Message of the Raven

Please don't be alarmed; I know I cause unease and a little fear in many people. According to old legends, I'm considered a harbinger of misfortune, and because of my black color, a creature of darkness. It's even said, "Never look a raven in the eye, or it will steal your soul and fly away with it!" But all of that is just superstition! It's time to discover and recognize my true power.

The reason I evoke fear in some people is that I am an animal of death and rebirth. Many people are afraid of these concepts and repress them. I am considered the only bird that flies to the afterlife and back. In almost every culture, I have great spiritual significance: as an ambassador from the intermediate world, in mythology as a harbinger of death, in magic as a bearer of magical powers…

My black coloring with a bluish shimmer is associated with the darkness of the intermediate world and spirituality; thus, I am also a symbol of initiation into hidden realms of spirituality and magic.

I can connect you (better) with your ancestors, your own past, and I encourage you to transform and heal in these areas. It's important to resolve unresolved issues in your past; otherwise, you'll remain stuck in your mental and spiritual development, which will increasingly come to the fore. Please allow all feelings, thoughts, longings, and dreams within you; they offer you clues and messages. Acknowledge your current situation and don't view the future through a black veil. Open the curtain within you that allows you to see what remains hidden from others. Accept yourself as you are and try not to suppress anything for fear of being ostracized or becoming marginalized.

You are your own inherent power, driving you forward, but only if you accept your fears. Use your powers for the good of all, for they can boomerang and return to you. Do not misuse your energy to harm others. Those who fear me may have once misused magic and power, creating a force akin to a curse.

I tell you, as a raven, that you should keep your secrets better. I want you to reflect on your own secrets, but also to be open to them when you find them within yourself.
Discover the mysterious (dark, hidden). If you've been afraid of it until now, call me!

I, the raven, connect you with the spiritual paths of initiation. I see the future and the past and move through the veils of space and time. I am a messenger between the worlds and bring you healing and transformation through profound initiation.

Connect with me and I will support you in these healing and transformation processes.

I will help you overcome your fear of contacting the underworld. I will give you an unclouded view into the depths of existence…

I offer you the opportunity to resolve conflicts long buried in your subconscious. This makes a new beginning possible. I bring you the courage to enter the darkness of emptiness, the home of all that has no form. This emptiness is often called the Great Mystery. The Great Mystery existed before anything else in the world. The Great Spirit lives in emptiness; it arose from the Great Mystery. I, the Raven, am the messenger of emptiness.

You are currently undergoing a shift in consciousness, accompanied by profound transformation. This could involve embarking on a different path, at the edge of time, into the Great Mystery. My black color is the color of emptiness, of initiation, the black hole in space that holds all the energy of the source of creation. What lies beyond all concepts, expectations, and descriptions? What lies beyond light, joy, and love? The great silence? Do you sometimes feel lost in the dark night of the soul? Do you remain in the present, fully in the here and now? In this emptiness, there are no more images or concepts, no goals or boundaries; this requires great courage or profound serenity, or both.

Don't try to imagine how you'll reach your goal. Leave that to the cosmos and the inherent dynamics of things, people, and situations. Remain open to what is happening in the present moment, without judging it as good or bad. This will give you security and serenity. Focus your attention on conscious being, and your conflicts will dissolve.

In Native American tradition, many things are described as black, but not evil. The search for answers can be black—the void, the spiritual or non-physical path. The blue-black of my plumage has an iridescence that speaks of the magic of darkness, and it has an ability to change shape and color, so that when you look at it, you awaken to higher consciousness.

I can also help you learn to handle magic responsibly and avoid misusing its powers or influence. Doing so would have dire consequences and haunt you for a long time. I will connect you with your clairvoyant abilities. I will bring magic into your life; you will soon be able to see and experience the magic of life. Wherever a healing circle is to be formed, I, the Raven, am present. I guide healing spells and the shift in consciousness that creates a new reality and dispels illness. I bring the new state of well-being from the emptiness of the great mystery and from the field of abundance.

I am an ambassador, carrying all the energy flows of ceremonial magic back and forth between the place of the ceremony and the place it is directed towards. For example, if a ceremony is intended to give courage to people in a disaster area, then I carry the energy flow there. The purpose could be for the people in the area affected by the destruction to feel the concern and support of those involved in the ceremony.

If I have appeared to you as a helper animal, magic is in the air. Don't try to find out what it is; you won't succeed. The power of the unknown is at work, and something extraordinary will happen. You cannot grasp these magical forces with your mind. As soon as you try, you will become entangled in them. The deeper mystery lies in how you will respond to the spark of simultaneity, to this alchemical moment. Will you perceive it and use it for your future growth? Can you accept it as a gift from the Great Spirit? Or will you limit the power of the Great Mystery by declaring it non-existent?

Now is the time to summon me, the raven, as your messenger. I bring you a useful idea, a healing energy, a thought, or a message. If you wish to connect with your ancestors or send them a message, please contact me. I may also bring you messages from your ancestors that they have for you. Remember that this magical moment came from the void of darkness, and your challenge is to bring it into the light. By doing so, you honor the magician within.

My raven power is not something to be taken lightly. It may also be a sign that you have sent out a force that is now boomeranging back to you. Have you wished suffering upon someone? Please be careful! You have chosen this suffering as a teacher for yourself. If you haven't wished harm upon anyone, then I can also warn you not to shift to another level of consciousness before you have mastered the current one, because you don't yet possess the necessary prerequisites for the other level.

Before you can move forward, you must first resolve something in the present that is connected to your past or your ancestors. However, I can also tell you that you have forgotten the magic of life and fallen into a very worldly routine. If this routine suits you just fine and you don't want to experience the special magic of your life at all, ask me, the raven, to fly through your dreams and give you a taste of my power. If you do, you may be completely transformed afterward.

I can also give you a premonition of a time of nebulous, confused messages that you can neither hear nor see because your mind clings to the belief that magic is not real. As long as you cannot imagine it, as long as you do not believe in magic and miracles, no healing can occur. Look, I am knocking with my beak at the door to your consciousness! But you will not open it until the fog has lifted. Only then can you seek the other realms of imagination and consciousness where magic resides.

Cleanse your energy field or seek the help of a good shaman. It could also be that you need to block or protect yourself from negative energy you're receiving from someone else, or that you need to atone for harm you may have wished upon others. So keep your energy field clean! That's the message when magic slips into the realm of the nebulous and shadowy. Seek healing and purity in your intentions. Then you can reach for the stars and still show the necessary respect to Mother Earth and all living beings.

Fill yourself with the magic of being alive and call upon me, the raven, so that I may show you the proper way to handle energy. Use this energy so that the magic unfolds. Do this with love and simplicity. I will then reveal to you my magical truth: Never go beyond what you have prepared for and what you have been trained to do. Life is wonderful. Therefore, use magic to help the family of all living beings.

I will help you shed light on the shadows and enable you to heal your soul, to reclaim and reintegrate your lost soul parts. I will give you the courage for self-reflection and introspection. Prepare yourself for abundance and be ready for the unexpected. Let go of the negative attitude that has held you back for so long, and replace it with enthusiasm and joy for being alive.

Rejoice in the fact that you are alive. I am a messenger of the energy flow that brings about change and creates new realities. There is powerful magic within you.

poweranimal
You possess healing and clairvoyant gifts. You haven't been able to fully recognize them yet because you haven't let go of the past. There's much you need to resolve here, otherwise you'll remain stuck in your mental and spiritual development, which is now becoming increasingly apparent. Your dreams are vivid; you have the potential to interpret them.

You possess the gift of lifting the black veil of mystery and can immerse yourself in different worlds. You often appear lonely, a loner, because you aren't always understood. Your life's purpose lies in the realm of magic and in using your powers for the benefit of all. A personal quest will make you very unhappy and won't attract what you desire into your life. You often seem reserved and secretive, and you usually build trust with others slowly. You are good at concealing your own secrets, but you are also adept at drawing out the secrets of others. You have a particular tendency to misuse magic, your own power, and you must guard against this.

You can develop greatly in the areas of wisdom and intelligence if you learn how to use them correctly. There is a shaman within you that you are meant to cultivate and bring forth.

The raven as a totem animal
The raven, as a totem animal, is associated with the zodiac sign Libra, although it actually fits Scorpio better! Those born between September 23rd and October 23rd are under the sign of the Flying Duck Moon. Their mineral totem is jasper, their plant totem the mullein, and their animal totem the raven. Their color is the brown of the autumn earth, and they belong to the butterfly element clan.

Jasper is a cryptocrystalline quartz, but it does not belong to the chalcedony family, as it exhibits a granular rather than fibrous structure under an electron microscope. Jasper occurs in many shades: brown, reddish-brown, black, blue, yellow, green, and color combinations known as "picture jasper." However, the form of jasper most strongly associated with this totem is bloodstone, which is green with red flecks and is also known as heliotrope.

The bloodstone jasper was well known to the indigenous peoples of the Americas, Egypt, Babylonia, China, and other lands. They all valued the stone as an amulet, especially heart-shaped jasper. In those times, it was believed that this particular form of jasper possessed the power to conduct the sun's heat, which explains the term "heliotropic," meaning "sun-reflecting." It was also believed that bloodstone jasper could boil water if placed in it. Jasper was attributed with many magical powers—it was said to have the ability to stop bleeding, grant its owner invisibility and a safe and long life, draw venom from a snakebite, restore lost eyesight, and—when placed in water—conjure rain. Physicians have used bloodstone to stop bleeding well into modern times. It was also administered in powdered form, mixed with egg white and honey, to treat hemorrhoids. This jasper, like other types of jasper, was believed to grant its wearer power over evil spirits and the ability to enchant others. All forms of jasper are considered stones that bestow blessings upon their owner and in which earth energy both resides and is attracted. Jasper placed in water and exposed to the morning sun is said to have particularly beneficial effects.

Raven people, like their stone, can appear in a variety of different forms, depending on their mood or state of inner balance at the time. When they are at peace with themselves, they resemble the Bloodstone with its wide array of mystical qualities. Raven people, when they have achieved inner balance, can resemble Jasper. They are kind, loving, considerate, and genuinely concerned for the well-being of others. When they have reached this state of inner harmony, they have the power to absorb the warmth of the sun and reflect it onto all those they come into contact with. However, when they have missed or lost this balance, they possess a power that can create abysses of depression and confusion, the intensity of which could boil water.

Raven people have a tendency to unexpectedly swing from one mood or disposition to the next. Each of these diverse states, however, seems optimal to them at the specific moment they enter it. Even if, a breath later, they find themselves at the exact opposite pole, they feel comfortable in it and can hardly comprehend the confusion others experience at their rapid changes.

Raven people, like the Bloodstone, possess psychic powers that are always with them, whether they are at a point where they can use them or not. Sometimes they acquire these powers before reaching a state of inner harmony, at which point they can truly utilize them. When this occurs, Raven people often discover they have the power to influence the lives of others and are tempted to misuse this ability for personal gain. Since Raven people, like their mineral, tend to exert a strong physical attraction on those around them, they can also misuse this to manipulate and influence others. When Raven people engage in such dubious endeavors, they usually bring nothing but pain, confusion, and suffering to themselves and others.

Raven people, however, who have attained the state of inner balance that lies dormant within each of them, use their special powers for the benefit of their fellow human beings and are often extremely gifted helpers or mediums for the positive forces of the universe.

Jasper is a valuable stone for people of this totem, as it possesses the ability to attract blessings and earth energy and transmit them to its wearer. Raven people, due to their inherent nature and their affiliation with the Butterfly Clan, must strive to attract earth energy in order to become more grounded and progress in the areas of life that are important to them. If they fail to do so, they risk becoming even more erratic than other members of this clan, jumping from one project to another without ever achieving their original goals.

The color associated with Raven people is the brown of the autumnal earth, which, during the summer growing seasons, has given so much strength to all beings and things and is now preparing for the slower rhythm of the coming season, a time of rest and renewal. The color brown has the ability to help people unite the power of the earth and the power of the spirit through their very being. It is the color of rootedness and steadfastness on this earthly plane, while being ready to ascend to higher realms. Raven people strive to reach this state of being and are extremely helpful when they have achieved this goal.

The fact that they are born under the first moon of Mudjekeewis, the guardian of the spirit of the West, helps Raven people achieve inner balance, as Mudjekeewis's gifts are strength and introspection. If Raven people use these gifts to look inward, they will reach this desired state of inner harmony much more quickly and thus be able to reach out and offer support to others—a desire that always resides deep within their hearts. Their moon, the Moon of the Flying Ducks, is the moon that follows the autumn solstice and ushers in the season when everything slows down after the preceding months of rapid growth. If Raven people can learn from this to adopt a more moderate pace themselves, they will have taken a significant step closer to achieving inner balance.

The mullein, the plant totem of those born under the sign of the Flying Duck Moon, is an exceptionally helpful and versatile plant. It is also known as woolly mullein, torch mullein, or candlewort. These other names reveal much about the appearance of this plant, which has large, light green, velvety leaves that radiate columnarily from a strong, upright, and hairy stem. From this stem, which grows to a height of 1 to 2 meters, emerge small, hairy flowers in light yellow, red, purple, or reddish-brown. The fruit of the mullein is a capsule. The mullein grows throughout the United States and in many other countries around the world, and can be found in both urban and rural environments.

Mullein has been used for medicinal purposes for many years in all countries where it grew. A tea can be made from the plant's leaves, which has a soothing effect on mucous membranes, effectively combats bladder, kidney, and liver ailments, relieves nervousness, and has a generally astringent effect.

Mullein is generally used as a remedy for lung and heart ailments, but its calming effect on these organs also alleviates kidney and bladder problems and strengthens the nervous system. The indigenous inhabitants of many areas of the North American continent smoke mullein leaves instead of tobacco.

When smoked or burned as incense, they provide relief from lung congestion and its consequences – asthma and bronchitis.

The oil extracted from the flowers of the mullein plant was long used to treat earaches, warts, bruises, sprains, and abrasions. Externally, the tea is successfully used against hemorrhoids, ulcers, tumors, throat swelling, and muscle weakness. In ancient times, mullein was also believed to have antibiotic properties.

Their totem plant, the mullein, also reminds Raven people of their diverse and helpful talents, as well as their ability to remain flexible and adaptable. Some of the mullein's epithets aptly describe these individuals in their various states of being, for they can be as prickly as wool one day and as soft and supple as velvet the next. When in their "woolly" state, they are often difficult to bear, as they inflict pain on themselves and others while simultaneously demanding considerable attention to overcome their emotional wounds. However, when in their "velvet" state, their gentleness has a calming effect on those around them, and they are universally welcomed.

When Raven people are able to accept themselves as they are, they can also help others achieve a state of well-being. They will go to great lengths to show those close to them how unique and lovable they are. Contact with such a Raven person will make you feel like the kindest and most important person on earth – and for this boost to your self-esteem, you will be immensely grateful and love them.

Raven people, like the mullein, can have an exceptionally healing and soothing effect on many illnesses afflicting those around them, regardless of the underlying cause. Their genuine interest and concern for the sick person will often provide just the right boost to get back on the road to recovery. When Raven people are in a state of inner well-being, they will generously listen to all your problems and sincerely strive to solve them or help you develop a positive outlook. Their openness will sometimes make you feel as if there are no problems in the world at all. Like their plant, they can often soothe you in a purely physical way—for example, by simply hugging or stroking you—as Raven people are adept at giving and receiving physical affection.

People associated with this totem would do well to always keep some mullein leaves on hand for their own use, as they are prone to bladder, kidney, and nervous system disorders. However, these illnesses only seem to affect them seriously when their inner energies are out of balance. During such periods, they are overstimulated, easily excitable, and paranoid, and if they fail to restore their lost equilibrium, physical difficulties, as mentioned above, will soon follow.

The animal totem of those born during the Moon of the Flying Ducks is the raven. The raven is typically a jet-black bird with a wedge-shaped tail. It grows to about the size of a red hawk—60 centimeters, with a wingspan of up to 1,30 meters. The wings are long and pointed at the tips, the beak is large and powerful, and the nostrils are covered with bristly feathers. Ravens usually have a crest of feathers on their neck, which is white in species known as white-necked ravens, a feature only visible when the wind ruffles the feathers or when the ravens are courting. Ravens are found in every country in the world, but are most common in the western United States. They communicate with a loud croak and are omnivores, feeding on vegetables, small mammals, young birds, garbage, and carrion. They move through the air alternately by flapping their wings and gliding, riding with the wind with just as much pleasure as their hawk brothers. Their aerial acrobatics are particularly dramatic during the mating season.

Ravens are sometimes very aggressive, but usually cautious and rather reserved. They are so intelligent that they even drop mussels from the air to the ground to crack open the shells and peck out the meat. Ravens are social creatures and extremely protective of their territory. They do not hesitate to attack hawks, owls, or even eagles that encroach on their territory. Gypsies admire crows and ravens for their loyalty to the tribe. It is said that these birds hold tribal council meetings, and anyone who has ever seen a flock of ravens chattering busily on a fence will readily believe this. It is also said that ravens who have violated the tribe's laws commit suicide by plunging to the ground from a great height.

Some ravens mate for life, while others only mate for a short time. They build large nests from twigs on rocky ledges or in treetops. The female lays 5 to 7 eggs, which are light green and speckled brown. Ravens fly with their beaks open in hot weather.

To Indigenous peoples, the raven was a symbol of the balance between humanity and nature. Nearly all tribes have their own raven legends, which explain why the raven is black. In all these legends, the raven is initially a white bird whose change in color is either the result of punishment for a transgression or of its efforts to help people, the latter usually in an attempt to extinguish a fire that threatened the community. This duality, prevalent in the legends, reflects the dual nature of the feelings that Indigenous tribes had toward this bird. For some, the raven is a bad omen, for others a good one. The Pueblo tribes connect the raven with the Kachinas, spirits believed to protect the village and bring rain. The raven was thought to be able to both attract and repel rain clouds. This also applied to its influence on wildlife. Regardless of the position it was given in any tribe, the raven was always regarded as a bird closely connected to humans and nature.

Like the raven, people of this totem are able to soar through the skies and settle in a place where they can absorb the positive energy flows of the earth. They are people who feel at home in both the earthly and celestial realms of the universe. Their ability to soar far and gracefully depends on the state of inner harmony they have achieved. This balance is of greater importance to the raven person than to any other totem of the Medicine Wheel, as, like their bird, they are capable of soaring with incredible agility from one position to another. If they have not managed to reach their center, this very soaring can cause great confusion for themselves and those around them. However, once they have achieved their inner balance, they are perfectly capable of moving from one realm to another without ever losing sight of their center. In such a state of inner harmony, they prove to be the most helpful people imaginable. Because they themselves had to suffer to achieve this state of harmony, they are able and willing to support others as well.

The raven totem is a symbol of absurdity, as raven people exemplify the paradoxical nature of life in their emotional world. Because they are capable of soaring to unimaginable heights, they can recognize both the good and the bad in any situation, which in turn makes it difficult for them to prefer one position over another. They struggle to make quick decisions unless they are in harmony with themselves. A decision they make one day may be obsolete the next, often giving them the appearance of indecisiveness, and sometimes even irresponsibility.

Raven people, like their bird, are extremely cautious – and with good reason, as their gullibility has likely led to many past hurts. They tend to withdraw from situations at the slightest hint of danger. They are intelligent individuals capable of learning from every perspective and idea they encounter. And by nature, they are highly adaptable. Accustomed to living in a constantly changing emotional world, they are rarely disturbed by changes in the physical world.

Raven people are generally group-oriented and feel most comfortable in the security of a group of like-minded individuals. Once they have found such a group, they are ready to cooperate in any way, extremely reliable, and loyal. Like their bird, they also develop a spirit of defense that they build around this group, whether purely philosophical or to be understood in a literal sense. If they sense that those they love are threatened, they will defend them devotedly, regardless of the size and strength of the perceived aggressor. Because of their group loyalty, they are deeply saddened if anything happens that forces them to turn against a group they have joined. Such a situation will, no matter how strong their inner convictions are, throw them completely off balance for the moment.

Like their totem, some Raven people enter into lifelong marriages, while others tend to avoid them. If they choose a partner before achieving inner balance, they will sometimes find it extremely difficult to maintain the relationship, as they are all too often uncertain whether they have chosen the right partner or not. Their persistent ambivalence is enough to drive away even the most determined partner.

A beautiful home is of paramount importance to these people. They possess a keen eye for an attractive setting and strive to settle in one. If Raven people have achieved a state of inner balance, this is certainly reflected in their home. Keeping animals in their household is equally important to them, as it offers them a tangible way to experience their existing connection to nature.

People of this totem are warm and loving parents who have a calming influence on their children. However, they struggle to be consistent with their children, as their attitude towards discipline can change as quickly as their attitude towards other things. The balanced Raven person is an exception in this regard and exemplifies a balanced parenting style that combines love, discipline, and independence.

Raven children, unless they are particularly unconventional, generally have great difficulty finding themselves, as they need to explore all avenues of well-being before deciding who and what they want to be. For this reason, they should be given ample space to indulge this urge, as this will make it easier for them to find their balance later in life. At the same time, however, they also need a certain degree of stability in their environment to experience the inner peace that they are then willing to share with others. They are always very affectionate children, often unusually attractive physically, and all too eager for a hug or a kiss.

When Raven people have found their personal balance, they are able to explore many hidden things on both earthly and other planes. Having reached this point, Raven people are able to personify life's contradictions without being thrown off balance by them. They are able to guide others in gathering the energy of earth and sky within themselves, thus contributing to the restoration of balance between humanity and nature. This is a quality that the indigenous tribes of the Americas have long attributed to the raven.

People who embark on this journey and find themselves in this position will discover that they can experience the contradictions of their lives in a much more direct and intense way than before. This, in turn, will help them to resolve these contradictions more easily and quickly. They have the opportunity to discover how to create a state of harmony between themselves and nature. Likewise, they can pursue their need to join a group, engage with it, and gain its trust.

Raven people get along best with their relatives in the Butterfly Clan, the Otter and Deer people, as well as with members of the Thunderbird Clan, the Hawk, Sturgeon, and Elk people. They complement each other with the winged representative of the Thunderbird Clan, the Red Hawk person.