Bird Magic: Wisdom of the Ancient Goddess for Pagans & Wiccans - Sandra Kynes 2016
Raven: Common Raven
The Profiles
Common Raven (Corvus corax)
Along with crows, the Celts associated ravens with goddesses of war who appeared over and around battlefields. In England, gravestones were often referred to as raven stones because of this bird’s association with death. In Ireland, the gift of prophecy or second sight was called raven’s knowledge. Considered the only bird that could understand and interpret omens, it was an important creature of prophecy for the Romans. To the Greeks and Romans, a raven’s sound, the number of times it was heard, the direction from which it came, and the time of day that it was heard each had a specific meaning.
Despite the fact that they are black, the Greeks and Chinese considered ravens solar birds. In Swedish folklore, ravens were thought to be the spirits of the dead. Norse god Odin kept two of these birds, which represented thought and memory. In addition, his daughters, the Valkyries, often shape-shifted into ravens. The Vikings used depictions of ravens on the sails of their ships as homage to Odin and as a token of good luck. Likewise, it was good luck to see a raven at the start of a hunting trip in Scotland.
During the Middle Ages ravens were associated with witchcraft and black magic, and they were believed to be able to cast evil spells. It was also believed that witches and devils could shape-shift into ravens, as did the dubh sidhe, “dark fairies.” As a part of English mythology, ravens have been the most famous residents at the Tower of London since 1078.137 According to legend, if these birds leave the Tower, the British monarchy will fall. It is also legend that when King Arthur returns, he will be in the form of a raven.
The raven’s species name comes from the Greek korax, meaning “croaker,” and its common name is from Old Norse hrafn, “to clear one’s throat.” 138 In addition to gruff sounds, ravens have thirty to forty different calls and use body language. They can mimic other birds and human speech, too. Ravens are highly intelligent, make and use tools, and can solve complex problems. However, a raven’s life is not all work and no play. Like crows, ravens play with each other as well as with other birds and animals. Ravens may also have a sense of humor, as they have been observed flying upside down.
Magical Workings
Raven is a bird of omens and prophecy, and in most places where this bird resides it has been believed to possess supernatural powers. Call on it to interpret messages in your divination practice or to help you develop clairvoyant skills. This bird supports shamanic work by bringing clarity to the visions you receive. Call on raven for your magic work, especially to manifest important changes. Also call on it to connect with the energy and magic of the Crone.
Use an image or figurine of raven on your altar at Samhain for aid in honoring and connecting with ancestors. It is a willing and wise guide in the otherworld who will act as a guardian to you. As a bird of battlefields, ask for raven’s protection if you are serving in the military. Raven can help bolster courage and is a bird of healing.
Make Connection
To connect with raven energy, go to a graveyard just before dark. As the sun sets, whisper three times: “Corvus corax, dark as night, come to me in fading light. With the gift of second sight, bring your magic on this night.” Stand in silence for a few minutes. It will make its presence known by the rustle of wings. Like most birds, raven will make contact when it deems you to be ready. When you return home, light a black candle on your altar to honor it.
Associations
Zodiac: Gemini, Libra, Scorpio
Element(s): Air, earth, water
Sabbat(s): Samhain, Yule
Goddesses: Amaterasu, Athena, Badb, Danu, Epona, Freya, Macha, Maeve, the Morrigan, Nantosuelta, Rhiannon, Tiamat
Gods: Apollo, Asclepius, Bran, Cú Chulainn, Lugh, Mars, Mithras, Odin, Saturn
Tree: Aspen
Solar system: Saturn, Sun, Venus
Bird Identification
Common Raven (Corvus corax)
Size: 22 to 25 inches
Wingspan: 45 to 46 inches
Comparative size: Red-tailed hawk
Description: Glossy black all over; black beak, legs, and eyes; downward-curved upper bill; thick neck with shaggy throat feathers; long, broad wings; long, wedge-shaped tail
Range: Alaska, across northern Canada, down through the western United States and into Mexico; also the Great Lakes region, northern New England, and the Appalachians
Habitat: Wooded areas with open spaces, grasslands, sagebrush, seacoasts, and residential areas
Eggs: Green, olive, or blue with dark greenish, olive, or purple-brown mottling
Collective noun(s): An aerie, a conspiracy, a storytelling, or an unkindness of ravens
137. Nozedar, The Secret Language of Birds, 337.
138. Wells, 100 Birds and How They Got Their Names, 204.