The first time I met Raven, up close and personal, was when I was a young woman working in the Rocky Mountains. I had often seen the birds floating on the wind, high above me or heard their calls, but I had never looked a Raven in the eye.
Strength and Presence
I came upon her as I was walking in a meadow. She was striding through the tall grass, just a few feet from me. I thought she might fly away or be frightened by my appearance, but no, she stood her ground and observed me. She had such strength and presence, in truth, I was the one who felt intimidated! This bird was huge! She came up to my knee and looked at me with such intensity; it was as though she could see right through me.
From that day on I felt a special connection with Raven. I read all about them and would watch for them. They are amazing creatures with a keen intelligence. They have many vocalizations and can problem solve and use tools. They build alliances with other species and will work together to achieve their goals. They are very family oriented and form strong pair bonds. Ravens are playful and love to fly as demonstrated by their aerial displays.
A Raven Pair
There is a pair of Ravens who live at my stable. They have built a nest in the corner of one of the horse sheds. The birds live here all year round. When the young are in the nest, the Ravens will chase people away, but the horses are always welcome in the shelter. It has been a comfortable relationship for many years.
This year something changed. In the early spring, with the snow still on the ground, my horse Smoke and I rode by the shed when the Ravens were busy with the work of fixing up their nest. Smoke was nervous about moving past the shed. He had never been shy of the birds before. I thought he was concerned that the Ravens might fly at us and just left it at that.
Testing Our Confidence
Not long after, Smoke and I and a friend were in a nearby building where we have our round pen. I don’t like being inside. It makes me nervous. The building creaks and groans, cars rush by, you can’t see what is going on outside, and there are tarps and chairs and other human paraphernalia lying around. These are all things that can spook a horse and certainly spook me! Smoke lives outside all year round and we ride outside in the fields of the property or on the trails in the nearby forests. We do not go inside. It is not our natural habitat! On this day, we were there to help me work though my feeling nervous about being in the building.
We had only been inside for a short time when the Ravens came. I could hear them land on the roof of the building. I honestly do not know what they were doing up there, but they were making a terrible racket – cawing and jumping up and down! They sounded more like a herd of elephants than two adult birds! My first thought was that the Ravens had decided to come and help me by making all kinds of sudden noises thereby giving me the opportunity to work through any fear Smoke and I had about creaking roofs! They were genuinely helpful and carried on, intermittently, for a good half hour.
Magic and Mystery
Then my friend asked me what does Raven mean to you? To me, Raven represents Magic and the Great Mystery. Raven is the bringer of Magi
c. Raven comes from the Great Mystery, the darkness of the void, where all Creation begins. Raven is a messenger from the Spiritual Realm. He is the color of black and black holds all colour within it and holds all possibility. Raven carries healing power and can give us the courage to go into the unknown. Raven helps to manifest intention and keeps the energy of Creation until it is ready to be birthed into the light.
And then I realized what the Ravens had been trying to show me all Spring – they were showing me that I was not afraid of Raven, not afraid of their racket or afraid of their flying at me out of the shed. I was not frightened of Raven’s magic, but of my own magic and power.
Finding Your Power and Grace
How many of us feel this way? How often do we keep ourselves small and do not allow the full expression of our gifts because of a belief we hold or a judgment someone has made against us? Sometimes it feels safer to cover our light because we fear the changes and the responsibility that may come with acknowledging our gifts, our magic.
Raven will help you see the power and grace within you. Raven can help you find what brings you joy and to follow your heart’s truth.
Raven shone a light for me so I could see where I was not allowing my Spirit to express itself fully. Raven taught me to be playful, and that life is supposed to be fun! Raven showed me how to let my Spirit shine and to soar in the sky.
Perhaps Raven can show you too.
Blessing and Thanks to Raven for their Magic.
Peace and Joy,
Jan
There’s also a certain mystery about crows….
Also sometimes spirits can take on the form of animals.
I agree…crows have mystery and wisdom of their own. I believe that every bird, every animal, every plant, tree and stone has an energy…a spirit, a gift to share. For me, so much of the joy in life is building relationship with Nature and hearing her wisdom. It is true that Nature Spirits will take the form of animals too and that we can discover the energy and spirit of an animal or plant within us, as we are all connected through the Web of Life. Thank you for your comments, peace and joy be with you.
Jan
My name is Michelle I live in New Mexico in the Middle where the mountains are. My house sits on a hillside about halfway up. The top part of the Hill when the wind blows just right which is quite often Ravens come and ride the waves like they were surfers in the ocean. 20 or 30 of them will converge on the hill behind my house and ride the waves of wind having a blast and making me jealous that I can’t join them. I have something big to give this world and I’m not sure what it is it’s been hidden from me and I’ve been hidden from it. Lately the Ravens have been flying close to the front of my house and looking in my windows at me. I’ve had a lot of animals sign the past couple of years. For some reason I can’t make it past the point I’m at I feel like there’s some kind of something upon me holding me in this place. Do you get any kind of anything from what I am saying to you? If so please let me know even if it doesn’t mean anything to you it might mean something to me.
Thank you
Dear Michelle, thank you for writing. It sounds like you live in a beautiful place where ravens dance in the wind! It seems to me that Raven is calling you to join the dance of life, to feel the joy of life. I hear that you feel stuck, like something is holding you in place. Many things can lead us to feel this way: uncertainty, fear, beliefs…I cannot comment specifically on what is holding you back – I don’t know. I do know, that you hear the raven’s call. You know you have something big to offer. Each of us has a gift and a contribution, each of us has a note to sing in the song of life. It seems to me that Raven is inviting you to trust in life, to trust yourself, and to offer the gift of who you are.
You may want to ask Raven to help you discover your gifts and magic. Ask, What is my gift? What brings me joy? What makes my heart sing? Ask the Spirit of Raven to uncover or remove the block. Ask and listen. It may be helpful to work with a friend or therapist too, to help you answer these questions. Believe that each day will bring you closer to knowing your truth. And do something fun! Something that you enjoy. Inspiration can be found in unexpected places. And remember, it is not so much what we do that matters. We can bring joy and light to the world in any occupation or role when we share who we are. The very best contribution we can make is to be who we are – to show up authentically. When we live authentically we are expressing our truth, our soul, and not our stories or beliefs or the masks we sometimes wear. It demands a clear awareness of Self and that we are real with our self and with others. It is a journey of discovery that Raven is inviting you on. May the Spirit of Raven bless and guide you on your path of discovery, Jan
This is Michelle, thank you Jan. I have sought counseling and it’s brought me as far as it can you helped me with your words more than you realize. I will do what you suggest and ask Raven to help me see and go out and try to enjoy life again. I’ve been through some traumatic things it’s time to move on from that and play with Raven. I know almost everything you said I just needed to hear it from somebody else.
I wish you could enjoy the animals where I live there are many different kinds people don’t realize New Mexico is full of wild beauty. I have a whole heard of mule deer that visit me everyday along with gray foxes bobcats coyotes bull snakes garden snakes walking sticks tarantulas Hawks falcons all kinds of birds. They have been appearing and telling me what I need to know at the right times in my life and that’s why I knew the Ravens were talking to me I just didn’t understand the message.
Thank you again Jan.
You are most welcome. I’m glad my words helped you. You live in a magical place where you can receive the many blessings of the animals. What a gift to be able to experience so many species! Your Higher Self, your Soul, knows what you need, and I understand that sometimes you need to hear it from someone else or from a raven! Sometimes we need a new perspective.
There is a rhythm to life, a rhythm of our days and nights, of the changing seasons, of the moon and sun…and there is a natural healing rhythm that we all have. It has a timing all its own. Trust that all will unfold as it should, trust that your body and soul knows how to heal. It is also clear that you have the loving support of the animals around you. I’m so glad that you can receive their messages and support – that is a beautiful awareness. You are never alone. I believe that you can honour your journey, your feelings and experiences, and enjoy life too. Listen and feel, and let Raven help you. Enjoy playing with Raven! Wishing you the blessings of Nature and the animals. Jan