Speaking Of Owls

(Crafty Alien at etsy)

A few weeks ago I posted about my hearing loss and of the wonder I felt when I heard the owls by our house.  This got me to thinking about how owls have been popping up a lot lately. I'm not really a bird person (Though, I still have a post to write about some of the bird experiences on Rock Island), but appreciate them the way most people do for their colors and sounds etc.  I've always liked owls, but I've never sought them out the way some do when they're interested in a particular animal or bird.

Over the past few months I've begun noticing more owl appearances on blogs and on Etsy. After I had my own owl experience a few weeks ago, I looked them up in Animal Speak. Apparently, owls represent hearing and not just hearing what is spoken, but what is unspoken as well. They symbolize clairaudience too.

I find this interesting because of how I heard them in our woods (finally) and because all my life I've picked up on the unsaid and unspoken things happening in a room and this has made for lots of confusion. I've often commented on how something was obviously wrong with someone or what I think a person really meant to say only to be met with completely blank looks from the other people in the room.

When I was a kid this was especially frustrating because it always seemed like no one was saying what was really going on. I sensed when couples were pretending to be happy, when someone wasn't being honest, when someone was depressed or keeping a secret and could never back these feelings up.  I think my mom found it a little unnerving at time.

The owl is also known as an extractor of secrets...but is a good secret keeper too. I hope many of my friends would agree that while I really like to pull out the goods, I'm fairly good at keeping a secret. I'm content to be the only one in the know, but I've got to know!!!   

I've decided I like having the owl as a symbol of hope for dealing with my hearing loss and indeed, the last time I posted about it, I was contacted by Samantha Roddy over at The Hear Daily. She asked if she could interview me for her new website/forum for people who have hearing issues. She made it sound (Ha! No pun intended) as if I had written it, but it's really a re-write of the paper interview I did.

With her encouragement, I finally decided to go ahead and schedule an appointment with my audiologist to get the hearing aids that I need. Feel free to jump over and visit her site and read the interview. I love not only that she found me, but that she's started something like this. One in twelve people have significant hearing loss and don't do anything about it (me included).      

So, now that the owl is my special friend, I've really been paying attention and even remembered that I went to kindergarten at Owl's Head Elementary in Maine.

Today, I decided to showcase some owl loving Etsy artists as a tribute!

The picture above is from Crafty Alien and it makes me laugh. He looks bewildered, but I think he fancies himself as important! As if he suddenly got promoted and it's his first day on the job. Like he could wobble of the branch at any moment, but is determined to keep looking distinguished no matter what!   

This little purse over at  Simbiosis by Julia Bravo cracks me up! I love the fabric coming out of Japan these days.   

This pendant by Imogen is a favorite because of the green.
 

I'm drawn to these tags by Tag You're It:

 

And last, but not least check out the awesome vinyl wall art by Holly .  It blows me off the branch in a big big way! People are just so damned clever!!! Look at the little guy in the upper right corner of the living room too!

 

My camera mystery is solved. Someone is working too much and forgot she dropped the camera on the floor at work and the battery fell under her desk. It's recharging and will be back in action soon!   

Comments

[emicat]

That's an interesting connection you found with owls. I'm glad you've taken the big step of seeing an audiologist too. Those etsy owls are all just adorable. I'm in love with the painting at the beginning of your blog post. I'm drawn into it with that deep blue background. I wish you the best and I hope you'll get to see and hear more owls around you for encouragment :)

[Susan at Black Eyed Susans Kitchen]

Laura,
My son (15 years old and so cute..don't tell him I said that!), has been collecting owls almost all of his life. He gets photos, statues and all sorts of owl related things from just about everyone he knows. He is what they call an old soul, and so, I think are you...a connection?? Perhaps it is the insightful ones who stop to think about the owls? Susan

[Christine Marie]

That CRAFTY ALIEN Owl reminds me of "My dear, in the headlights" Fairy!"

Never got into owls....yet, When I was about 15...I went to our large
picture window to look outside one night and there on a branch VERY close to the window was an enormous OWL! I had never seen an owl that close before. I was shocked by this surprise bird-visitor right outside the window! It was ENORMOUS... Eyes bright and staring right at me!! I gently closed the curtains and got my mother to come and look at it. She was at the window within seconds...but when she opened the curtain...it was gone! I have always wondered...considering my rather early start in "woo-woo hood", if there really was an owl there at all.

I LOVE your new Owlship! And congratulations on your new hearing, too!!!!!