Ravens and Crows

[Firebird]

This was a great little informative clip on the differences in ravens and crows and how to tell them apart.
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guBwMUAWAJI&list=UUp9_-owMYvm1hqvAnA_jSfw
If you go to the guys channel he had lots of raven videos.
http://www.youtube.com/user/theravendia ... ture=watch
BB, Ravenbird

[Firebird]

There are many of us here who have Raven or Crow as a totem. Or we have had close encounters with ravens and crows, maybe a member of the corvus family has brought us a message. There is no doubt these slick birds are very interesting and have had a long association with magic. We can use this thread to share they mystery of the black winged ones.

Info on the family; Corvus
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvus_(genus)
**************************************************************************************************
Our own Heartsong had a close encounter with crows...
http://everythingunderthemoon.net/forum ... ml#p208309
**************************************************************************************************
Fact:
a group of Ravens or Crows is called a murder
**************************************************************************************************

And we have to have Edgar Allan Poe's, The Raven


raven, by Manet

...The Raven

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door—
Only this and nothing more."


Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
"'Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door—
Some late visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door;—
This it is and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you"—here I opened wide the door;—
Darkness there and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!"—
Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore—
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—
'Tis the wind and nothing more!"

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door—
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door—
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore—
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning—little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door—
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing farther then he uttered—not a feather then he fluttered—
Till I scarcely more than muttered "Other friends have flown before—
On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before."
Then the bird said "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore—
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of 'Never—nevermore'."

But the Raven still beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore—
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet-violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite—respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore;
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!—
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted—
On this home by Horror haunted—tell me truly, I implore—
Is there—is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us—by that God we both adore—
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore—
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting—
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!—quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted—nevermore!

—Edgar Allan Poe
******************************************************************************************************************
NORSE CORVID SONG

Krummavisur = The raven song
I bumped into this searching for Norse folk songs.
cool
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKTEqfr3DtA

Many blessings of the corvid,
Firebird

[Firebird]

And you thought they only came in black!....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdaY2I1vSpc

So what do you think? White good? This bird of contraversy has no limits to it's superstions!

Bb, Firebird

[Echo_of_shadows]

I've seen pictures of these guys on Tumblr, and my first thought was Albino. Some cultures consider Albino animals sacred spirit animals. For example, white buffalo are considered sacred or spiritually significant in several Native American religions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_buffalo
I watched the video and the guy says that they have blue eyes. That kind of reminds me of the white black bears that can be found in British Columbia.
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/ ... rcott-text
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermode_bear

Source: http://www.kfp.ca/company.html

So as I was looking up white buffalo, I encountered a link to a Wikipedia page about Leucism. I think that might explain some of our colorless friends.

[Alatoru]

I like ravens because they are black and in some weird reason I love darkness. Also, great poem of E.A.P. , my favorite.

[Yex]

I've always felt a strong connection to crows. I consider Crow to be one of my foremost spirit guardians. I know that traditionally, and to many people still, the sight of a crow or raven can be interpreted as a bad omen, but it means just the opposite to me. For example, to-day, I was feeling uncertain about a current matter in my life, and I went outside to smoke a cigarette, and as I was smoking, a great many crows descended upon the ground across the street from my house. I immediately knew this to be a good omen and a sign from the Creator, telling me that I needn't worry. The sight of crows always fills me with simultaneous ecstatic joy and complete calm, and when they show up, I know I'm protected.

[Firebird]

.

.......BLACK and WHITE
Yeah Echo, that was interesting...I initially thought they were albino too, seems the genetic defect runs in the family line so there are several in the Vancoover area.
Alatoru, isn't their black shining feathers beautiful? As far a corvus and darkness...if you hear one at night, something is up, here is a discussion about that:
http://everythingunderthemoon.net/forum ... t8249.html


In this video they frequent this guys back yard, lucky dog! About mid-video he has captured 2 in the screen, ...just amazing...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utmmf9BKOeM

Yex, thank you for your input, and example of the goodness they can bring
I think it is interesting how ravens and crows have been demonized, likely because of their black color, many animals that wear black get the negative personas. Is this the work of the "Christian church"? Maybe in some cases, but then their are many native American tribes who see them as a foreteller of some kind of doom or foreboding. Then their are other tribes who see them in a completely different light.
The article mentions the white bird to be a bad omen ...where in most other tribes do see the white animal as a blessing of good things to come.


......In My Experiences
Ravens and crows are very family oriented, and the groups of them, or murders are generally extended larger families that just like to hang out with each other. They will fiercely protect their own and will stand vigil if one is down injured, or dead.
I personally saw them try and attack our dumb shit neighbor who shot one off the power wire in the back of our houses, they screamed at him from the line (and I screamed at him over the fence) they tried dive bombing him, and then several of them took turns standing by their fallen comrade. They left at dusk but stayed in nearby trees, they visited a little the next day, then we didn't see them anymore.

I find this bird fascinatingly controversial. Revered and feared. The only time I have ever feared them is when they make a nest on my property, I have found this to portend a death in my immediate family, as was the case with my grandfather and my dad. Maybe 2 times isn't enough for this to always be truth, because I think about folks who have larger properties than me, and may have whole murders nesting nearby. So maybe it is only true when just one lone bird nests. I don't know.


......BRAN
Since my tradition is Celtic based, Bran the Blessed is one of the Gods we work with. The word Bran is Welsh for raven or crow, he was a man larger than life whose energy was vast across the land, perhaps much like the bird, and he was known for the ravens he would always have in tow. After Bran lost his head it was mounted on a post where it spoke oracle to those passing by. Eventually the head was burried near the Tower of London. Ravens are so intrenched in the history of this place, that they keep the birds on the property at all times, legend being that if the ravens left, the kingdom would fall.
Some history of Bran:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bran_the_Blessed

Here is a really good short bit on Bran's ravens that roam the grounds at the Tower.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GkR4XBHkRo

Blessings, Firebird

[Yex]

I found this article to be deeply inspiring.

Many people leave out birdseed for feathered-friends in the neighborhood, although few get anything in return besides a lovely view of the birds, and a patio polluted with seeds. Eight-year-old Gabi Mann from Seattle, Washington started feeding the crows in her family’s garden, and now this lucky little girl gets gifts from the crows.

Gabie keeps her gifts in specially labeled bags tucked safely inside a bead storage box. After all, these are her most treasured possessions. Her labels are detailed, for instance one containing a broken light bulb reads: “Black table by feeder. 2:30 p.m. 09 Nov 2014.”

Gabie has received all kinds of gifts from the crows, including Lego pieces, beads, buttons, paper clips and pieces of foam. Her favorite gift of all is a pearl colored heart, she said, “It’s showing me how much they love me.”

http://www.earthporm.com/girl-gets-gifts-from-crows/

[Firebird]

That was a really cool article, thanks for finding it Yex!
ff

[SnowCat]

I somehow missed this thread until now. When we were in Yellowstone over the summer, I saw a group of ravens sitting in a tree croarking at each other. I termed it "The Conference Caw."

Snow

[Firebird]

A song for all our friends of family corvid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_ZCil_-sVM
There are many who have done this song, and while Omnia uses a very english version of the words, I feel they really have the harmony down pat.
Enjoy !
Firebird

[Elfinstone]

Firebird... thank you for posting this, Raven lore is strong and long lived and will continue thanks to good works from people like you. On our, and adjacent property nest dozens of large crows who I first mistook for ravens, they talk to me each day when I walk the dog past them as they settle on the wires, or perhaps they are talking to the dog eh? The crows are fed each and every morning by an aged hippie, the crows now seem to trust him enough to surround him without any seeming caution. Wonderful stuff, now to try and determine how to understand the birds better myself.

[Firebird]

SMART BIRDS
In this video the crow is swift at problem solving. I could say I know a few folks who would still be standing there trying to figure out what it is they are trying to figure out Call on crow! They will assist!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVaITA7eBZE

[Firebird]

SOME CROW LORE

....I copied this from over here (wasn't sure how else to make a duplicate )
http://everythingunderthemoon.net/forum ... ml#p254803

Postby Sarina » Thu Sep 08, 2016 1:43 pm

It took me awhile to find this but it looks like 2 crows is good luck. These are some old sayings:
Seeing two crows means good luck.
Seeing one crow means bad luck.
If you see six, then that means death!
If you hear cawing in the distance, that means that death is very near.
If a crow is near your house, that means that you’re going to get bad news.
Finding a dead crow on the road means good luck.
Crows in a churchyard is a sign of bad luck.
Chinese folklore tells of a three legged crow that symbolizes the sun.Native Americans heralded the Raven as the bringer of light and associated the bird with creation because it was thought to bring light where there was none. In Celtic Symbolism-“Samhain” was a day when the Celts celebrated their new year. As part of that celebration, the goddess Morrigan presides over the celebration bestowing those born on this date with oracular and visionary traits. Morrigan assumes the shape of a raven.The bird was viewed as a seer and had special visionary powers. People also once believed that when someone died, a crow carries their soul to the land of the dead.
Now, finding a dead crow as good luck doesn't make sense to me, especially if you killed it! And associating them with death makes less sense unless you think of them as bringing messages from those in spirit. I like those corbies!!! In fact my great grandmother's name was Hannah Corbett (little raven ).

Bright Blessings,
Sarina

[SnowCat]

I have had a lot more crows around me lately. Not sure why.

Snow