The Crow myth is basicly the same around the world by shamans and medicine men to witchcraft

[JIM4HOPE]

CROW MEDICINE



Crow is the left-handed guardian. Crow knows the unknowable mysteries of creation and is the keeper of all sacred law. There are several species of crow. Raven is one of these and magpies are another. Crow medicine people are masters of illusion. Do not try to figure crow out. It is the power of the unknown at work, and something special is about to happen.



Crow is also the guardian of ceremonial magic and healing. In any healing circle, Crow is present. Crow guides the magic of healing and the change in consciousness that will bring about a new reality and dispel "dis-ease" or illness. You can rest assure when ever crows are around, magic is near by and you are about to experience a change in consciousness. Crow can give you the courage to enter the darkness of the void, which is the home of all that is not yet in form.



They are territorial and won't give up an area without a fight. They are loners, seeming to like to spend time to themselves.



If you have a crow as a totem, you need to be willing to walk your talk and speak your truth. You must put aside your fear of being a voice in the wilderness and "caw" the shots as you see them. Crow is an omen of change. If he keeps appearing to you he may be telling you that you have a powerful voice when addressing issues that you do not quite understand or feel that they are out of balance.



Crows are the bringer of messages from the spirit world, and is thought to dwell beyond the realm of time and space.

When you meet crow, he could be telling you that there will be changes in your life and that possibly you should step by the usual way you view reality and look into the inner realms …walk your talk…be prepared to let go of your old thinking and embrace a new way of viewing yourself and the world.



Crow is the sacred keeper of the law. Crow medicine signifies a firsthand knowledge of a higher order of right and wrong than that indicated by the laws created in human culture. With Crow medicine, you speak in a powerful voice when addressing issues that for you seem out of harmony, out of balance, out of whack, or unjust.



When you learn to allow your personal integrity to be your guide, your sense of feeling alone will vanish. Your personal will can then emerge so that you will stand in your truth. The prime path of true Crow people says to be mindful of your opinions and actions. Be willing to walk your talk, speak your truth, know your life’s mission, and balance past, present, and future in the now. Shape shift that old reality and become your future self. Allow the bending of physical laws to aid in creating the shape shifted world of peace.

[JIM4HOPE]

HERE ARE SOME ADDED INFORMATION REGUARDING THE CROWS MYTH------------------------------------- Are You a Corvidophile(crow pesonality of common traits)? Take this Quiz!
What makes a corvidophile? A lot of different things - but mostly it's the attitude.
So how can you tell if you're a corvidophile? Try taking this simple quiz.

1) You are walking along the sidewalk. Do you:


a) Walk along not paying attention to anything except where you're going?
b) Look down at the pavement in case you find something shiny there?
c) Gaze up into the sky in case a crow flies over?
d) Stare at everything which catches your fancy?

2) You stop at a restaurant for lunch. What do you order?


a) A sandwich, because its a nice practical meal.
b) Ribs, because it's fun to rip the meat off the bones with your teeth.
c) Corn on the cob, because its fun to nibble out the kernals row by row.
d) Worms and insects, because it's fun to see the waiter furrow his brow in confusion.

3) After lunch you hear odd noises of people shouting and bells clanging, and music carried on the wind, intersperesed with the odd caw of a crow. Do you:


a) Ignore it, because you're late for a coffee date?
b) Ask a passer-by if they have any idea what the noise is from?
c) Stand there for a while, trying to figure it out on your own?
d) Go and investigate?

4) The noise turns out to be a carnival that just stopped in town, and several crows and pigeons are hanging around, waiting for a free meal. Do you:


a) Ignore it, because you're getting really late for that date?
b) Wander around for a bit, enjoying the atmosphere and the sight of the crows?
c) Enjoy the sight of the crows, and also check out what kinds of prizes they're giving away at the silly contest booths, which are always rigged anyways (not that you would play any, but you never know... they might have neat stuff)?
d) See if you have any spare change so you can buy some fries to feed to the crows?

5) You win whatever silly game you decided to play (against your better judgement, of course), and the carny-man offers you a choise of prizes. Which do you choose?


a) The cuddly teddy bear, because your girlfriend will like it (or the plastic gun, because your boyfriend might like it), and s/he's going to be annoyed at you for being so late for that coffee date.
b) The gold-plated ring, because it looks the most valuable.
c) The silver pendant, because it's very shiny.
d) The weird thing in the corner, because you're not sure what it is, and you've never seen one quite like it before.

6) You finally meet your girlfriend/boyfriend for coffee, and s/he's annoyed because you're late. How do you appease her/him?


a) You apologize and promise it won't happen again.
b) You apologize and offer to pay for her/his coffee.
c) You offer her/him the weird what's-it you won at the carnival.
d) You offer to take her/him to the carnival so s/he can try to win her/his own what's-it (and so you can see the crows again).

7) Your girlfriend/boyfriend takes you to see a movie - The Little Mermaid, by Disney. After the film you:


a) Wipe away a tear of joy at the happy ending.
b) Pretend you liked the movie, because s/he seemed to like it.
c) Reassure yourself that at least it was better than the Secret of Nimh, with the terrible job they did on the crow.
d) Launch into a tirade about how the Little Mermaid is supposed to DIE at the end of the story, and that Disney is systematically sanitizing all good fairy-tales.

8) The two of you decide to go somewhere after the film. You suggest:


a) An ice-cream parlor.
b) A nightclub.
c) A local used-books store.
d) Back to the carnival, because it'll be all lit up as evening comes (and because you want to see the crows again).

9) You both go to the carnival. Once you're there, you:

a) Hold hands so you don't get separated in the crowds.
b) Sit together enjoying the festive atmosphere.
c) Check out the sights together, periodically wandering off to check out the crows before catching up to her/him again.
d) Wander around doing whatever each of you wants, not worrying too much if you get split up, because chances are that you'll bump into eachother again without even looking for eachother (or you'll both realize you're watching the same bunch of crows).

10) Your girlfriend/boyfriend is fed up with you and wants to break up. What do you do?


a) Plead with her/him to give the relationship another chance.
b) Stalk off, annoyed, so you have some time to think things through.
c) Listen to her/him and then explain your own point of view.
d) Thank her/him for an enjoyable relationship while it lasted, but agree that you should probably break up, since anyone who doesn't appreciate a good death scene at the end of a fairy-tale probably isn't going to be a compatible with you for a long-term relationship. And besides, this way you can watch the crows for a while longer without any interference.



Scoring

Give yourself 1 point for every 'a' answer, 2 points for every 'b' answer, 5 for every 'c' answer, and 10 points for every 'd' answer. Then tally the points, divide by four. Multiply the the co-efficient of K. Subtract your shoe size, and throw all the numbers out the window. If you're a Corvidophile, you already know it! You don't need some silly quiz to tell you these things, really.
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Corvidae(Cow) Spirituality: a quick introduction and world tour
Since mankind began looking to the animal world for insight about their own place in the universe, crows and ravens (and other members of the Corvidae family) have been credited with a certain spiritual significance. Some cultures saw them as messengers to the gods, others believed they had prophetic powers, and still others worshipped them as the creator of the world. Even today superstitions abound concerning these intelligent and mysterious birds.
Due to their dark color, and the traditional association of death and blackness, it is no surprise that many cultures viewed crows and ravens as intermediaries between us and the afterlife, or associated them with sorrow and dying. In fact, carrion birds were usually the first scavengers on the scene after a death, and feasted on man and beast alike. Their reputation among such peoples was grim one, and many scorned the birds, or cursed their presence.

Among other peoples, however, it was the wit and curiosity these birds displayed which colored their spiritual significance. They were associated with joy and laughter, and a spirit of mischief.

The native tribes of the pacific northwest were among the latter of these two. They called Raven the Great Trickster, and boasted that the creation of mankind was Raven's doing. They also claimed that Raven's tricks brought fire to mankind so they wouldn't freeze in the darkness, that Raven supplied water during a great drought, and that it was Raven who made Salmon for the people to eat. When totem poles were erected to honor the spiritual guardians of these tribes, Raven was a common feature on them. In fact, even today some native tribes make prayers to Raven.

Although the idea of totem spirits originated among native tribes, there are also a number of non-natives who claim Raven as their totem (or who have been claimed by Raven, according to the shamanic understanding of totems). These people believe that Raven watches over them, guides them to new discoveries, and teaches them to appreciate the humor in life.

The idea of Raven as a creator was not unique to native tribes, though. Even in Siberia there were myths and stories told of how Raven created the world. Anywhere these dark birds have overcome challenges and eked out a living in rough or hostile environments, tales have been told about their ingenuity and love of life.

In Australia, where the role of the laughing trickster is filled by the kookaburra, the raven has a slightly different role. There, raven is a bird of sorrows. He takes the sadness from humanity, and flies away with it. The Australian raven's mournful call reflects the burden he carries.

The raven's role in early European history is a little less clear, but it was probably associated with both life and death. Ancient earth religions, who laid the foundation for later orders and practices, were very concerned about fertility, birth and death, and the constant circle of life. Ravens and crows would likely have played some role as they disposed of dead bodies, clearing the way for new life.

We don't know much about religions such as the Druids, or the way they worshipped, but they grew out of these early earth religions, and probably held many of the same basic beliefs. It is commonly accepted, however, that they saw the natural world as symbolic of a spiritual one, and attributed significance to the presence and actions of certain animals. Ravens, crows, and even magpies were probably considered 'ominous' birds - birds who could give an omen or sign of things to come.

Although most now relegate such things to the realm of folklore and superstition, there are still people who believe ancient wisdom saying crows can predict the future. Many know some version of an old rhyme for counting crows or magpies: "One for sorrow, Two for joy..." and some elderly people will cross themselves to ward off bad luck upon seeing a crow.

Another prophecy still observed today concerns the presence of ravens at the Tower of London. It has been said that if the ravens ever leave the Tower, it will fall, and the crown of England shall fall with it. For this reason, ravens are kept at the Tower at all times, cared for by the RavenMaster. Few people actually believe the old prediction anymore, but they aren't taking any chances.

While the ravens at the Tower enjoy public acceptance, there has traditionally been a lot of suspicion directed at people who keep ravens or crows as pets. They have been called witches, or suspected of diabolic dealings. The birds have been denounced as familiars, in the same way black cats were supposed to be evil spirits in animal form, helping the witches with their evil spells. Angry crowds would kill the animals, and sometimes the 'witches' with them.

There is still a lot of misunderstanding today about the role these birds play in religions such as Wicca. Some practitioners do keep familiars, or have spirit animals as guides, but these animals are supposed to be benevolent helpers, not messengers from Satan. In fact, Wicca does not recognize the existence of a 'Devil' as understood by the Christian faith. The natural world is seen as the source of power instead, and ravens or crows acting as familiars guide the practitioner to new understandings about their world.

Paganism, such as it is practiced today, also tends to view ravens and their cousins as animal guides, and part of the circle of life. The significance attributed to these birds varies by individual interpretation, but most see them as a positive sign. Some still follow Celtic beliefs that ravens serve the warrior goddess known as The Morrigan.

The Morrigan was, according to legend, a very fearsome goddess, capable of turning the tides in a war. It was good to have her on your side, but terrible to be on the receiving end of her wrath. She could, supposedly, turn herself into a raven to survey the battlefield and encourage her chosen side to new levels of brutality. When the war was over, and ravens descended to the battlefield, she would feast with them on the bodies of the dead.

Another god of legend associated with ravens was Odin. According to Norse legends, he kept two specific ravens, called Hugin and Munin, whose job it was to keep him informed of everything which happened on the earth. Hugin's name meant 'thought' and Munin, 'memory'. When the two would leave him, he would be without thought or memory until they returned. Then they would tell him stories of all they had witnessed or heard. Because of Odin's affinity with these birds, the Norse revered all ravens. Even today they tell stories about these birds, and the god they served.

These stories, and others, are listened to by people the world over. Ravens, crows, and the rest of the corvidae family continue to fascinate us, and we seem to have an insatiable desire to hear stories about them which will help us make sense of the world around us. Not everyone believes the stories, but many do, and even those who don't can appreciate the wealth of mythology surrounding these fascinating birds.
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A look at the Corvidophile Personality
One of the most amusing things that I have noticed about the corvidophiles I have known is that they have very similar personality traits. Not all fit into the mold - in fact most go out of their way not to be cast in any sort of mold, but certain themes still show up. In a completely unscientific way, I've noted and recorded a few of them here. You are welcome to agree or disagree with me at your whim.

Oddities
Corvidophiles are usually 'odd' types. They tend to be the sort of people that stick out in a crowd, or don't fit in at a social gathering, or go out of their way to be different. Most can't stand to be stereotyped, or calmly uphold the status quo. A disproportionately large number of them were 'the odd one out' in school - the child who no one would play with, who was always chosen last for sports teams and project partners. And all of them that I've known would consider the remark "You're strange!" to be a compliment.

Many choose to display their oddness in the way they dress - by wearing entirely black, or gaudy bright colors, or shiny metallics, or anachronistic garb. Some go for wild hair styles, or color their hair with obviously false colors. I have seen them wear cloaks, tall hats, sunglasses at night, trenchcoats in the summer, and other unusual things.

Others seem quite normal until you talk to them. Then they spout random bits of poetry, quotes from movies, or out-of-date expressions. They have been known to affect accents, or caw randomly during conversation.

Most will go out of their way to do the unexpected, or be non-conformist. When walking along the sidewalk, they might stop suddenly to stare at something and then continue on just as suddenly with no explanation, or they might hop on top of a low fence, and walk along it instead. They are more likely to sit backwards on chairs, sit on the armrests of couches, or kneel on the floor than to make proper use of a seat. If everyone picks red flowers, they'll pick blue. If all their friends order beer, they'll order cider. Those sorts of things.

Intelligence
Just about all the corvidophiles I have known have prided themselves on their intellectual faculties. Not all have been geniuses by any measure, but most have been quite bright. They love riddles. They love puzzles. They'll pick up those books of 'Mensa' brain-teasers, and have fun solving one after another - even if they don't fall into the highest of IQ brackets. Many, in fact, do not (or did not) do well in traditional classroom environments - they prefer to excercise their creativity without the restrictions imposed by institutions.

Love of Words
Every corvidophile I have encountered has had some love of words. This comes across in different ways for each, but there are common threads here, too.

Corvidophiles seem to love etymology. They like to know where words come from, how they evolved, and where phrases originated. They carry tidbits of information around with them like the fact that 'Urticate' means 'to flog with nettles', or that 'Sincere' means 'without wax' (long ago merchants would waterproof faulty pottery with wax, which would later melt and cause the urns to leak. Honest merchants, however, advertised their wares as 'sincere'). Toss an unfamiliar word at a corvidophile, and chances are that they will try to figure out its meaning, rather than shrug it off.

Many corvidophiles speak more than one language, or know significant amounts of vocabulary in some foreign tongue. They enjoy using their knowledge, too, mixing foreign words in with familiar, or describing concepts in whatever language is best suited to the task. This is especially true when they are around others who speak multiple languages.

Poetry is another passion common to most corvidophiles. I know several who write poetry, many who memorize it (even when not told to by an english teacher), and the majority appreciate it. When given the opportunity, they can spout verses or pore over volumes of poetry for hours. Again, this is most common when there are others around to share the activity with.

Some corvidophiles take their love of words so far as to insist there are not enough words in the English language. They can, and will, invent new words to describe exactly what they mean (one termed the slimy mold on the bottom of otherwise good-looking fruit, "Egusa"). They will dissect common phrases, and change them to suit their intent (it should be 'a strange twist of phrase', not 'an odd turn of phrase', don't you think?) When possible, they will borrow from foreign tongues, or use words from Douglas Adam's book, The Meaning of Liff. It's important not just to get the meaning across, but the correct meaning across.

As a variant on this fascination with words and meanings, I have discovered that many corvidophiles also find the correct name is important. They will think hard before naming a pet, they will call friends by nicknames if they feel the given names aren't quite right, and they put a lot of thought into choosing an online alias. Some have gone so far as to change their own names to something they feel is more suited to them, rather than go through life with what is, to them, the wrong name. (Perhaps my odds are skewed, since I know quite a few hard core corvidophiles, but a full third of the ones I know have changed their own name.) An interesting tidbit of information, hm?

Questioning the Unquestioned
Perhaps the most common corvidophile trait of all is that they question the unquestioned. There are so many things which people take for granted - cultural stereotypes, rules of convention, social boundaries - that few people ever think to examine. Corvidophiles like to challenge these, and explore the rationale behind the way things are.

For example, why are people sad when the sky is overcast and happy when it is sunny? The rain is just as necessary for life as sunshine is, but no one seems to like the rain. Rain can be refreshing, splashing in puddles is fun (just ask any child!), and the dampness is only an inconvenience if you let it be. Why not lift your face to the rain, and enjoy it for a change?

What is so wrong with death? Society teaches us not to talk about it, that it should be hidden away in a corner. Why? Death, too, is a part of life. Sadness is essential to joy. Everyone has to deal with it eventually, so why not now? Just because the majority isn't comfortable with it isn't a good enough reason. If you can't come to terms with death, how can you really live?

Why is the sky blue? What would have happened if the South had won the civil war? Does it really make a difference if you get up on the wrong side of the bed? Why can't you wear jeans to the office? Why can't you wear a tie to a nightclub? Who says you can't wear stripes and plaids together? How come rude people get the best service in restaurants? And is it really wrong to turn your computer off and on in quick succession?

When there is a contest, corvidophiles tend to cheer for the underdog. For no particular reason, really, except that the majority is against him. When an opinion is put forward, corvidophiles are more likely than others to play the devil's advocate. Not because they agree or disagree with the opinion, necessarily, but because someone should challenge it. When someone presents a stereotype as a given, a corvidophile is probably going to ask "Why?" What makes people believe what they believe? Are there sound reasons for it, or are they just going with the flow?

Maybe this is why corvidophiles identify with crows so much. They are a misunderstood lot, and tend to get into trouble for not being "socially acceptable" all the time. Their intelligence and joy for life tends towards mischief when people underestimate them. They laugh at stereotypes, spread their wings, and leave the entanglements of human society behind.

At least, I like to think so.

You're welcome to disagree. I wouldn't want you to believe just anything you read, after all.

[Alex of New Human New Earth]

Excellent post...thanks. ;)

[JIM4HOPE]

There probaly are but may not even know it .

[Simmy]

Cool! I always loved Crows!

[Matt R.]

Good to know I'm among these select.