Longmire and owls

This image wasn't actually in the final episode of season three, this is a promotional photo.

The A&E series Longmire features owls in their mythic role as a totem of death. This series has lots of native American lore mixed in with the narrative, and the owl mythos plays an overt role. The owl is a symbol for death and messenger, and the script writers aren't shy about using this in the story.

  caution: spoilers below  

symbolic owl on the first episode of LONGMIRE

The opening scene of the very first episode features an owl. The main character and series namesake, Walt Longmire (played by Australian actor Robert Taylor) is at his little cabin in the morning and he looks out the window to see an owl. As I watched this first episode, seeing this owl, I immediately said, uh-oh somebody died. Up until this point, there had been no dialog, and the next thing that happens is the phone rings and his deputy says there's been a murder. We also later find out that the sheriff's life, is haunted by the memories of his dead wife.

An owl shows up again in season two, episode one, where sheriff Longmire is all alone, pursuing a villainous escaped prisoner in a winter mountain environment. Longmire falls into a creek, and sees an owl as he climbs out of the water. His life is in danger because of the cold, and he has a trippy hallucinations (or visions) as he tries to get warm again. He later kills the villain. So, the owl as a warning, proceeding a visionary state, ending in death. All the good mythology.

An owl shows up in the season three finale, right after Walt spreads the ashes of his wife. This scene coincides with some cross cutting of his deputy who "might" have killed his own father with a shotgun.

two pictures, same owl!

Above left is a photo of myself along with an owl. Above right is the author of the Longmire series of books, Craig Johnson, and oddly enough—he is pictured with the very same owl! Also note our choice of shirts.

This owl, with a wounded left wing, lives at the Teton Raptor Center in Wilson Wyoming. I have some funny synchronicities with that owl that I still need to post. More soon.

note any similarities?

Above left is one of Craig Johnson's books (he has a few books with owls on the cover). Above right is another book, and all I can say is that it should be out soon. The blue cover is a work-in-progress for my own book. I had no idea about this guy's book when I picked the name for my own. Both authors have 12 letters in their name. My initial set of owl experiences happened in Wyoming, the setting for the Longmire series (although the show is shot on location in New Mexico).

Now, it's not just me, there are others out there searching for owl references in the media soup. Like this site (HERE) that gave me a sense of relief that I'm not alone. And HERE too, this site featuring Twin Peaks.

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