I've been working on owl images recently, initially inspired by an old Anglo-Saxon word, 'Shelter Feather' (hleów-feðer) meaning 'a comforting or protective arm placed around someone or something' mentioned by Robert Macfarlane in his interview for BBC Radio 6. An owl is what came to mind, with their vast wingspan and glowing night presence. Owls are often seen as wise, mostly due the owl chosen by the goddess of wisdom, Athene, in ancient Greek mythology. In Celtic folklore owls were seen as otherworldly and related to death and warnings, but also as a guide through the underworld. In Native American folklore owls were seen as a bad omen. I am mainly interested in the owl ability to see in the dusk and their keen eyesight, wanting to highlight this in the image. Whilst on a walk in the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge we saw a Great Horned Owl, who swept over us, feeling magical and impressive. I feel there is an element of foresight in the symbol of an owl, which feels much needed at the moment. In the Radio 6 interview Robert Macfarlane and Cerys Mathews talk about the disappearance of birds in the UK and I feel that there is something about this owl seeing something ahead that we are unable to, so maybe in this way there is a warning and wisdom in meeting this owl. BBC Interview with Robert Macfarlane: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09f4f5h Robert Macfarlene's Word of the Day: https://twitter.com/robgmacfarlane/status/9288799698 45104640?lang=en For more reading on the folklore of owls: http://livinglibraryblog.com/owl-of-the-celts-ancient-bride-of-the-dead/ http://www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk/articles/mythology_folklore/owls.asp https://www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/native-american-symbols/owl-symbol.htm RSPB on the decline of birds: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/where-have-all-the-birds-gone/is-the-number-of-birds-in-decline/
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AuthorBeth Hoyes - Art Psychotherapist, Artist and Writer Archives
June 2020
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