Friday, 8 May 2009

Spirit Animal – Raven

image Raven – picture from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com and photographed by Michael S. Quinton

 

When I hear the word “Raven” two different thoughts come to mind.  The first is the line, “The Raven cried, “Croak”, and they all tumbled down.  Fiddle de diddle de dee.” This line comes from an old English nursery rhyme which has many versions.  The second is that Raven is the sacred bird of the great Norse God, Odin.  His two Ravens, Thought and Memory, went out in the world each day to gather news and bring it back to Odin. 

So why is Raven an important messenger animal?  First, know that Raven is classified as a song bird. Second, Raven is a scavenger.  Third, Raven mimics sounds, including human words. Therefore, when Raven moved to clean up corpses from the battlefield, she would sing and even talk.  Anyone stumbling upon this phenomenon found it quite disturbing and Raven was gifted a reputation of being a foreteller of death and a demon disguised as a bird. 

What makes Raven so unique is that it has been found in all climates and even as high as 5000 feet in the Tibetan mountains.  It does not live all year round in the Arctic, yet most often stays year round in other climates.  Sometimes, Raven will follow Wolf or Coyote and forage off of their kills.  Diet consists of everything from road kill to cereal grains, insects, and whatever is on hand. 

If Raven is coming to you to work with you, feel blessed!  She is very discerning and works with highly evolved, intelligent beings. Her colouring reflects her association with magic, with the heavens, with the Dark Mother of the New Moon, and with transformation of the parts of us that we call “shadow self” to an integrated being.  Many indigenous people believe Raven is a trickster being that shape shifts as it makes noise.  While Raven is a noisy one, she uses her voice to shift perspective and consciousness.  If Raven appears, she asks, “Are you using your voice enough?”  She pushes you to speak your truth, and to sing what you know.  Some belief systems say that Raven can actually impart “magick” to those she favours.  Let your heart guide you when you work with Raven, and grow into the light being that you are!

Judy@angelsandancestors.com See the website at www.angelsandancestors.com for up to date Workshop information.

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Blessings,
Judy