Protection with Purpose

 

 

Protection with Purpose

By Deborah Sharma

Little Owl with piercing yellow eyes, 
Surrounding inky black discs,  
Perching, guarding territory, 
From unseen, unwelcome risks. 
For this is Owls entitled domain,
Where she regally roosts with boldness,
And no unwelcome stranger shall remain,
Fending them off with confident coldness.
Panting fox scratching at tree,
Snarling hungrily with brutality. 
Intent on forcing it to flee,
Owl’s head bobs briskly to chase,
Serving as stern warning,
With furrowed brow, frowning face,
Hooting with stark scorning,
To creature who disturbed,  
Invading its sacred space. 
Owl remains ever unperturbed,
Guarding its precious place.
Frantic fox refuses to depart.
Owl swoops swiftly with eager claws,
Slashing in fury, tearing fur apart,
Unrelenting until danger withdraws, 
Fox whimpers, limping away. 
For where cherished owlets nest,
Owl keeps all threats at bay,
Protecting Love from all the rest.

~ Deborah Sharma

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Explanation

The little owl is intent on protecting its territory, family and its boundaries.  The Owlets represent love for self or others, whilst defence against the fox is the need to protect that love.  The owl is territorial as it prefers to stay in the same area for years and given the multitude of threats it encounters, this demonstrates how dedicated and unyielding it is in safeguarding its needs.

Like the owl assertively defending her treasure, when made to feel vulnerable, advocating for oneself comes from a place of self-love.

At times, our inner fox works against our inner owl through self-sabotaging habits. In my experience, it means shielding my health from poor choices. It can be as simple as being determined not to have caffeine that day as it gives me acid reflux, steering myself towards more owl-like empowerment.

On an emotional level, it can be our need to guard our heart.  The owl protects with self-assurance and trust, just as it’s the fox’s instinct to harm and hunt. They have an attack-defense relationship similar to the internal relationship of the negative side of ego and the true self.  The owl prioritizes the object of her love at all costs and does not sacrifice it to satisfy others needs (fox’s hunger).  It is the owl’s attitude that I admire as she protects with such certainty and a strong resolve.  It is a characteristic I want to emulate whenever I question the need to protect my own energy or that which I love.

My son, Brandon, with a little owl at Deen Farm in London https://www.deencityfarm.co.uk/