One summer afternoon, an owl appeared in my garden, startling both Rita and me.

In a panic, I headed to Chinatown to buy red dragon powder to ward off evil spirits. While I was smudging the garden, I watched the owl perched in a tree. When it noticed my presence, it turned its head 270 degrees, and out of fright, I stumbled backward into the pool.

My ex-husband, trying to help, sent me a blinking Chinese owl figurine, hoping it would scare off the real one.

For days, I could hear the owl’s screeching, and I kept Rita hidden behind closed doors, worried it might swoop down and carry her away. But eventually, the owl disappeared.

Across different cultures and through the ages, owls have carried many meanings. In ancient times, they were seen as symbols of sorcery and death, while today they are often linked to wisdom, intelligence, and reason.

It made me reflect on how the meanings we assign to things can change the way we perceive them, shaping their significance.

On my canvas, mischievous Rita plays beneath bright blue skies, while a messenger owl soars above.
Rita pop