Crows, Ravens, Jackdaws, and Me

Crows, Ravens, Jackdaws and Me

Crows, ravens, jackdaws…I have loved them since I was a child.  I cannot explain why.  I do not know when I first felt a connection to them.  All I can remember for sure was that when I was say 5 or 6, my friends were wanting to be princesses, and I wanted to play with the crows, ravens and the jackdaws.  Rooks also felt special to me, though not to the same extent.

When I was about 8 or 9, I came across a book in the school library called ‘The Three Ravens’.  It was about the Celts and the Roman invasion of Britain.  I was mesmerised by this book, indeed it had a big impact on me, mainly due to the perception the Celts had of ravens, and the signs and omens that were linked to them.  I dearly wish I could find a copy of it, but so far, I have had no such luck.

A few years ago, my partner and I rescued an injured raven from the garden after realising that it had a damaged wing and was in a lot of distress. A few phonecalls later to the RSPB, and a few hours of watching the raven hop around the garden (as they do), the bird was on the road to recovery.

These are just a few of the tales I have to tell about the crows, ravens, jackdaws and me.

So, why am I writing about this now?  Since last year, the importance of these birds has returned to my life.  They have again become more prominent.  Back in the autumn, I was sitting at my desk, writing (as usual!) when I looked into the garden and saw one crow sitting on my garden table looking at the house.  I thought wow and I sat and watched it for a while, while it in turn watched the house.  The strange thing about the whole experience was that on the same day, for the next couple of weeks, the same thing happened. Coincidence?  Perhaps the bird had returned on other days when I was out or had just failed to notice?  Sure, that’s a possibility…and yet, whatever the truth, the birds had captured my attention.  It felt noteworthy.

A friend asked me if it worried me, after all, crows, ravens and jackdaws have a bad reputation.  But I wasn’t in the least bit concerned.  I was intrigued and had a sense of being protected.  After the third visit, the bird did not return again.  However, recently, the tree at the bottom of my garden is now full of them, and they chatter incessantly.  I don’t mind though.  I like listening to them.  It’s nice to know they are there.

I began to look back through all my crafty notes and research, trying to find all that I could about the birds, what they mean and represent, and why perhaps there was this connection with them.  I found notes on animal spirit guides and found that the animals choose you; they come to you when you need them and when you are ready to have them in your life.  Of course, those who walk a Celtic path will know that the crow / raven is the symbol of the Morrigan, a goddess of transition and perhaps in her most negative aspect, a goddess of death.  Indeed, there are many myths that associate these birds with death and the otherworld, knowledge of the future, magic, guardianship and intelligence.

However, it is surprising that all three of these birds feel special to me, especially as they can also represent opposite characteristics such as solitary and social (which on a purely witchy level could represent a solitary pathway and coven-based practice), as well as stupidity and wisdom.

So, what do you think about my connection to these birds?  Do you even think there is one?  If yes, what do you think it could mean?  I would be interested to hear anyone’s view on this because it fascinates me.

Brightest Blessings ~*~)O(~*~