The messenger
Last night I was watching the X files on TV, I missed the series when it came out in the 90’s so I have been watching it on Netflix. I hate the commercials on regular Television and this medium allows me to watch the programs uninterupted. After watching several episodes I decided to turn it off and go for a walk. It is cold this time of year so I put on 3 layers of coats to make sure I would be warm enough.
When I walked out the back door I saw my chickens running and squawking in distress. Chickens do not wander around after dark, they like to feel secure in their coop and roost. Each of my chickens has a pecking order, the older ones being dominant over the younger ones. My small banties being at the top of the order, pull the feathers of the larger chickens when they want them out of the way.
Last night there was no order, it was chicken pandemonium.
During the winter months I have a light inside their chicken house to keep them laying through the winter. This year I put up Christmas lights around the outside of their coop which makes it even lighter.
I talked to a commercial egg producer who told me they need about 18 hours of light a day to keep them laying. I keep a timer on the lights to give them darkness for the other 6 hours.
Running to their chicken house I looked inside. The little banties were under the coop, in an area where I keep chicks to protect them. Several of the larger chickens were crowded in one of the laying boxes with a look of terror on their faces. Standing at the end of the little coop was a great horned owl. When I looked in I was only a few feet from those great huge eyes. It stood 18 inches tall and towered over the smaller chickens. This owl is the most ferocious and the most successful predator in the owl family. It will not hesitate to take whatever prey presents itself. Most birds of prey are in awe of its formidable talons and strong beak.
I have a respect for all animals, I have done all I could to live in peace with nature. I have declared my home and property a no fly zone, a kind of peaceful sanctuary for any who come here.
There have been several animals who have come here over the years with the intention of killing my livestock. I finally had to buy a shotgun to protect them. In our little community, the law requires us to use a shotgun in city limits to protect livestock.
Last night I had to use it.
My neighbor lost 6 or 8 chickens this fall when an owl came into her yard and killed her chickens. This owl had an odd behavior of taking the chickens heads but leaving the bodies. This left us puzzling over the deaths.
I believe that animals are messengers.
In the book, Animal Speaks by Ted Andrews, he gives the metaphysical, spiritual and religious symbolism of many of the animals.
Owls in particular, have a long and varied message. In using this book, it has been helpful for me to discover the message that each of these creatures has for me.
There is usually one meaning that stands out above the rest.
Owls have been my messengers for many years.
Last night the message I received, cost this owl his life.
“One who works with owl medicine will be able to see and hear what others try to hide. You will hear what is not being said, and you will see what is hidden or in the shadows. You can detect and pinpoint the subtleties. This can make others uncomfortable because they will not be able to deceive you about their motives or actions.”
“New vision opening to you.”
“One example (balancing the male and female) is using owl and hawk feathers together as part of a dream bundle to help stimulate lucid dreaming. For example, a red-tailed hawk feather tied between two great horned owl feathers and hung over the bed may help you assert your will over the dream state. This can be used to develop astral projection or just for conscious control of the dream scenario during sleep.”
I will give the owl to my neighbor who will study it and use it for research.
I will use the feathers to make myself a dream bundle. I will continue to hone my gift of clairvoyance, and I will repair my little chicken house and paint over the damage from the shotgun.
The chickens are traumatized and will keep close to each other and the safe parts of their territory. They will adjust and in a few days will be back to normal.
I will take the message, incorporate it, and learn how I can make my life more meaningful, more insightful.
I will mourn the loss of this magnificent bird of prey, but at the same time, I give my gratitude to him for being a messenger of wisdom.
