Tuesday 3 February 2009

Crow, Raven & Wolf Totems.

This is the meaning and definition of a crow totem or animal guide.

Crow: Justice, shape shifting, change, creativity, spiritual strength, energy, community sharing, and balance.

Raven: Introspection, courage, self-knowledge, magic.


Wolf: Loyalty, perseverance, success, intuition, and spirit.


The Crow

Crows are very vocal birds. They are sly and often deceptive in their actions. Crows have been known to build false nests high in treetops to confuse predators. The height of their nests give them the opportunity to watch everything that is going on around them. Many cultures think of crow as the keeper of knowledge for nothing escapes their keen sight.

Crows travel in groups and make mischief in teams. As one crow explores something new, others will watch closely to see what happens and then learn from it. In this way they seem to always be in council with each other. They often raise a ruckus when hunters are around, warning deer and other birds. Crows recognize possible danger and always post lookouts when feeding---thier most vulnerable time.

Their language is complex and they have a remarkable voice range. Each caw has its own meaning. Sometimes crow warns of impending danger. Other times it signals a time to join in council and make decisions. Listening to crow can teach those with this medicine how to hear the truth of what is being said.

The striking black color of crow represents the color of creation. It is the womb out of which the new is born. Black the color of night gives birth to the light of a new day. Crow is a daytime bird reminding us that magic and creation are present in both. Their ability to shift between the known and unknown world indicates new journeys.

Because crow is adaptable to all environments and will eat almost anything they can survive in almost any situation. Crow is associated with magic, unseen forces and spiritual strength. If crow flies into your life, get out of your familiar nest, look beyond your present range of vision, listen to its caw and act accordingly.


The Raven

Ravens have a long history of myth and lore associated with them. In some native tribes they are known as the "keeper of secrets." They hold the teachings of mysticism and magic. Ravens are linked to the void, where universal secrets are stored. Their inky black color is the color associated with darkness. The darkness is a place where unconscious fears live. Raven, a master magician, embodies the energy of transformation and shows us how to eliminate our inner demons.

Ravens are the largest songbirds in North America. They are extremely intelligent and are clever mimics. They incorporate and mimic calls of other species and can teach us how to understand the language of animals. They have also been known to learn some human words.
The raven knows the mystery of life. They have an intimate association with death and rebirth. Because raven would feed on the corpses of the dead hanging on the gallons, early European settlers feared this bird and considered it to be an ill omen. In truth, however, raven should be respected not feared.


There are many stories in native cultures about this illusive black bird. Shamans know the power of an unexpected piercing sound in altering consciousness. Ravens exercise this power, emitting a variety of sounds and can aid us in shifting our consciousness into various dimensional realms. This is one reason why the raven is known as a shape shifter with magical powers. Anyone with raven as a totem can expect continual changes and spiritual awakenings throughout their life.

Raven picks its students according to their accumulated wisdom. It flies into a persons life carrying the energy of magic and healing. If it decides to settle in and take up residence, it will stay as long as necessary to aid you in transmuting your karma then return you to the light. It will push, prod, and lead you into the discovery of your multidimensional self and reunite you with the secrets of the multidimensional universe. Those with this totem should remember to meet raven, not with fear, but rather with an appreciation for the teachings that it holds.



The Wolf

When a lone wolf is spotted in the wilderness it embodies the energy of freedom. When seen in a pack it embodies a sense of community. If wolf appears to you alone or in a pack it is asking you to acquire the same within your own life. In spite of their negative press wolves are actually friendly, social and highly intelligent.

The wolf's senses are highly developed. Their intelligence is marked with excellent hearing, sense of smell and strong feeling. They are determined as well as cunning and use these skills for the benefit of the pack. The howl of the wolf is primal and penetrating. They howl to find other pack members or to let wolves from outside of the pack know their territory boundaries. If you hear a wolf howl it might be telling you to stand your ground and defend your boundaries.

Wolf teaches you to have a balance between the needs your family has of you and the needs you have for yourself. They are totally loyal to the pack but do not give up their identity to the pack. If wolf appears in your life you are being asked to look at where you are being too dependent and where you may be too independent. In both family and community there needs to be a balance.
Wolves convey much with their bodies. If they are angry, they may stick their ears straight up and bare their teeth. A wolf who is suspicious pulls its ears back and squints. Fear is often shown by flattening the ears against the head. A wolf who wants to play dances and bows playfully. Their body language is symbolic for those with this medicine. Man also uses body language to convey messages. The study of this art can increase perception in those with this totem.
Wolves hunt in packs, relying on endurance to run down weak and older animals. They have been known to run 35 miles a day in pursuit. They are the epitome of stamina and strength. With an extremely well developed societal organization, they act together to hunt and raise their young. They do not fight unnecessarily and often go out of their way to avoid fighting.


Sometimes a growl, a glance, a posture is all that is necessary to determine dominance. Wolf teaches those with this medicine to know who you are and to develop strength and confidence in what you do.

17 comments:

  1. i love your dissertation under wolves and crows, i open my eyes and soul with the animal guides...congratulations for you...
    The gods bless you...knowledge and peace for the pagan soul

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  2. Thank you...the crow meaning was very helpful to me.
    Sherry

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  3. Hi Anasopiah,

    I was wondering if you have any insight on to why I seem to be followed by crows most of my life. I am 35 and have had flocks(murders) of crows following me most of it. This is not a joke and they don't ever seem threatening to me. I am curious as to your insight. I feel I am a spiritual person and want to know what might be the meaning of their constant watch over me. Thank you in advance for any insight you can provide.

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    1. Keep balanced. On personal and community. Yourself and family.

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  4. This is extremely interesting, thank you. If you have other writings about either wolves, ravens, or especially the pair together, I'd love to see them.

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  5. Do you have any Idea at to why Ravens and wolves seem conected somehow? If so please let me know. Merry Meet.

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    1. The Raven and wolf have a relationship based on food and play. The Ravens follow wolf packs and eat left over meat. And tease the wolf by biting their tails.

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  6. I have dreams of a crow it always seem to be the same one not long after the dream sometging major happens either good or bad... But im tring to understand this... At first i was scared of them they never seem to be scared of me most birds fly away in presents of us but it seem to linger around me. But its alway one that looks just like the ones in my dream. Please help me understand!

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  7. Thank you. 3 crows awakened me out of dream state with the word Zion repeating in my dream. Hmmmmm. The crows were actually outside my window when I awakened, and they were really loud! Normally the crows around here are quiet.

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    1. 3 is the number of communication. Zion is a name we can associate with several things. Zion in the Bible - a place of peace. It translates over no matter what your spiritual path. Perhaps its time to walk the path of healing and peace. I suggest meditating on finding an inner light and filling yourself with it on a very regular basis. Do not let the chaos of everyday cloud your inner self.

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  8. hi i was wondering yesturday morning there was two ravens outside my kitchen window and one was tapping on the window he tapped about 4 times and the other just stood there and watched and as i got closer to the window the on e looked at me and they flew away

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    1. 4 is the number of the teacher. Perhaps you were in the midst of learning a life lesson or of teaching another. :)

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  9. Wolves and Ravens/Crows have a very fun and long standing history. Check out the research they are conducting in Yellowstone National Park. Its one great example. They work together in harmony with one another. Often the crows or ravens will act as spotters for the wolves and lead them to prey, play together and wolf will share its meal with them. If you have one as a totem you should learn and meditate on all three. As one never comes without the others. I love that you have them all together here. :)

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  10. almost every other day i wake up to a cry of crow or by my window either at my place or at my mothers and i would like to know why?

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  12. Hi, I was very intrigued by your blog. My fiance has been followed by a certain crow all his life, to the point where he can pick it up and pet it. We know it is the same bird because he was in Mexico for a few months and was approached by a crow. He tied a little green plastic around his leg. About three months later the same exact crow appeared to him in California. He was tapping on his window and it actually goes inside the room and stays there. Can you please give some insight as to what this can possibly mean? I don't know how to feel about the whole situation.

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