Crows and Ravens: in Nature and Myths. A gathering of information.

I apologize for the documents poor quality and lack of order and organization.Corvids are sociable birds. They tend to form social groups, and this can be seen particularly in the case of rooks, which stay in their flocks all year round. Ravens, the largest of the family, reaching as much as 3 feet from beak to tail, form groups as juveniles, pairing off into lifelong monogamous and extremely territorial relationships at around the age of three. The courtship can involve such fun and games as synchronized snow sliding, and, of course, the synchronized flight test. The corvids can be found all over the world, and are the largest of the Passeriformes, or songbirds. The common raven is widely distributed throughout the Northern hemisphere, and the adaptability and intelligence of this family have made it extremely successful.Ravens and crows belong to the bird family Corvidae which also includes jays, nutcrackers, and magpies. They exist on every continent except for Antarctica. New Hampshire has one species of raven and two species of crows: American crows and fish crows. All are all black and all are technically songbirds.The ravens are by far the largest and have a more shaggy appearance. They prefer dense forest and are rare in cities. Fish crows are the smallest, but telling them apart from American crows is difficult until one becomes familiar with the different calls and behaviors of the two species. Both ravens and crows have a large repertoire of calls and use these calls to communicate.The (Perceived) Dark Side of Ravens and CrowsRavens and crows are intelligent birds. They observe us humans and take advantage ofopportunities we provide to them. These birds are capable of hunting their own food, butit is often easier for them to scavenge. They know that food is abundant following abattle or by the roadside. They watch us and know many of our habits. Theycommunicate in ways that we cannot always understand. They gather in large groupsand their calls can be loud and unnerving. At times they mock us, using our own wordsagainst us or attempting to turn our territories into their territories. Aboriginalmythologies frequently portray these birds as tricksters. European lore often associatesthem with the devil. The more you learn about them, however, the more you will respectcrows and ravens as a rich part of our cultural and natural heritage.Ravens and crows are exceptionally intelligent birds. They can discern individual human faces. They can share information with other crows, such as the presence of dangerous places or predators. They often act as sentinels when another crow is feeding, warning of on-coming cars or other dangers. They are curious and can make use of simple tools, such as sticks for probing crevices. Family Life and Social Life Crows and ravens live an average 7-8 years in the wild, although one rare bird lived 29.5 years. As in common with other birds, many baby crows never live to leave the nest. Although nests are built by both males and females, incubation of eggs is performed solely by females. Because males and females look the same, observation of nesting and reproductive behaviors is the only reliable way to determine a crows sex in the field.According to research done by Kevin J. McGowan of Cornell University, American Crows are cooperative breeders. Offspring remained with their parents for one to six years and helped their parents raise young. 80% of observed nests had helpers. Some individuals left the parental group and helped a sibling who had a breeding spot. Fish Crows did not have helpers attending their nests. No marked Fish Crow was ever seen attending the nest of its parents. (One) Fish Crow was observed at several nests and (it)even fed nestlings, but in all cases the parents reacted aggressively toward the third individual. Observations such as these are often the key to proper identification of the species. Regardless of species, ravens and crows are very social. They frequently form foraging flocks. In areas with a large supply of food, these flocks may number in the thousands. Flocks of any size help to provide safety and, at night, warmth. Gatherings of crows or ravens are poetically called murders, although scientists prefer to call them what they call other bird groups, flocks.

"If men had wings and bore black feathers, few of them would be clever enough to be crows."Henry Ward BeecherThey're dark. They sound ominous (quark). They'll eat just about anything they can find, including dead bodies on the battlefield or corpses hanging from the gallows.Crows and ravens (both corvids) are seriousand seriously creepywherever they show up. (Except for theIdiot Crows.) In most of their fictional appearances, they are the go-to scary bird (at least when vultures aren't available), and are traditionally associated with death in many mythologies and cultures.A group of crows is a murder; a group of ravens is an unkindness or conspiracy (and rooks are a building or parliament, jackdaws are a clattering)note.On the other hand, corvids are also very clever. This isTruth in Television, as the Beecher quote shows. They may feature a crow as theDeadpan Snarkeror theTrickster Mentor. While crows and ravens are genuinely capable of speech inReal Life, their speaking voices are almost cartoonish, sounding nothing like the harsh voice of their cawing.Because they are so visually similar, in many visual media it can be hard to tell whether the bird in question is meant to be a raven or a crow (note that some Old World crows are gray with black head and wings; in Eastern Europe, where this subspecies is ubiquitous, no troubles exist telling ravens from crows). There is little if any difference in how they are treated; however, ravens are more likely to cross over intoBig Badass Bird of Preyterritory)note. They'll often have the behavior of a crow, but be called "ravens" because the word "raven"sounds more badass.Corvids suffer from a strange sort of form of theConservation of Ninjutsu. A single crow will probably be intelligent (and, if one of the bad guys, will also take an unnerving interest in the heroes). On the other hand, a whole murder of crows/congress of ravens will just bemindless animals possibly under control of something or someone external. Of course,the significance of various numbers of corvidsis the subject of someOlder Than Feudalismsuperstitions. Sometimes corvids are shown more-or-less positively (although ravens are usually (but not always) more likely to be heroic characters than crows), and in this case their traditional characteristics areportrayed in a better light. Heroic ravens are often wise or intelligent characters, while crows tend to be friendly tricksters orPlucky Comic Relief.On the other hand,crows (never ravens) are astapleofThe Golden Age of Animation, appearing in countless funny cartoon shorts set on family farms, where their role is to drive farmers nuts gobbling up their corn crops. Cartoon crows are always played for humor and aren't the slightest bit scary, though they can certainly beannoyingto the farmers (and the occasional living scarecrow). They tend to beScrewy Squirreltricksters.Crows and ravens tend to fall under theTrickster Archetype.What Measure Is a Non-Cute?is a matter of some disagreement. For more creepy birds, seeFeathered Fiend, but also see the note on scavengers inCarnivore Confusion. SeeOne For Sorrow Two For Joyfor magpies, closely related both inReal Lifeand in tropes. (Any magpie-related examples should gothereand nothere.) For black feathers used as symbolism,

Some cultures, like the Egyptians, Romans, and Arabs, have respected the power of these birds while others have feared them. Some have viewed them as symbols of pure evil while others have merely viewed them as omens or prophets.The Irish once used these birds for divination because they believed that they possessed second sight. It is said that the British believed that ravens fleeing the Tower of London would be an omen of the upcoming fall of the English monarchy.Writers have, over the years, written about the raven. Many contended that he is the symbol of death. The bird is even mentioned in the Bible; plucking out the eyes of sinners in Proverbs 30:17 and descending upon the wicked in Isaiah 34:11.Some contend that the raven was once a beautiful white bird. However, when Noah sent it out of the Ark to test the waters for land, it failed to return to deliver its message. As punishment, it is was believed that God turned the bird black and condemned it to eat nothing but dead carrion.The Greeks, on the other hand, believed that it was the sun god, Apollo, who turned the bird black when he dared to reveal a message that the god's beloved had been unfaithful. The Norse valued the tattletale nature of the bird. It was said that the great god Odin used the raven to travel the world, watching and observing; returning home to inform him of what was happening among his people.Many religions, including that of Christianity, believed that these blackbirds were symbols of damnation. In many instances they were even associated with the ultimate sinner; that of the devil himself. Still others thought that the birds were the result of the casting of a witch's spell.Only a handful of people, including that of some tribes of Native America, have viewed these dark emblems in any kind of positive light. Many tribes, in contrast to so many others, viewed them as guides meant to help mankind along his journey in both life and death. A few viewed them as those lucky enough to be granted the power to see the soul as it leaves the human body on its way to its final resting place.Other tribes view these birds as messengers who have shared the secrets of The Great Spirit with his people. Many Native American legends deal with the crow or raven as the helper of mankind, rather than as a trickster or a bad omen. The bird is often associated with the creation as well as with helping mankind learn how to survive.Some cultures viewed the crow in a negative light while they viewed the raven in a positive one. Most others viewed them as one and the same. In mythology, it wasn't unusual for the gods to take the form of a raven or crow in order to fly down to earth and mix among their people.Still other cultures considered these blackbirds to be symbols of sexual prowess or even deviancy. They believed that the birds had the power to turn even the best man into a sinner who would commit adultery or other acts of sexual deviance.Few birds have as much written or verbal lore about them as that of the crow, raven, or blackbird. With perhaps the exception of the eagle or the mythical phoenix, these birds are the most noted.A symbol of loneliness and solitude, it is possible that these black birds are simply misunderstood. On the other hand, perhaps they are just cunning like the demons and devils that they supposedly emulates. At any rate, it is doubtful that the blackbird, crow, or raven will ever be deemed worthy of any kind of adulation. To quote Edgar Allen Poe "Never more. . ."

People once believed that when someone dies, a crow carries their soul to the land of the dead. But sometimes something so bad happens that a terrible sadness is carried with it and the soul cant rest. Then sometimes, just sometimes, the crow can bring that soul back to put the wrong things right.Ravens are perhaps the most common bird symbol in the mythologies and religions of ancient cultures. They assume a variety of roles, ranging from messengers of deities and sages to oracles and tricksters. They play a central part in many creation myths and are typically associated with the supernatural realms lying beyond the ordinary experience. What is so lurid about these black-feathered creatures and why does the sight of them send a wave of shivers down ones spine? Studying the folk lore of different cultures may unravel the motives underlying the superstitious beliefs and religious faiths.In most North European mythologies birds such as ravens, vultures and others feeding on carrionthe flesh of the deadcommonly pass as symbols of war, death and misfortune.Celtic and Irish goddesses were believed to appear in the form of a crow or a raven, gathering over the battlefields, where they would feed on the flesh of the fallen warriors. Also, seeing a raven or a crow before going into a battle gave a sense of foreboding and meant that the army would be defeated. When the giant Bran, king of Britain in Welsh mythology, was mortally wounded while warring against the Irish, he commanded his followers to behead him and carry his head to the Tower of London for his burial and as a sign of protection of Britain. A popular superstition arose declaring that if the ravens ever fled the Tower of London, the monarchy would fall. As long as they nested there, Britain would never be successfully invaded. In medieval times these pagan legends resulted in demonization of crows and ravens, which were consequently depicted as familiars of witches.The history of ravens as mythical birds can be traced as far as the 1000-year-old Norse mythology. Under the entry Raven the encyclopedia of Norse myths describes this bird as a common sign of evil due to its habits of a scavenger. However, raven as a symbol, the authors further explain,acquires also a positive interpretation. The omniscient god Odin, one of the chief gods in Norse mythology, had a pair ravens called Hugin (Thought) and Munin (Mind) perching on his shoulders. Each daybreak they were sent out into the world to observe what was happening and question everybody, even the dead. By sunrise they would come back to whisper their master what they had seen and learnt. Since they embodied Odins mind and thoughts, they symbolized his ability to see into the future. The book also makes a mention of an early Norse poem HRAFNAGALDUR ODINS (Odins Raven Chant), in which Odin sends the ravens to the Underworld to investigate the disappearance of the lost goddess Idunn. Sometimes Odin himself would turn into a raven.

In North American folklore ravens are the creators of the world. Details of the creation tale differ, but essentially the Ravena creature with human body and ravens beakis believed to have made the world. He gave light to people, taught them to take care of themselves, make clothes, canoes and houses. He also brought vegetation, animals, and other benefits for the human kind. Raven assumes the role of Noah from the biblical story of Great Floodhe is said to have taken animals two by two on a big raft in order to save them. After all he had done for the humans, he wished to marry a woman in turn, but her family refused to let her go. As a revenge, the myth says, the Raven created mosquitoes from crushed leaves to pester the humans forever.The belief in intelligence and cunning of ravens or crows is unquestionable and stories paying a tribute to this winged wisdom may be found both in European and North American mythologies. A fable about the crows cunning usually attributed to Aesop The Crow and the Pitcher is just one of the countless instances. It tells about a thirsty crow that was vainly looking for something to drink on a deserted land. When it came upon a pitcher, it found out its beak was too short to reach the water in it. It knew that if it had tipped the pitcher over, the water would spill. It dawned on it to throw pebbles in the pitcher until the water rose and reached the top. The moral arising from the fableNecessity is the mother of invention, depicts crows as intelligent and ingenious beings.Among the native tribes of the New World the raven is depicted both as a sage and as a trickster. Of particular interest is the story of how there was no light in the world. Though there are certain variations, the story is the same: light was kept in a box by the chief of Heaven and people lived in darkness. The raven didnt like it and conceived a plan to steal it. It took a shape of a leaf floating in a stream where the chiefs daughter came to drink. She then gave birth to him and as an infant the raven played in the house of the chief. He soon began to cry for the box with the light, and the chief, charmed by his little grandson, gave it to him. The Raven changed into his bird shape and carried the box through the sky. However, he dropped it, and the light broke into tiny fragments giving rise to the stars, the moon, and the sun. In the North American mythology raven is a personification of supreme being. When it flaps its wings, it creates the wind, the lightning and the thunder. And it is also the raven who is responsible for the rhythm of seasons and providing the shamans with their visionary and healing powers.North American and Canadian mythology abound in stories depicting the raven as a rascal or a trickster. Apart from the creation raven is believed to have changed the world afterwards to a less cushy place so that the life for humans would not be so easy. Watching humans struggle with its complexities and strenuous lots the fate dealt them was supposed to be a source of amusement for the raven.Speaking of European cultures and Christian religion, over the centuries ravens have become symbols of something ungodly, having an evil repute. In Shakespeares play Macbeth the ominous atmosphere is pierced by the ravens croak foreboding the fatal entrance of Duncan. In Othello the raven flies oer the infected house. Both of these quotes have clear evil connotations. However, in Bible we may find ambiguous instances of ravens both doing good deeds and having a special intimacy with God on the one hand, such as feeding holy hermits during a time of turmoil and drought (King 17:6), and being described as unclean or a flaw in Gods plan on the other hand (Gen 7:8).While peoples of the Old World have persecuted ravens with the zeal of the witch hunters, the Natives in the New World have always held them in reverence. Drawing from this fact their attitude contrasts the dark European perceptions. In Alaska killing a raven was an ultimate taboo bringing on the assailant nothing less than harm. Suzetta Tucker illustrates the case with an example of an archaeological excavation carried out on St. Lawrence Island during which bones of 45 bird types were found, excluding those of a raven. The experts on mythology and folklore have thus suggested that the 1100-year-old Eskimo civilization has long revered the raven. That might also clarify the fact why the ravens are so tame in this area. Furthermore, the author adds that in Ireland raven used to be domesticated for use in divination practices. Various cases of worship might readily attest to an honored position of ravens amounting to that of a supreme entity.Stories about the origin of the ravens black feathers may be found both in the Christian tradition and North American mythology likewise although these are without clear parallels. The well-known biblical story of Great Flood goes that after it had stopped raining, Noah sent a white raven to explore the sea and look for a dry piece of land. Instead of coming back to inform Noah the bird kept going to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth. So Noah sent a white dove which came back with an olive branch. The raven was summoned to come back by force and was blackened and condemned to feed on carrion as a punishment.According to a Ukrainian legend the raven is believed to have had beautifully colored feathers and a lovely voice before the Fall of Angels from heaven after which their plumage turned black and they lost their voices. It is also believed that their former beauty will be returned to them after the Paradise is restored on Earth.Candace Savage explains in her bookBird Brains: The Intelligence of Crows, Ravens, Magpies and Jaysthe origin of ravens black plumage according to the North American tribal lore:"In the olden days, the raven and the peacock were close friends who lived on a plantation.One day, the two birds decided to amuse themselves by painting each other's feathers. The raven set willingly to work and so surpassed itself that the peacock became, as it is today, one of the most beautiful birds on earth. Unwillingly to share its glory even with its friend, the mean-spirited peacock painted the raven plain black."Other variations of this story suggest the raven exhausted all the color on the peacock, leaving only black for itself.Popular folk superstitions myths are based on the belief that when someone dies, his/her soul goes to the land of the dead, in Celtic known as Otherworld or in some parts of Africa as Underworld. If someone died earlier then he/she was supposed to, they would come back after death to complete their interrupted fate, the murdered would return for revenge, and those who were not buried in holy grounds would return to have their coffins moved to a more peaceful place.Dead people would return as animals. E.A. PoesThe Raven may serve as an illustration of this folkloristic tradition.In Christian tradition ravens were believed to have special taste for criminals, and to enjoy plucking out the eyes of sinners. They were thus thought of as carriers the souls of the damned and as companions of the Satan. While for Christians raven symbolizes the evil opposite of the innocent dove, in most of the North American traditions raven is seen as the mediator between the land of the living and the land of the dead, accompanying the dead souls on their final journey. Indian tribes in the American Southwest, worshippers of the Ghost Dance religion engaged in an ecstatic dance to bring about the regeneration of the earth.[xiv]They would decorate themselves with crow feathers, paint crows on their clothes and sing to the crow. Sometimes they would sing of their shaman, Wowoka, flying around the world in the form of a crow.Raven commonly appears as an oracular bird, bringing messages from the other world. In E.A. Poes poem, the narrator asks the Raven, which had flown into his chamber, whether he will ever be reunited with his beloved deceased Lenore, but the Raven only gazes placidly as befits a messenger from the world beyond. The same theme recurs in the film The Crow by Alex Proyas, in which the crow brings back the dead soul of Eric Draven (Brandon Lee) to avenge his and his fiances death. Eric assumes his former bodyhe is resurrected and rises from his own grave, being watched intently by the crow. Also, the crow helps him by dispersing warnings thanks to its keen sight. Eric thoughtfully quotes Poes The Raven: suddenly there came a tapping / As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door, thereby stamping the story with the gothic quality of E.A. Poes artful pen.Having only skimmed the easily accessible sources, one may draw clear parallels between the lore of the ravens in North American mythology and the European religious and folklore tradition with the assertion that the tribal myths are more varied and perhaps a little more humorous than that of Europe. The recurring themes of death, trickery and wisdom appear to be more or less the same. The characteristics attributed to this bird have been resurfacing in literature, film and art over the centuries. From what I have learnt I dare to say that raven whether as a foreboding messenger, aider of the devil or as a playful trickster plays as important role in the tribal religions and mythologies of North America as in Christian religious traditions and European folklore.

Ravens in Celtic Mythology:

Ravensfigure heavily in Celtic mythology and legend. They were linked to darkness and death especially the death of warriors in battle. Celtic war goddesses often took the form of a raven. In The Dream of Rhonabwy, the knight Owein battles King Arthur in a dream world assisted by ravens. Some tales suggest that the great King Arthur himself was turned in to a raven upon his death.

Rhonabwyis the most literary of the medieval Welsh prose tales. It may have also been the last written. A colophon at the end declares that no one is able to recite the work in full without a book, the level of detail being too much for the memory to handle. The comment suggests it was not popular with storytellers, though this was more likely due to its position as a literary tale rather than a traditional one.The frame story tells that Madog sends Rhonabwy and two companions to find the princes rebellious brother Iorwerth. One night during the pursuit they seek shelter with Heilyn the Red, but find his house filthy and his beds full of fleas. Lying down on a yellow ox-skin, Rhonabwy experiences a vision of Arthur and his time. Serving as his guide is one of Arthurs followers, Iddawg the Churn of Britain, so called because he sparked the Battle of Camlann when he distorted the kings messages of peace he was supposed to deliver to the enemy Medrawd (Mordred). Iddawg introduces Rhonabwy and his friends to Arthur, who regrets that Wales has been inherited by such tiny men.Iddawg reveals that Arthurs men are assembled to meet the Saxons at the Battle of Mount Badon. However, Arthur is more concerned with a game of gwyddbwyll (a chess-like board game) he is playing against his follower Owain mab Urien (Ywain). While they play, messengers arrive declaring that Arthurs squires are attacking Owains ravens; when Owain asks that this be stopped Arthur only responds, your move. Finally Owain orders his ravens to attack Arthurs servants; when Arthur asks him to call them off, Owain says your move, lord. Eventually Arthur crushes the chess pieces into dust, and the two declare peace between their forces. After this the Saxons send a contingent asking for a truce, which Arthur grants after consulting his advisors. Cai (Kay) declares that any who wish to follow Arthur should come to Cornwall. The noise of the troops moving wakes Rhonabwy, who realizes he has slept for three days.Because King Arthur lived on in the form of a raven, in Corwall it is considered very unlucky to kill one, however there is no consensus about the ultimate meaning ofThe Dream of Rhonabwy. On one hand it derides Madocs time, which is critically compared to the illustrious Arthurian age, and on the other Arthurs time is portrayed as illogical and silly, leading to suggestions that this is a satire on both contemporary times and the myth of a heroic age.Many of theCeltic goddessesare linked with the raven or crow. In this mythology the goddesses are the aggressive deities, those associated with war and death.Badb,MachaandNemainare all associated with crows and/or ravens, as isNantosuelta, a Gaulish water and healing goddess. The wife of the Fomorian sea-god,Tethra, was said to be a crow goddess who also hovered above battlefields, and Scottish myth has theCailleach Bheure, who often appeared in crow form. The association of the birds with death and war is an obvious reflection of its tendency to eat carrion, plenty of which is to be found in the aftermath of battle. This tendency led, eventually, to the persecution of the raven, as a harbinger of doom and destruction, and also to the common notion in modern European culture that the main attribute of Crow and Raven is their connection with the Otherworld. UponCuchulainnsdeath, theMorriganperched on his shoulder in the form of a raven.

The other main characteristic of Raven in Irish and Welsh myth is that of prophesy. The Morrigan was prone to prophesising and predicting the outcome of battle.King Cormacalso came across the Badb as an old woman dressed in red garments (always a bad sign) who explained that she was washing the armor of a doomed king. Raven also acts as a messenger for the Irish/Welsh gods.In The Hawk of Achill Cuchulainns father,Lugh, is spoken of in association with ravens and crows. Ravens warned Lugh of the Formorians approach. Ravens tended Cuchulainn when he was very ill, which is about the only time Cuchulainn appears to have had anything approaching a good relationship with the birds, save for when he was announced by two Druidic ravens on his entrance to Elysium. He was responsible for killing a flock of magical sea ravens, which were large and able to swim in the sea (it is possible, from the description, that the birds were, in fact, cormorants, and not ravens at all. Cormorants also have a certain mythology associated with them). Also associated with ravens is the son ofCerridwen,Afagddu, who was also known asMorvran, or Sea Raven. Cerridwen s intent had been to bestow the gift of Inspiration upon him. A rather bizarre association is that of ravens and chess.Bendigeidfran(Bran the Blessed),perhaps the best known of the Celtic gods associated with the raven, was a giant of enormous strength and a fierce warrior whose head continued to speak after he was beheaded. Tradition holds that his head was buried at the White Mount in London, believed to be the site of the White Tower (The Tower of London). His head is a protective charm for Britain. The word Bran means raven, and this may be how the story of the Rooks of The Tower originated.

Tower of London:

Today, ravens are still kept at the Tower of London. The ravens have their own Yeoman Warder to care for them. During World War II, Tower Hill was bombed, and the ravens were lost. Winston Churchill, knowing full well the ancient legends, ordered the immediate replacement of the birds, and they were brought to Tower Hill from the Welsh hills and Scottish Highlands.In England, tombstones are sometimes called ravenstones.Among the Irish Celts, the raven was associated with the Triple Goddess, the Morrigan, who took the shape of a raven over battlefields while acting as Chooser of the Slain and the protector of warriors.Irish and Scots Bean Sidhes (Banshees) can take the form of ravens. Their calls from over the roof of a dwelling was considered to be an omen of death for the occupants.There is wisdom in a ravens head. Gaelic ProverbTo have a ravens knowledge is an Irish proverb meaning to have a seers supernatural powers. The raven is considered to be one of the oldest and wisest of all animals.Ravens were the favorite bird of the godLludd, the Celtic god of artists and artisans. He was said to have two ravens to attend to all of his needs (similar to Odin and his ravens).

Myths about crows:

If you see a crow flapping its wings, beware: A big accident is about to happen.Nor do you want to see a crow facing your door, because that signals danger. And if a crow is sitting on top of a house with a red thread in its beak, call the fire department posthaste, because the flames aren't far behind.These superstitions come from Asia, and they're just a few of the scores of myths that surround the unfortunate crow and its slightly larger cousin, the raven.Not all the predictions involvingCorvus brachyrhynchosand its relatives are scary.A romantic soul couldn't hope for anything better than seeing a crow, because it means the heart's wishes will be fulfilled. The only tricky part is that the bird has to be flying from the southwest at sunset. The same bird coming from the same direction at noon means your enemy is coming, not your lover. Other directions and different hours change the message, but the ebony messenger remains the same.Crows have long been associated with death in many cultures, because they often could be found feeding on animal and human remains at battlefields or cemeteries.And while such birds as swallows and storks are welcomed as signs of spring or childbirth, a gathering of crows is sometimes called a "murder," stemming from yet another myth that says crows will sit in judgment of their own and then kill them.Those who think the crow is getting a bum rap can blame it partly on Apollo, a Greek god known for venting his anger on any number of mortals. According to Greek mythology, the raven was originally a beautiful, silver-white bird, until it had the misfortune to tell Apollo that his human lover, Coronis, had rejected him for a mere man. Apollo turned the bird's feathers black.Not everyone engages in crow bashing.Many American Indian tribes saw the crow as a wise adviser and the spirit of wisdom and the law.The Norse god Odin used two crows -- Hugin and Munin, representing thought and memory -- as his daily observers of the world.And members of the American Society of Crows and Ravens, founded in 1982, like to quote American writer and abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher, who said:"If men had wings and bore black feathers, few of them would be clever enough to be crows."The Raven and Crow of the Celts Part I: Myth and Legend:

There are about 45 species of Crow in the world known by a variety of common names, including Ravens, jackdaws and rooks. Candace Savage (Crows)The Raven and Crow make many iconic appearances throughout Celtic myth and folklore. In earlier times, these black birds were often believed to be aspects of the Morrigan, some other divine being, intelligent avian allies of the downtrodden, or merely be the new form of some hapless soul who had been transformed into the black bird through foul magic. Slowly, however, these birds lost their status as divine messengers and instead became servants of the devil. Eventually, in superstition, the black plumed intellects came to represent death and dying. Truth be told, however, both the Crow and the Raven have always symbolized death.Lady Guests 1877 translation ofthe Mabinogionrepresents a collection of 11thCentury Welsh Tales. Within its pages we find the following shapeshifting claim from Taliesin:I have fled in the semblance of a crow, scarcely finding rest.In the Notes section ofthe Mabinogion, Lady Guest says that in some versions of the tale of Owain, the hero of the same name has an army of Ravens. W. Y. Evans-Wentz elaborates on this statement further in his 1911 bookFairy Faith in Celtic Countries. Within his book he claims that Owain had a Crow familiar which always secured him victory in battle. This avian champion did so with the aid of 300 other black-plumed Crows.In Charles Squires 1905Celtic Myth and Legendwe are told that Gwynhwyvars father Ogyrvans (ocur vran) name meant Evil Bran or Raven, which was the bird of death. Within this text we are also told that Brans (Bran the Blessed) name meant Raven. Bran himself is said to be the Celtic Hades, or god of the Underworld.According to John Rhys inCeltic Folklore: Welsh and Manx, in Cornwall, it was believed that Arthur did not die in battle at all. Instead, Arthur was turned into the shape of a Raven, which was a form in which he still goes about. For this reason, the author claimed that even unto his day, the year being 1900, that a Cornishman would not willingly fire upon a Raven.

The Raven and the Crow were aspects of the Morrigan in Ireland. The Morrigan was sometimes seen as a trio of goddesses whose names were Macha, Babd and Namain. These war goddesses often took on the form of the black bird In Lady Gregorys 1904Gods and Fighting Menwe are told that the Morrigan was sometimes called the Crow of Battle or the Battle Crow. In Charles Squires 1905Celtic Myth and Legendwe are even told that:Wherever there was war, either among gods or men, she, the great queen, was present, either in her own shape or on her favorite disguise, that of a hoodie or carrion crow. An old poem shows her inciting a warrior: Over his head is shrieking, A lean hag, quickly hopping, Over the points of the weapons and shields, She is the grey-haired Morrigii! (Cuchulain with Raven. Joseph Leyendecker. 1911)

Cuchulain, as well as many other heros of Irish myth, was followed by the Goddess Morrigan in her Raven form throughout all of his days. When he does eventually die, A crow comes and perches upon his shoulder.In the 1902Cuchulain of Muirthemneby Lady Gregory, one of the daughters of the evil Irish druid Calatin appears to Cuchulain in the form of a Crow. Having been influenced by the Morrigan herself, she does this in order to lure Cuchulain into battle.Within Lady Gregorys retelling of the 12thCenturyTain, we are also told that Cuchulain uttered these words after killing his own son:I am a Raven that has no home. George Henderson inSurvival in Belief amongst Celts, published in 1911, says that the famous bull also found in theTain Bohad at one point taken many other forms including that of the Raven.In J.F. Campbells 1890Popular Tales of the West Highlandswe are told that a Ravan was the son of the King of Lochlin.Not every Raven is black, however. The Tuatha De Danann queen Eriu (Erin) is described in Lady GregorysGods and FightingMen as follows:In the one moment she would be a wide-eyed most beautiful queen, and in another she would be a sharp-beaked, grey-white crow.Over time, however, many other cultures and religions influenced the beliefs of the Celtic ancestors. The old gods became fairies and devils, and in turn the Raven and Crow became never tiring pawns of Satan.

The Raven and Crow of the Celts Part II: Fairytales and Folklore (The Woman With the Raven at the Abyss. Caspar David Friedrich. 1801)Many of the Celtic Fairytales hold remnants of Gods and Goddesses, handed down from a much older tradition of myth and legend. In Donald Mackenzies 1917Wonder Tales of Scottish Myth, for example, were told that the Banshee can appear as a black dog, a Raven, or a Hoodie Crow during the day. The older spelling of Banshee, it can be noted, wasBean Sidhe.The wordSidheis usually used in relation to theTuatha De Danaan, Old Irelands pre Christian deities.Thomas Croker claimed, in his 1825 bookFairy Legends of South Ireland, that theLeprechaunproperly written wasPreachan. Croker said that the name meant, Raven.In the 1773 bookScottish Fairy and Folk Talesby Sir. George Douglas, we find a story reminiscent of the much older shapeshifting myths. In it, a mans wife turns herself into a Raven to avoid some ravenous dogs. The same power of transformation is possessed by the Witches of Mull in George Hendersons 1911 book,Survival in Belief Amongst Celts. The most famous Witch of Mull, of course, wasDoideag, a powerful sorceress who some believed sank the Spanish Armada.There are many fairytales in which a person is turned into a Raven, or Crow, as part of a curse. In Joseph Jacobs 1894More Celtic Fairytales, for example, a man is turned into a Raven when his wife strikes him. Usually, however, the Ravens curse is somehow related to the son of a king such as the two stories which are found in J.F. Campbells 1890Popular Tales of West Highlands.In the story ofthe Battle of the Birds, found in Joseph Jacobs earlier 1892 bookCeltic Fairy Tales, a kings son happens upon a fierce battle. All of the other creatures have already fled the battlefield or are dead, except for a black Raven and a snake locked in mortal combat. The kings son aids the Raven and kills the snake. The Raven then leads the kings son over nine bens, glens and mountain moors in one day, six on the following day, and three on the final day. On the third morning the Raven has disappeared and a handsome lad is standing in his place. This boy claims that an evil druid had put a curse on him, transforming him into a Raven. As thanks, for saving his life and lifting the curse, the Raven-boy gives the kings son a gift of a bundle, which contains in it a Castle and an Apple orchard.InPopular Tales of West Highlandswe find the story ofThe Hoodie Crow. In it, the youngest of three sisters agrees to marry a Crow. Once married, she discovers that her husband is really a handsome man. Due to her love, the curse becomes partially lifted and the third daughter is forced to decide if she wants her husband as a man or as a Crow during the day. The bride eventually decides that her husband will be a man during the day and a Crow during the night. (The HoodieCrow. H.G. Ford. 1919)The Raven, or Crow, in Celtic folklore can also be somewhat of a guardian angel. Such is the case with the Crow found in Joseph JacobsCeltic Fairy Tales. In it, a talking bird appears to a man whos having problems with a leaky sieve (we all know what thats like). The Crow tells the man to use red clay from the bottom of the river to repair the sieve. The man does what the crow suggests and it no longer leaks.The Raven and Crow of Celtic lore is sometimes also given human-like abilities, similar in many ways to the Raven found in many First Nation myths of the Pacific Northwest. In one Celtic story, for example, a Ravens chewing tobacco, in another, hundreds of Ravens are unknowingly seen participating in what would appear to be a semi-formal dance.Theres also an interesting tale found in the 1887 bookAncient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions of Irelandby Lady Wilde. In this story, a man steals some Ravens eggs and boils them. He then places the eggs back in the nest. The Raven arrives at the nest, discovers the cooked eggs, and leaves again quickly. The Raven eventually returns with a magic stone, which she rubs all over the boiled eggs. Through this action the eggs are restored to their previous state. The man, as hed planned all along, then steals the magic stone from the Raven intending to use it for his own personal gain (aLeprechaun-like story).Besides the many fairytales and folk stories found within Celtic lore, many Ravenproverbsare scattered throughout the old texts, as well. Ive included many of these, in point form, so that you may see the many similarities, and differences, found between them:The Raven is equally a bird of omen, Raven-knowledge, or wisdom being proverbial(George Henderson.Survival in Belief Amongst Celts. 1911). A Raven hovering over a cow meant that there was a blight upon the animal (Joseph Jacobs.More Celtic Fairytales. 1894). A departing soul sometimes took on the form of a Raven (George Henderson.Survival in Belief Amongst Celts. 1911). If a Raven was present when somebody died, it was said to be the Devil retrieving his or her soul. If the bird present was a White Dove, however, it meant that the person had obtained salvation (Thomas Croker.Fairy Legends of South Ireland. 1825). A Crow on a house indicated that someone would die (Walter Greger.Notes on Folklore of Northeast Scotland. 1881). The howling of a dog at night, and the resting of a Crow or Magpie on the house-step are signs of death (Andrew Lang.Prophecies of Brahan Seer. 1899). A Raven tapping three times on a windowpane foretold the death of an occupant (John Seymour.True Irish Ghosts. 1914). If Ravens were cawing about the house it is a sure sign of death, for the Raven is Satans own bird (Lady Wilde.Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions of Ireland. 1887). The Crow and Black Hen are ominous of evil (ibid). It is unlucky to meet a Magpie when going on a journey (ibid). The Raven prepared his nest on St. Brides Day and would have a chick by Easter. If the Raven has not he has his death (Alexander Carmichael.Carmina Gadelica Vol I. 1900). The Devil could appear as a Raven and would land upon a persons head in order to possess their bodies (St. John Seymour.Irish Witchcraft and Demonology. 1913).The Crow was a bird of darkness. He was always associated with the man skilled in Black Airt [sic](Walter Greger.Notes on Folklore of Northeast Scotland. 1881). What is blacker than a Raven? There is Death (J.F. Campbell.Popular Tales of West Highlands: Vol III. 1890). The Raven sometimes brings aid to man (J.F. Campbell.Popular Tales of West Highlands: Vol I. 1890). The Raven, the Crow, and the Serpent, have appeared as transformed beings of superior power (J. F. Campbell.Popular Tales of West Highlands. 1890). Give a piece to a Raven and he will come again (A.W. Moore.Folklore of the Isle of Man. 1891). To protect young goats, or kids, Scottish Highlanders often gave libations and cakes to the Crow who they claimed often molested them (Charles Squire.Celtic Myth and Legend. 1905). There is a Scottish chant, There to thee Raven spare my kids! thats used to protect young goats (Alexander Carmichael.Carmina Gadelica Vol I. 1900) It is a curse to leave a dead Crow (or other creature) on a hearth (George Henderson.Survival in Belief Amongst Celts. 1911). The day will come when a Raven attired in plaid and a bonnet, will drink his fill of human blood on Fionn-bheinn, three times a day, for three successive days the Blood of the Gael from the Stone of Fionn (Andrew Lang.Prophecies of Brahan Seer. 1899).Over time, the Raven and Crow of the Celts has become an evil bird. It should be no surprise, then, that the Raven or Crow may also really be a witch, or the devil himself, in disguise. In the 1913 bookIrish Witchcraft and Mythologyby St. John Seymour, a witch on the gallows suddenly disappears. In her place is noted a coal-black Raven. In volume 2 ofPopular Tales of West Highland, a gentleman turns himself into a Raven. The story implies that this man is none other than the devil himself.The Raven and Crow of the Celts often represented the darker aspects of life. Its no wonder, then, that these shadow-birds continue to fascinate our imaginations, even until today. These clever birds have always seemed distinguished, compared to their other less intelligent bird-cousins, and have even recently been discovered to be tool makers and users. The Crow and Raven have both always been seen as symbols of darkness, death, and the ignorance of the unknown. Perhaps, our ancient ancestors knew more about this natural world than we would comfortably care to admit. Now considered one of the most intelligent creatures on the planet, theCorvusdoes, in fact, continue to feast upon the dead, even unto this very day.

Mythological Stories of the Crow and Raven

From Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Norway and Tibet come many rich and colorful stories of the crow and raven intertwined with their cultural history. Many layers of stories from different time periods are blended together, due to people migrating and invading.

From Scotland, come stories of the Hoodie or Royston Crow. This story has a marriage between a human and a crow and the crow eventually leaves the human spouse. The stories of humans marrying animals may be the echoes from the early days of the aboriginal people who were displaced by invaders, and later the earlier aboriginal peoples are referred to as the little people or the fairies who sometimes come in the form of animals.

From Ireland come stories of the Celtic War Goddesses and the Morrigu, who changes into a Hoodie or Carrion-Crow, follow the warriors into battles and help to stir their passions to fight.From Germany comes the early stories of the Swan-Maidens who marry some hunters that have traveled far from their home. They stay married for a short time and then the Swan-Maidens leave. This story is similar to the Scottish story of the crow marrying and then leaving the human wife. Swans were associated with Weather Goddesses and fertility. They later were associated with the Valkyrie and the Raven in the times of the Vikings.

From Norway, there are stories of the Valkyrie, seemingly a combination of earlier Weather Goddesses and the Celtic War Goddesses, so that the Valkyries are depicted sometimes as swans and other times as ravens, choosing the slain who will enter Valhalla.

From Tibet, comes the story of the crow told by the Dalai Lama about the great protector Mahakala of the Buddhists, who has the crow as one of his personages.

ScotlandThe Picts are the aborigines of Scotland. Crow or Craw, Breton Krao, is a shed or hovel. An example of their association with the crow and later the fairy people, are the prehistoric structures or Picts Houses, called Piskies' Halls and Piskies' Crows that can be found in Cornwall. (1)This is a story from Scotland about the Hoodie Crow, the magical being or sidhe, fairy person that marries a human. The Hoodie Crow as a fairy being, preceded the stories where it plays a role as the Morrigu or Badb-Catha, associated with the fury of battles in the Irish tales.

Scottish Hoodie Crow (Royston Crow)Popular Tales of the West Highlands by J. F. Campbell Volume I, 1890The Tale of the Hoodie-CrowTHERE was ere now a farmer, and he had three daughters. They were waulking clothes at a river. A hoodie came round and he said to the eldest one, M-POS-U-MI, "Wilt thou wed me, farmer's daughter?" "I won't wed thee, thou ugly brute. An ugly brute is the hoodie," said she. He came to the second one on the morrow, and he said to her, "M-POS-U-MI, wilt thou wed me?" "Not I, indeed," said she; "an ugly brute is the hoodie." The third day he said to the youngest, M-POS-U-MI, "Wilt thou wed me, farmer's daughter?," "I will wed thee," said she; "a pretty creature is the hoodie," and on the morrow they married. The hoodie said to her, "Whether wouldst thou rather that I should be a hoodie by day, and a man at night; or be a hoodie at night, and a man by day?" "I would rather that thou wert a man by day, and a hoodie at night," says she. After this he was a splendid fellow by day, and a hoodie at night. A few days after they married he took her with him to his own house. (2)

IrelandFrom Ireland, come stories of the war goddesses. The Morrigu takes the form of a carrion crow, hovers over the warriors in a battle and works to emblaze the fighting spirit.

Five War Goddesses, daughters of Ernmas(mother goddess of the Danu)Fea, the "Hateful", Nemon, the "Venomous", Badb, the "Fury", Macha, a personification of "battle", and, over all of them, the Morrigu, or "Great Queen". Wherever there was war, either among gods or men, she, the great queen, was present, either in her own shape or in her favourite disguise, that of a "hoodie" or carrion crow.An old poem shows her inciting a warrior:

From the Battle of Magh-Rath (3)"There is over his head shrieking A lean nimble cailleach, hovering Over the points of their weapons and shields; She is the gray-haired Morrigu.

The following poem is from the Book of Leinster, 1160, a book of medieval Irish mythology and literature. The Cattle-Raid of Cooley is set in the 1st century. The Queen of Connaught wants to take a famous bull away from a chieftain of Ulster. The men of Ulster are unable to fight due to a curse, and a single hero takes on the task of defending Ulster. (4)

The Decision of the Battle.It was on that night that the Morrigan, daughter of Ernmas, came, and she was engaged in fomenting strife and sowing dissension between the two camps on either side, and she spoke these words:

Hoodie-Crows shall pickThe necks of men!Blood shall gushIn combat wild!Skins shall be hackedCrazed with spoils!Men's sides piercedIn battle brave,Luibnech near!Warriors' storm;Mien of braves;Cruachan's men!Upon them comesRuin complete!Lines shall be strewnUnder foot;Their race die out!Then Ulster hail:To Erna woe!To Ulster woe:Then Erna hail!(This she said in Erna's ear.)Naught inglorious shall they doWho them await!

Unusual words from the poem defined (5) -Cruachan: the ancient seat of the kings of Connacht.Erna: a sept of Munstermen who settled in Connacht.Luibnech: possibly a place now called Limerick, in the County Wexford.Mien: facial expression, demeanor

GermanyA Swan-Maiden story from the Poetic Edda The Lay of VolundThe Swan Maiden is of German origin. This poem is from the Poetic Edda, a collection of poems of Norse mythology and Germanic heroic legends, dating as far back as the 9th century.Swan maidens were first associated with the weather-goddesses and gods of early Germanic mythology, and later when these stories were carried into northern lands, the swan maiden became associated with the Valkyries. Alexander Krappe in his article on Valkyries wrote this: The Valkyries show all the characteristics and fill all the functions of the Heavenly Twins, sons or daughters of the sky or of the thunder: they are fertility daemons, helpers in battle and at sea. Their position in the warrior's paradise of the migration period and the Viking Age is late and the outcome of the social revolutions which swept the Teutonic world after the fourth century of our era. (6)This story also contains the theme of the marriage between a human and animal, as is seen frequently in the Celtic stories related to fairies and people of the mounds, the sidhe.In this story, Volund the Smith is lamed by a King and then takes revenge. In part of the story, Volund and his two brothers go hunting and build a house by a lake. One morning, they find three swan-maidens at the shore and they take them as their wives.

German Swan MaidenThe Poetic Edda, volume 2 The Lay (Ballad) of Volund the Smith (7)Maids from the south through Myrkwood flew, Fair and young, their fate to follow; On the shore of the sea to rest them they sat, The maids of the south, and flax they spun.Hlathguth and Hervor, Hlothver's children, And Olrun the Wise Kjar's daughter was.One in her arms took Egil then To her bosom white, the woman fair. Swan-White second,-- swan-feathers she wore, And her arms the third of the sisters threw Next round Vlund's neck so white.There did they sit for seven winters, In the eighth at last came their longing again, (And in the ninth did need divide them). The maidens yearned for the murky wood, The fair young maids, their fate to follow.

NorwayNow we come to the Vikings and the Valkyries. When Vikings had their battles, the fields would be strewn with the fallen soldiers and afterwards wolves and ravens would feast on the corpses. The raven and the swan became associated with the battle and also with the Valkyrie, the female spirit who would choose the slain who had showed courage to enter the place of honor Valhalla.Again we can see earlier earth deities replaced or overlaid by gods and spirits of war. The original Yggr of Norse mythology refers to Yggrdrasil, the world tree. Later the name Yggr is associated with Odin who is now the chief god, a god of war, not a god of earth. Also Yggrdrasil has the meaning steed of the terrible one, likely an association of Odin with his horse and spear.

Raven Kennings(kenning is a figure of speech used in Norse Poetry) (8)swan of Yggr (Odin) swan of Gunnr (Valkyrie) swan of bloodFrom Rudolph Meissners Kennings of Skaldic Poetry, 1921

Norse ValkyrieFrom The Heimskringla (World Circle) by Snorri Sturlason A collection of sagas about the Kings of Norway, from A.D. 850 to A.D. 1177. (9)

King Olafs ForaysThereafter Olaf Trygvason sailed to England, and ravaged wide around in the land. He sailed all the way north to Northumberland, where he plundered; and thence to Scotland, where he marauded far and wide. Then he went to the Hebrides, where he fought some battles; and then southwards to Man, where he also fought. He ravaged far around in Ireland, and thence steered to Bretland, which he laid waste with fire and sword, and all the district called Cumberland. He sailed westward from thence to Valland, and marauded there. When he left the west, intending to sail to England, he came to the islands called the Scilly Isles, lying westward from England in the ocean. Thus tells Halfred Vandraskald of these events: --

The brave young king, who ne'er retreats,The Englishman in England beats.Death through Northumberland is spreadFrom battleaxe and broad spearhead.Through Scotland with his spears he rides;To Man his glancing ships he guides:Feeding the wolves where'er he came,The young king drove a bloody game.The gallant bowmen in the islesSlew foemen, who lay heaped in piles.The Irish fled at Olaf's name --Fled from a young king seeking fame.In Bretland, and in Cumberland,People against him could not stand:Thick on the fields their corpses lay,To ravens and howling wolves a prey."TibetIn Tibet, the crows are associated with Mahakala, who is the Dharma (Buddha's Doctrine) Protector of all Buddha fields.

Mahakala shall have the empowerment of all the wisdom dakinis. He shall have the strength of the wrathful Yama, Lord of Death. He shall have the mountain spirits, the nature spirits, the devils and the demonesses as his messengers. He shall embody the great wrathful empowerments of the Body, Speech, Mind, Qualities and Activity of all the Buddhas throughout the three times. (from Geshe Damcho Yonten)

The Dalai Lama relates how the crows are associated with the Dalai Lamas and Mahakala.

After my birth, a pair of crows came to roost on the roof of our house. They would arrive each morning, stay for while and then leave. This is of particular interest as similar incidents occurred at the birth of the First, Seventh, Eighth and Twelfth Dalai Lamas. After their births, a pair of crows came and remained. In my own case, in the beginning, nobody paid attention to this. Recently, however, perhaps three years ago, I was talking with my mother, and she recalled it. She had noticed them come in the morning; depart after a time, and then the next morning, come again.

Now, the evening the after the birth of the First Dalai Lama, bandits broke into the family's house. The parents ran away and left the child. The next day when they returned and wondered what had happened to their son, they found the baby in a corner of the house. A crow stood before him, protecting him. Later on, when the First Dalai Lama grew up and developed in his spiritual practice, he made direct contact during meditation with the protective deity, Mahakala. At this time, Mahakala said to him, Somebody like you who is upholding the Buddhist teaching needs a protector like me. Right on the day of your birth, I helped you. So we can see, there is definitely a connection between Mahakala, the crows, and the Dalai Lamas. (10)

Raven: To the Celts, Raven is mystery and magic. Some of the lessons he teaches are initiation, creation, healing, protection and shapeshifting. Raven is also one of the few creatures able to travel freely between worlds. The Celtic Raven received his negative image from his function as a lightbringer; he brings things to the surface that people would rather keep buried.

He is also a messenger, warning of things to come. Raven is similar to the Tower card in the major arcana; illumination through destruction.To the Tlingit of Alaska and the native Americans of the Pacific Northwest, Raven is a trickster...many stories about Raven are fully interchangeable with stories about Coyote (the main difference is that Coyote is considerably more lecherous). Most of his stories revolve around tricking people into doing his work for him (usually involving food).Much of Raven's history is passed down by oral tradition. Because of this, the story changes with the storyteller. No two stories will ever sound the same, often even when told by the same storyteller. The stories here are told the way i heard them, and i'm sure that you've heard them differently. As stated, many of Raven's stories are interchangeable with Coyote and/or Crow (for instance, i've heard the first story as How Mnkahas [Rainbow Crow] Brought Fire). The main difference as far as I can tell is that Coyote's stories usually involve getting someone in bed, and Crow's stories usually have to do with Law and equalisation.

How Raven Invented FireHow Raven Lost His BeakHow Raven Made the Worldthe young man and the raven peopleRaven didn't always look like he does now. This story tells how he got the way he is.How Raven Invented FireIn the beginning, the world was a cold and dark place. The only light ever seen was that of the Sun, but that never lasted long enough. The First People were cold at night and many of the Old couldn't last through the harsh winters.

Back in those days, people and animals lived together peacefully. The animals were people back then...they didn't take their present-day shapes until much later. They were the creators.

A council of the animals was called to try to do something about the cold problem. They all agreed that something must be done, but none could agree on what. After much debate it was decided that someone had to go to the Sun to try to bring fire back to the Earth for people. The only question now was who would do it.

They went around the circle to decide who would get fire for the first people. This being winter, Bear was too tired to undertake such a task. Wolf knew that if he went, there would be no-one left to watch over people. Squirrel was too scattered to be of much help. Snake had no way of carrying anything. It was eventually decided that a bird would be the best suited for the task.

Peacock was too self-possessed and too worried that such a task might harm his feathers. Robin and Wren were both too small to make the long journey. When they came around to Raven, he offered to do it.

Now it's important to note that in the first days, Raven didn't look anything like he did today. He had a straight beak, feathers of very colour of the rainbow and a melodic voice that was the envy of all the other birds.

Now that it was settled who would do it, the question remained, "How?" Raven looked around him for tools but all he saw were a few dead branches. Inspiration struck. He picked up one of the longest branches and headed off toward the Sun.

He flew for three days and nights. When he finally got to the sun, he held the branch to the sun and it started to smoke. Raven beat his wings a little, and before he knew it the branch had caught fire.

As Raven headed back to the Earth and the First People, the fire slowly consumed the branch. As he neared the Earth, the branch grew shorter and shorter. The smoke choked his lungs and made it difficult to see. The fire singed his feathers and burned away at his beak.

Raven finally made it back to the First People and gave them the branch. They just stared at him. Gone was his beauty and his voice. They were faced with a sooty, hoarse-sounding creature. They didn't know how to react so they just ignored him and started cultivating fire.

A great feast was held by people to celebrate this wondrous new thing. But when Raven showed up, they wouldn't let him near the table. They just threw him scraps.

This hurt Raven pretty bad, considering all he went through to help out. So he wandered off into the woods alone. As he got deeper and deeper into the woods, he heard a voice calling his name.

Raven, it said. He ignored it.

RAVEN, it insisted. "What do you want from me? I have nothing else to give!" he dismissed.

What you did was very noble, the voice stated. Raven finally snapped out of it and realised that the voice belonged to the Creator.

"It may have been noble, but look at me! I'm black as night and my voice is choked. The People want nothing to do with me!" he stated.

I've been thinking about that, the voice said.So people don't forget your sacrifice, I won't give you back your original form. You will stay as you are from now on...black feathers, choked voice and you will always scrounge for food...to remind people of your sacrifice. But as recognition, your black feathers will reflect all the colours of the rainbow like you once had. Your voice will strike a shiver in Man to remind him of what he did to you. And your meat will be bitter, so you will never be hunted for food.

And that's how people got fire, and why Raven looks like he does.

Raven is always hungry. Always. Many of the stories concerning him have to do with his enormous appetite and the trouble it caused him. Here is one such story:How Raven Lost His BeakSo Raven was out in the ocean trying to catch some fish. He managed to catch enough to feed a village but he still was hungry. He looked around but couldn't see any more fish. He was about to give up when he saw a fisherman on a boat trying to catch some fish himself. The fisherman didn't really interest Raven that much but the bait looked like it would make a tasty morsel.Now Raven knew he was faster than any man so he didn't even think twice about it. He swam right over to the boat and just snatched the bait up.

But Raven didn't realise that the fisherman was paying attention the whole time. As soon as he felt a pull on the line, he started to reel it in. This took Raven by surprise...he thought he was so clever that he wouldn't be caught. As soon as he realised that he was caught, he started struggling for all his worth.

Eventually the fisherman pulled so hard that Raven's beak pulled right off!

The fisherman pulled the thing out of the water and picked it up. He just couldn't figure out what it was. While he was taking so long looking at this black thing he caught, Raven flew up out of the water and onto the boat. He snatched the beak out of the confused fisherman's hands and stuck it back on. It wasn't until much later that Raven realised that it wasn't straight anymore, that it was all curved now. But he decided that he liked it better that way and it's been that way ever since.Raven also has been noted for his temper and lack of patience. Here is a good example.

How Raven Made the WorldLong ago there was no world. When Raven was a fledgeling, his father told him that one day he would be big and strong enough to create a world. This stuck with Raven...he liked the idea of being the creator of a world. So time went by and Raven got bigger and older and stronger. Eventually he decided that he was big and strong enough to create a world. He wondered how to go about it and had many ideas but none of them seemed to work.

One day he almost gave up and went flying out on the wind. while he was gliding around on the wind, inspiration struck.

Raven went flying around and eventually found some dirt and rocks. He knew that they would be the good foundation for a world, but he just couldn't make them stick together. No matter what he tried to do, they just stayed dirt and rocks. He started kicking the rocks around in frustration and anger when he was finished, he realised he needed a drink. He went to where water was and inspiration struck. He brought back some water to mix in with the dirt and rocks to make it all stick together.

Raven worked on that mixture for a good long time, patting it down, smoothing it out, rolling it around. But it never stayed the way he wanted it it never stayed perfectly round, the mixture was inconsistent, all sorts of problems. Eventually he got so frustrated with it that he just kicked the whole thing as hard as he could.

A little while later Raven went to go pick it up and work on it a little more. But when he picked it up, it was all bumpy and dented and not at all what he wanted. But he was so tired of working on it that he just said to hell with it and left it as it is.

And that's why the world isn't perfectly round, and why we have mountains and rivers and oceans.

the young man and the ravensonce there was a young man that was fascinated by the raven people who lived near his people. he would always wander off and hide in trees to watch them.

the raven people, being very sharp and observant, noticed him but for the most part ignored him. but after awhile, one of the raven people flew up to where the young man was watching and asked what he was doing. the young man said, "i mean you no harm. i am fascinated with your people. i only want to know more about you." the raven responded, "we are honoured that you are interested, and if you like, we will teach you our ways."

for many months the Raven people taught the young man all about the the raven people and how they lived from day to day. over time, the raven people accepted him as one of their own.

one day, one of the raven people dropped a nut the man's head. all the ravens people pointed and laughed so hard that they almost fell off their branches. the young man was hurt by this, and yelled out, "why are you all picking on me!?!" one of the raven people stopped laughing and became very serious. "i thought you understood us, but apparently you don't. it was a joke, a bit of fun. you really should know us better by now."

some time passed, and things settled down a bit, but one day one of the young raven people swooped down and pecked the man on the head. another followed suit. then another. and another. the young man ran across the field and into the woods but the young raven people kept chasing him tormenting him.

fed up, the young man decided to leave and head for home. the same one who first spoke with him all that time ago stopped him. he asked the young man where he was going. "home," he replied, "back to where people want me to be around."

"youstilldon't understand," the older raven said. "the young ones did not mess with you because you are different, it is because they accepted you as one of us. you should know by now that we fight amongst ourselves. instead of sulking and leaving you should have fought back."

after a pause, he added, "leaving is your choice, but again I tell you that you have come closer to us than any other outsider. do you really want to give up when you've come so far?"

the young man considered this. he didn't really belong with his old village anymore, and the raven people were still fascinating after all this time. he thought for a few moments, then finally responded, "alright, i'll come back."

as he started to head back toward the village of the raven people, one of the raven people shat on the young man's head. the young man looked up at the old Raven and laughed, "good one, grandfather."

Crow and Raven Symbology

In animal symbolism, crows and ravens are often interchangeableif one is associated with a characteristic, the other often adopts the same characteristic. However, in some aspects, they differ. For example, crows represent those who like to be around other people, while ravens prefer solitude. Both share the characteristic of vision and prediction, meaning prescience and precognition. They are also intuitive and clever, going hand in hand with foresight.

The Romans certainly believed they had these powers, since birds were vital to the practice of augury (divining the future from the flight patterns of birds). An augur (a type of priest) would be told the flight patterns, and from that he would divine the message.

There is a lot of mythology surrounding crows and ravens. For instance in Greek mythology, Apollo instructed a crow to watch over his pregnant lover. In this myth, crows were white. But when the crow brings Apollo bad tidings about his lover, he turns the crows feathers black. Good or bad, crows and ravens are represented as guards or sentinels. Ravens are said to keep guard over the Tower of London in England. As the legend goes, should the ravens ever leave the grounds, the Tower will fall. Ravens still inhabit the Tower to this day. This brings in an element of magic to these corvids, and magic is something ravens are strongly associated with.

Myths of The Raven: Symbolism and Lore

Learn about the lore of the raven - bird of mystery, magic and omens both good and bad.Raven symbolismis rich and plentiful, with a plethora of raven mythology, raven lore and raven superstitionsavailable from a wealth of cultures.

The raven often has a bad press, for being a carrion bird it is ultimately associated with death, and consequently considered a bad omen by many, or a forewarning of war.

But there is much more to this enigmatic and intelligent bird than death, darkness and destruction. Raven is a trickster, a protector, a teacher. and a bringer of great magic.

Learn all about the Raven and his lore here on this page, and perhaps you will take a little bit of Raven wisdom away with you, to help you on your way...Raven Biology: Natural History of the Raven

Corvus Corax. Member of the crow family

The raven is not only the largest member of the crow family, but the largest perching bird in the world. An extremely intelligent bird, the raven was once extremely common, but persecution now finds it only in remote areas such as cliffs, mountains and moors.

The adult is completely black with a shaggy throat and heavy bill. It flies higher than the crow and is adept at aerial acrobatics.

It is a carrion bird, feeding the likes of dead sheep, and will also kill its own food also, including small mammals and birds, reptiles, as well as taking eggs and eating insects and seeds.

Ravens prefer to nest in a sheltered spot, favouring a rock crevice but also opting for trees. They build their nests from earth, moss, twigs and heather stalks, lining it with hair and wool. They raise just one brood per year, from February to March, which consists of 4-6 eggs.

Ravens are extremely intelligent and in some cases can even learn to talk.10 Amazing Facts about Ravens:1.The raven is the largest bird of the crow family: it is twice heavier than a common crow at 1.3 kg (3 pounds), being 60 cm (two feet) long, with a wingspan of almost 1 m (3.3 ft). Ravens can live 40 years in the wild and 70 in captivity.2.Ravens can soar high above the trees, unlike crows, which rely on active flight. Ravens are capable of aerial stunts similar to those executed by the birds of prey.3.Like in many other birds, when a raven is on a branch, the feet's muscles and tendons constrict automatically the toes, so that the birds waste little energy on this.4.Ravens live from deserts to coniferous forests and coastal cliffs. In forests, they nest in stick-made nests on trees, on deserts in rock cavities.5.They feed on fruits, seeds, nuts, fish, carrion, small animals, food remains and garbage. They even dig on snow to inspect plastic bags with waste. They also follow for days fishers and hunters. Ravens are known to steal the food of many birds and mammals, even from dogs. They can act in pairs: one individual captures dog's attention, while the other steals its food. They alsofollow wolf packs for picking remains from their preys.6.The Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, Semitic and Siberian legends depict the raven as a messenger of storms or bad weather. In African, Asian and European legends, the raven forecasts death. Shakespeare presents ravens as messengers or exponents of evil (like in "Julius Caesar", "Macbeth" and "Othello"), while in "Titus Andronicus" they are described as benefactors feeding abandoned children. In his poem "The Raven", Edgar Allan Poe associates this bird with lost love and despair.7.Raven's calls can express tenderness, happiness, surprise, emotion or rage. Ravens can imitate birds with the same vocal note, mimicking perfectly the crows. The penetrating loud croak signals that something has disturbed the raven. Some say they can be even taught to learn the human speech.8.Ravens are considered the most intelligent birds, displaying high learning ability and use of logic for solving problems, in some tests bypassing the chimpanzees. In one experiment, a raven had to reach a piece of meat dangling from strings bound to perches. To get to the food, a raven had to follow a series of actions: pull up a string stretch, hold a loop of it on the perch with a claw, then pull up another stretch and hold that loop. The birds had to repeat the action 6 times till getting the meat, while even after 30 trial crows did not succeed.Ravens could perform this complex sequence of actions straight away and they have never seen string before or encountered meat hanging this way. These birds pass very well complex tests, including "no tests" or "trial and error" ones that involve logic.Ravens put other animals to do tasks for them. Their beak cannot open tough skins of the carcasses, that's why when they encounter a big corpse, they make calls that attract wolves and foxes to the site and the large carnivores can break the carcass to expose the meat for the birds.The raven's developed intelligence is connected to their complex social lives and scavenging lifestyles. The birds must find out very rapidly how to locate themselves far enough from a wolf or fox not to be exposed to an attack when sharing a dead animal but close enough to get food.Ravens have been even taught to count.9.Due to their intelligence, ravens are very playful. They prank with the wolves. Once a raven headed towards a sleeping wolf and pinched it by its tail. When the wolf dashed to bite the raven, the bird jumped out. When the wolf approached tiptoe to the raven, the bird let it approach till 30 cm and flew away, landing a few meters of the wolf's back and repeating the prank.Another raven played with wolf cubs. When the cubs had enough of playing, the raven croaked till they started playing again. In Yellowknife (northwestern Canada) ravens perched on the roofs of supermarkets waited for people to pass so that they could push snow on them.10.Ravens like to drug themselves. They practice myrmecomany (from Old Greek "myrmex" ant, "mania" obsession). The bird sits on the soil or on an ant nest, opens its wings stretched forward, while it curbs its tail toward its belly. In the first step, the bird lets itself be invaded by angry ants and sometimes it picks ants one by one, squashing them a little bit, to introduce them inside the plumage.

Wolf and RavenA Special Relationship

The wolf and the raven are often mentioned together in mythology, lore and scripture. In nature, the wolf and raven have an important relationship. Wolves use ravens as aerial spotters for possible sources of food, as well as using them to alert them of any danger ahead.

The raven also gains from this relationship with the wolf. Being carrion birds, ravens share in the feast provided by the wolves when they bring down their prey. Golden eagles and bald eagles have also been spotted feeding on the remains of wolf prey along with ravens.

There will be an accompanying lens in this series up shortly about the lore of Wolf and Raven, along with their symbolism and meaning in magic, wolf medicine and more

Crows and Ravens in Mythology.Crows n Ravens

For centuries the corvids, ravens and crows in particular (corvus corax is the Latin name for the common raven and corvus corone for the carrion and hooded crows), have had a special place in the mythology of various cultures. In modern times this fascination has barely diminished. From Edgar Allen Poe's literary classic to the film of James O'Barr's cult graphic novel "The Crow", these birds still exert a powerful hold over the psyche of a significant fraction of the population. The Goths who paint their faces with white make-up and the weekend warriors who expect Raven to take them to the Otherworld to meet the dead do not see the same animal as the farmers who set up decoys in order to shoot large numbers of them every year in late spring. This is, however, typical of a creature that presents a paradox wherever one looks.

Corvids are sociable birds. They tend to form social groups, and this can be seen particularly in the case of rooks, which stay in their flocks all year round. Ravens, the largest of the family, reaching as much as 3 feet from beak to tail, form groups as juveniles, pairing off into lifelong monogamous and extremely territorial relationships at around the age of three. The courtship can involve such fun and games as synchronised snow sliding, and, of course, the synchronised flight test. The corvids can be found all over the world, and are the largest of the passeriformae, or songbirds. The common raven is widely distributed throughout the Northern hemisphere, and the adaptability and intelligence of this family have made it extremely successful.

As far as the mythology goes, the first confusion arises over the distinction between Crow and Raven, at least on the European side of the Atlantic. The two appear, in many instances, to be interchangeable, and the appearance of one or the other in a story depends as much on which author is transcribing it as it does on story itself. Whereas John Matthews1gives Bran the raven almost exclusively, Miranda Jane Green2ascribes to the God's companion animal either the crow or the raven, much as both authors do for the Morrigan. The confusion on the American side of the Atlantic is not so profound. There is a distinct geographical trend in the likelihood of Raven appearing in a story, and so we will start our examination there.RAVENS, CROWS, BLACKBIRDSOMEN OF DEATH & DIVINE PROVIDENCEIn most parts of the world the raven is considered a prophet and a bad omen. The Arabs call it Abu Zajir which means "Father of Omens." In Ireland it was once domesticated for use in divination practices and the term "Raven's Knowledge" was applied to the human gift of second sight. Ravens deserting their nests were very bad omens and popular superstition declared that if the ravens ever fled the Tower of London, the monarchy would fall. In many areas of the ancient world, the sight of a raven flying to the right was a good omen, whilst a raven flying to the left was an evil one.Eaters of carrion, ravens were messengers of death, pestilence, and battle. It was believed that these flesh-hungry birds could smell the scent of death upon a person before they died - even through the walls of a house. In paintings, the raven may be seen flying over battlefields, eager to feast on the dead. After the Battle of Armageddon, ravens will descend upon the lands of the wicked (Isa 34:11).These birds were thought to have a special taste for the bodies of hanged criminals and to enjoy plucking out the eyes of sinners (Prov 30:17). Christians thought they carried off the souls of the damned and associated this bird with the Fall of Man and Satan who blinds sinners, dulls their moral senses, and feasts on their corruption.Ravens were a symbol of sin especially the sins of gluttony, stealing, and false teaching. They were nicknamed "thieving birds" and Icelandic children were taught that drinking from raven quill straws would cause them to become thieves. Evil priests were said to turn into ravens when they died. To European Christians, this creature is the antithesis of the innocent white dove. But in some African and Native American traditions, he is a beneficent guide whose keen sight allows him to issue warnings to the living and to lead the dead on their final journey.The raven's cry of "Cras! Cras!" was interpreted by Latin speakers to mean "Tomorrow! Tomorrow!" Therefore it became a symbol of the foolish sinner who puts off conversion. Others, however, found in this cry a symbol of the hope of a new and better day. To North American Eskimos, the raven's cry sounded like "Kak, kak, kak!" which means "a deer-skin blanket." According to their legends, the raven's cries warned people not to forget their blankets when they moved.Before Noah sent the dove from the Ark, he sent out a white raven to test the waters. Instead of returning to the Ark, this bird "kept going to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth" (Gen 8:7). According to Matthew Henry, this raven's attitude was like that of the "carnal heart" which, instead of seeking rest and refuge in its Savior, "takes up with the world, and feeds on the carrion it finds there." Jewish legend states that Noah's raven was punished for his failure to return to the Ark by being blackened and condemned to eat carrion.Greeks believed that Apollo turned the raven black when the bird informed him of the unfaithfulness of his lover, Coronis. This episode gave the raven a reputation as a tattler, a spy, and a divulger of secrets. In the Pacific Northwest, the raven's feathers were blackened when his brother-in-law smoked him over a fire as a punishment for his trickery. According to Ukrainian legend, ravens used to have many beautifully colored feathers and a lovely song but after the Fall they started eating carrion. This habit destroyed their voices and blackened their plumage. Their former loveliness is expected to be returned to them when Paradise is restored.In Norse mythology the omniscient god Odin had a pair of ravens called Hugin (thought) and Munin (remembrance) living upon his shoulders or throne. Each morning they flew around the earth observing everything and questioning everyone, even the dead. During the night they returned to their master and whispered all that they had seen and heard. Sometimes Odin turned himself into a raven.Ravens are known around the world as shapeshifters and humans are often changed into ravens by an enemy's curse. They are prophets, spell-casters, and messengers of the gods. Gods and goddesses of war and thunder such as Badb have ravens as their attributes. They are early emblems of the Danes and the Vikings.In spite of its dark appearance, the raven is often a solar symbol. In Greece he was sacred to Apollo, the god of light. In China, a three-legged raven lives in the sun. His legs symbolize dawn, noon, and dusk. There used to be ten sun-ravens but they gave off such intense light and heat that an archer had to shoot nine of them in order to preserve life on earth. A red raven is the emblem of the Chinese Chow dynasty.Among the natives of the North American Pacific Coast, Raven is a hero, messenger, creator of the world, thief, and trickster. He taught the first humans how to care for themselves and make clothes, canoes, and houses. His position in Native American folklore is similar to that of the wily coyote. Some say he was born of the primordial darkness; others that he was born in the coffin of his dead mother and nourished on her entrails. He was a provident creator who brought sunlight, vegetation, animals, and the tides into the world for the benefit of humankind. He took the animals two by two onto a raft, after the manner of Noah, in order to save them from a great flood. After all the good he had done for humankind, Raven wished to marry a woman but the men refused to allow this. In revenge, Raven created mosquitoes from crushed leaves to pester them for all time. When Raven brought light to mankind, they were so frightened by it that they scattered to all corners of the world.The raven is a symbol for solitude and an attribute of several saints whom ravens fed in the wilderness, including St. Anthony Abbot, St. Paul the Hermit, and St. Benedict. Although the raven itself was considered unclean, God sent ravens to feed Elijah the Tishbite by the brook Cherith during a long drought (1 Ki 17:6; Lev 11:15; Deu 14:14). The raven has long been a symbol of divine providence (Psa 147:9; Job 38:41). Many remember the Lord's command to consider the sparrow and the lilies, but the words, "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them," are seldom brought to mind (Lk 12:24). In the Song of Solomon, the Beloved's locks are "black as a raven" (Song 5:11).The raven symbolizes filial gratitude and affection, wisdom, hope, longevity, death, and fertility. In alchemy, it represents change and the advanced soul dying to this world. It remains a frequently used symbol in modern magic, witchcraft, and mystery.Like the larger raven, the symbolic crow is associated with the sun, longevity, beginnings, death, change, bad luck, prophecy, and Christian solitude. It, too, is considered a messenger of the gods. Among ancient Greeks and Romans there were some who considered the crow a bad omen and the raven a good one.White or albino crows were so prized that fowlers tried to change the color of their baby crows by soaking them in various deadly formulas. Among the Celts, the white crow was the emblem of the heroine, Branwen. Her heroic brother, Bran, was pictured as a raven. In North America, the Kiowas taught that the white crow turned black from eating snake eyes.In the telling of myths and legends, the crow frequently took the place of the raven. This is the case in most of the Northwest Pacific myths recorded above and in the story of Apollo and Coronis. The Irish war-goddess, Badb, often took on the shape of a crow. In classical mythology, this bird is an attribute of Cronus or Saturn and Athena, the goddess of wisdom, victory, and the arts.The crow is associated with motherly love and spiritual strength. It was believed that fairies turned into crows in order to cause trouble. In heraldry, a crow was used to indicate a dark person such as a Moor or a Saracen. In Egypt, two crows, like two doves, were an emblem of monogamy.Christians consider the crow an emblem of the Virgin Mary. The words, "I am dark, but lovely...because the sun has tanned me," are believed to mean that the light or love of God has so shown upon her that she is burned and purified as if by a mighty sun or fire (Song 1:5-6).These verses also make the crow a symbol of the Church which says, "Do not look upon me [with scorn], because I am dark, because the sun has tanned me. My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept" (Song 1:6). These verses are interpreted by the Church as a plea that potential converts not be discouraged by the sight of a sinful, suffering, harassed, or persecuted Church, but instead realize that the Refiner's fire and forgiveness has made her darkness more beautiful than the virginal purity implied by the whiteness of a dove.The beautiful song of the blackbird makes it a symbol of temptations, especially sexual ones. The devil once took on