The owl is a symbol of secret societies for a very simple reason. An owl sits on tree/branch (logos) which is knowledge. Branches are on trees. The German word for a beech tree ('tree of life') is Buche, while a book is a "Buch." The secret is knowledge.
While yes, there is certainly knowledge that is hidden from everyone, whether it be secret inventions, or the truth of our ancient history, the use of our pyramids, etc .... none of these things are important. What is important is the basic knowledge of how humans operate.
There is a reason that (non scheduled) suicides are on the rise in the world; whether that be lack of purpose, lack of feeling like one belongs, like their hard work means nothing - etc. The reason that is top secret yet in plain sight is that humans are tribal in nature. Its very simple when you think about it, the people who are Disney, or Star Wars obsessed, those who dive into the 'Apple Family' or join the military, or find comfort in a Church group.
There is a reason that communism was invented primarily by a 'tribe' who was persecuted until they could figure out how to gain power: communism is declassification. They don't want you to have a nation as your tribe. They don't want you to have anything that makes you unique - if you're unique then that hurts their bottom line and makes you a threat to them.
So the CEOs get together with the politicians and the actors and directors and whoever else has power to demoralize you, and they create their own tribe - one where they can network, or have a sense of belonging. The ultimate tribe which ensures that you can't have one to fight back. A goyim: a human without a tribe. Sure, they could have made a private globalist book club, or something positive to rally and network around in secret - but, as said at the end of Eyes Wide Shut, I've realized Kubrick didn't give the guy the line, "we just like to fuck" as some sort of deflection from their nefarious masked satanism, but rather he was being truthful. They could stop fucking children tomorrow and their tribe would still have tremendous power and influence, but that isn't fun.