced quite the magical day today. We’re both feeling a bit ‘blissed out’ by it all, to be honest. It’s not that there was any heavy lifting involved. I think sometimes it’s just a matter of expanding our awareness enough to drink it in that can leave us needing to just power down and be still.

Karl began his day with a gorgeous Red Fox crossing in front of his car and then trotting confidently across a field. I wasn’t with him, but it was almost the first thing out of his mouth when he arrived home. He kept marveling at the creature’s robust health and the stunning color and condition of its coat.

Fox can signify a variety of messages, from family matters to creativity to using camouflage to keep oneself and one’s family safe and out of harm’s way. Karl’s trip happened to be all about family and the beauty of the Fox felt like a wonderful omen. His trip ended up being especially loving and sweet.

On his way home, he spotted an enormous Bald Eagle perched in a tree overhanging a road near our house. While we both know they’ve made a powerful resurgence in the area over the years, we never seem to lose our sense of excitement and awe when visited by Eagle.

Recently, most of my sightings have been along the Tohickon or the Lenape Sipu, and almost always when I’ve been alone. (Although I did see two just last Sunday when taking a walk with my friend along the Delaware!) I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen a crestfallen look sweep across Karl’s face when I recount seeing an Eagle.

So it was especially meaningful to have Bald Eagle visit Karl today. He finally felt like he was part of the club. And best of all, the raptor was scoping out potential quarry on a branch close enough to Karl that its markings were unmistakable. A powerful gift from Spirit.

Eagle – Photo: L. Weikel

My Magic

I’d already experienced an afternoon that reinforced for me how unbelievably lucky I am to do what I do. Maybe it’s more accurate to say ‘to witness what I do.’ Because really – I just create the space and watch things unfold. Anyway, it’s hard to describe, which is why I tend to dance around it most of the time, or not even bring it up at all.

Anyway, I knew I needed to walk after the session I had. I needed to ground myself; I needed to make sure I was back in my body. By the time we set out darkness had fallen. The constellations were stunning in spite of the brilliance of the half moon above.

Just short of a mile into our walk, I turned around to untangle myself from Brutus’s leash when a meteor suddenly streaked through the sky, right to left. It was surprisingly low on the horizon and large – burning a brilliant yellow with an outline of crimson. And it crossed the sky slowly (for a meteor) – it wasn’t some little blip. While I yelped out to Karl when I saw it, my gasp and garbled, “Look! Oh! WOW!” didn’t sink in quickly enough for him to see it.

There was something special going on in the cosmos tonight. Like I said, the constellations seemed especially vibrant and obvious. And by that I mean, the patterns seemed emphasized somehow. The sky was filled with stars, as usual, and often I just drink them all in with my eyes wide as possible. But tonight felt different.

Our Shared Magic

Finally, another mile into our walk the call of a Barred Owl echoed through the woods to our left. I could hardly contain my excitement. I don’t remember ever hearing a Barred Owl up here in our environs. The first time I’d ever heard one (and then heard several) was a few years ago in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina.

I stopped dead in my tracks. “Did you hear that?” I whispered.

Of course he had. It was the only sound in this silent February night. The “Who cooks for youoooooooo” call of the owl was coming from the same vicinity the coyotes had been howling a few nights ago. There must be a lot of action down there along that part of the creek.

The Barred Owl hooted another several times (one of which you can hear, above) giving me a chance to record it on my phone. It’s almost as if it knew when I had because as soon as I was satisfied, it went silent. I can’t explain why, but this encounter, too, felt…different. Magical, if you will.

(T+63)