Barred Owl
Meaning, Messages & Magic
Owl symbolizes wisdom, intuition, insight, the messenger, mystery, freedom, secrets, stealth, and vision.
Owl enjoys the mysteries of life and has an appreciation for life’s magic.
Owl asks you to examine things from the perspective of how they truly are, in order to see things that are usually hidden from view, such as other’s motives.
Using Owl-vision allows you to extract secrets beyond the veil of illusion in order to access knowledge and wisdom. Trust your instincts about people.
During confusing and changing times, Owl can help you to make confident decisions that let you step away from situations that no longer serve you.
-Tanya Casteel
All Owls:
- They rely on their flexible necks in order to observe their world. Keeping your neck stretched and relaxed will help open you up to greater perceptions.
- Like other birds of prey, Owls have a third eyelid that helps to clean their eyes. This is a reminder to keep your vision clear and to realize that you already have all the tools you need in order to keep your vision clean, sharp, and focused. What could be fogging your ability to see situations clearly? What could you “clean up” in order to see more clearly? Whatever you’re seeing is more than just wild imagination. Trust it.
- Owls fly silently due to a feathered fringe on the front of their wings. Practice silently going about your business.
Barred Owls:
- Their eyes are dark brown (they almost appear black), instead of yellow like most Owl’s eyes. This represents your deep connection to the cosmos and to creative potential. You can see far and deep.
- Barred owls like to stand in streams and eat crayfish. Sometimes they eat so many crayfish that the feathers on their bellies turn pink! You have the ability to access things from other realms (spirit, dreams, imagination…) and bring them back to this world, manifesting them in
personal transformation that serves the highest good of all.
- The Barred Owl gets its name from the bar-like marks on its feathers. This is a strong symbol of protection, not a jail. Barred Owls know where their personal boundaries lie and they show this to others through a physical expression, radiating out self-respect. Is there a way you could adorn yourself in order to humbly tell others that your space is sacred?
- How do you communicate with others? Barred Owls are the most vocal of all Owls. Their hoot has a laughter-like rhythm to it. Try bringing more humor and silliness into your conversations with others. We could all use a chuckle.
-Tanya Casteel
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I want to hear about your Barred Owl experiences. What stories or dreams have you had? Please share and join in the conversation below!
Hello Tanya,
I’ve always been creeped out by the owls eyes just how big and dark they are, not to mention I grew up thinking that owls were bad omens and that if you heard from hoot at night time it meant “someone close to you was going to pass away”.
I’ve been going thru a pretty rough time lately getting out of an unhealthy relationship of over 4 yrs, the on and offs and hot and colds eventually just got old to me and I seen everything for exactly what it was. I lost everything because of that relationship and created more of a wedge in me and my teenage boys relationship. I started going on night walks with my dog Marley and made it a nightly routine to stop at the park a few blocks from home and let her run around. the first time I seen an owl there I jumped back a little yet couldn’t take my eyes off of it. it was staring back at me too. the next night I heard a bunch of cackling almost sounding like a witch or someone laughing. that’s when I first heard the different sounds they make. well long story short, for over 3 weeks now I’ve been going to that park daily just to visit these quiet cute little guys and have since found out it is a family. along with a little baby that is oh so cute and fluffy!! I’ve found a few feathers from them of different sizes that I cherish very much also…..I’ve brought a number of people to visit them and 2 of those times the owls did not want to make themselves known. every other time, I’d make that purring noise they make and they would talk back sometimes. it is a very calming feeling I get when at the park with them and gives me time to reset and just be mindful and in the moment. I feel like they may be appearing in my life to remind me of the wisdom I’ve always had just never used. Any thoughts or feedback is more than wanted 🙂
I was talking to my roommate and looked out the window and there was a barred owl on the garage roof. And it looked at me through the window and stared at me in the eyes.
It eventually flew away. 30 minutes later it was just sitting in the grass off my yard. And then kept flying back and fourth between two trees in the yard.
It felt familiar
Hi Tanya.
I have only seen an owl once in my life before last week. In the past 2 weeks, I have seen a barred owl twice. I’ve recently began my spiritual journey of therapy, meditation, gratitude. Last week , during the early afternoon, I was hiking in my usual spot, just to have a barred owl fly across my path twice, before landing in a tree close to my path. He just sat there, looked at me occasionally, then went back to peacefully resting. Yesterday, I was driving around 0830pm, and saw a barred owl sitting on the side of the highway. He let me approach him, i squatted beside him and he glanced at me several times, then went back to resting. I moved him off the road, and he was able to fly into the tree where he continued to watch me. Fearing he was injured, I drove home, which was only a few minutes away, to get a box to bring him to a wildlife rehab. When I returned, he was gone. Wondering your thoughts on this experience. Thanks:)
I have been dreaming of a barred owl this passed couple months. She is always just sitting in a tree high above on a know that overlooks my house. One night a couple weeks ago, I dreamed she landed beside a tethered falcon in my back field and they just watched me. I know this specific dream has something to tell me but I cannot figure it out. There was no tension or stress overtones.