what are owls typically symbolic of? what does Ultima mean when she tells Antonio that the owl is her spirit, her " bond to the time and harmony of the universe?"

Owls are nocturnal mystical animals that are generally thought to be wise and all knowing. Ultima personifies these same traits. Ultima is feared by many people because, like the owl, she is not understood. Ultima understands the secrets of harmony; she sees the universe and intricate connections of life and death. The own is considered a meditative bird that transcends the bounds of the terrestrial world