Rumi and the Owl

An unexpected visitor during rehearsal

I was practising a song from my Rumi Nowruz album at home one evening; my practice sessions often occur around twilight. There’s a certain magic in the air at that time. Across diverse traditions—from Hinduism to neo-Celtic shamanism—it is believed that the realms of devas and faeries are more active at the transitions of dawn and dusk.

That evening as I sang, and dusk quickly gave way to nightfall, I became aware of a presence perched on my balcony only a couple of metres away. Outlined in shadows, given the fast-fading light, an owl hooted gently as I sang. My hands spontaneously rested at my heart and I felt a sense of quiet, ecstatic love fill the space between and around us. As I sang the line, “A new and glorious robe of honour was placed on my shoulders,” the wings of the owl lifted and shifted, as if to allow for the robe to rest upon it, and hooted a quickened pattern of soft sounds. I was transfixed in the moment.

Whilst owls are not generously looked upon in Islam and Christianity, there was no fear in this encounter. I reflected on how the owl is associated with Greek wisdom goddess Athena, the Buddhist saviouress goddess Tara, and the vahana (or sacred vehicle) of luminous Hindu goddess Lakshmi. These are goddesses sought for guidance and protection.

“I named that owl Najat, and I think of this song now not only as absolution, but also the signs that prefigure it. It is a song of faith and hope, and absolute confidence in the timeliness of divine grace.”

Najat is a beautiful feminine Arabic name which translates as ‘saviour’ or ‘salvation’, and ‘absolution’ or ‘redemption’. I believe that absolution is a gift of grace that happens in our lives again and again, bringing us closure and release, and ensuring that we remain faithful on our sacred course in life. Such grace leads us through the darkness that owl navigates so skilfully, into the secret love hiding in our life’s mysteries.

May sacredness enter your life to enrich it with grace and meaning. May your heart receive comfort, guidance and encouragement at the perfect moment, and in the perfect way. May you know that your life holds inestimable value and live it with a truthful and grateful heart. 

Want to listen to the album? Or even experience it live? Beloved, you can find out more here.

Gratitude for art by Rassouli from the Rumi Oracle.

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