What is the symbolism of the Raven? 🦅

Animals have always been an integral part of ancient cultures, shaping and inspiring people on every continent. 🌍

And the raven is no exception.

Sometimes present in Nordic, Celtic, Asian, Amerindian (of the North) or Greco-Roman cultures, it also finds itself having an important place in Abrahamic religions (particularly in Judaism and Christianity).

Sometimes adored for its mischievousness or sociability, sometimes feared for its association with magic or death, studied today for its keen intelligence and impressive memory, the raven has left its mark all over the northern hemisphere of our globe. 🧠

But what is the symbolism of the raven as a totem animal? 🐦

In fact, the word crow is used to designate no fewer than fifty different animals belonging to the genus Corvus, the corvids, which includes all the subspecies of crows (American, Common, Sinaloa and many others) and ravens (Common, Common, Rook and many more...).

1. The meaning and virtues associated with the Raven

The raven is an ambivalent animal, both beloved and feared. Its black plumage, hoarse cry and scavenging diet make it a symbol of mediation between life and death. However, the raven is revered for many of its qualities, such as its intelligence, sociability and adaptability: highly cosmopolitan, the raven can be found in any environment on the globe. Over time, it has come to be associated with both good and bad omens... 

Let's see it together!

Symbolism 1: Death & renewal 🔄

 

• Being scavengers, ravens are often found on battlefields feasting on the victims of human conflict. It was soon associated with the omen of the Lady in Black.

 

• In some beliefs, it is even the soul link between the physical world and the spirit world, and is said to foretell our destination depending on where it lands. If the raven chooses the right shoulder (dextra, in Latin), it's to take us to paradise; if it chooses the left (sinistra, in Latin), it's to hell. Among the Celts, he is often represented alongside Morrigàn, a warrior goddess also associated with death, who sometimes takes their form.

 

• In Celtic mythology, the raven is as much associated with death and war as with the transformation and renewal of the soul. It thus becomes a spiritual guide capable of crossing the boundaries between the two worlds. 🌌

Symbolism 2: Boldness and courage 💪

 

• Ravens are intelligent creatures, and they're quite discerning when it comes to solving problems related to their habitats or food! Some have even been known to pose as eagles thanks to their silhouettes in order to scare smaller animals away from their burrows and steal their food. 🦅

 

• As mentioned earlier, they are also very cosmopolitan, and can be found in Siberia as well as Australia. They know how to adapt to the harshest changes in environment to stay in the same place. Now that's courage!

 

• It's also a bird that dares to challenge its adversaries. Fearless in the face of threats, it doesn't hesitate to attack its predators to protect its fellow birds or its territory. 🛡️

Symbolism 3: Magic & prophecy 🔮

 

• Its dark, enigmatic appearance has often led it to associate with witches and magicians, sometimes as a simple familiar, sometimes as spiritual accompaniment to magical practices.

 

• In many cultures, it is also seen as a prophetic animal, heralding good or bad news. Reading its flight, studying its caws or even the number of crows observable at the same moment has long been a practice carried out by druids and shamans. 😇

 

• Its ability to fly was also seen as an asset, enabling it to see the world from above and provide crucial information, making it an important accompanist for spiritual rites.

Symbolism 4: Knowledge & transformation 📚

 

• As you've read above, crows are intelligent, they can imitate sounds and speak a few words in several languages, even whole sentences for the gigantic Northern crows (over 1 meter in diameter with wings). They can also make and use memory objects, devise group tactics and recognize the identity of an animal or a human.

 

• This is probably why the two ravens of the Norse god Odin (Huginn and Munin) literally mean “thought” and “memory” in Old Norse. In the original myth, they travel the worlds every day, bringing back the day's knowledge to their master.

Finally, the notion of transformation and prophecy is never far from the raven, which is why it is always associated with gods linked to destiny.

Here, our photo model Alienor wearing a Runes DeChene t-shirt depicting a raven. 

2. The raven among ancient peoples

The symbolism of the raven among the Vikings ⚔️

In northern countries, the raven was not only a symbol of intelligence and loyalty, but also of bravery. And sometimes, it even inspired fear! It was the symbol of several standards, including that of the “Raven banner” flown by several Viking chiefs, while some kings used it to assert their authority.

Observing two ravens on a branch, this figure rather than another, was then an omen that the god Odin was watching us; given that they could be Huginn and Munnin. 👀

 

The symbolism of the raven among the Celts 🍀

Among the Celts of Ireland, the symbolism of the raven is explained by its association with several gods, including Morrigan, the warrior-queen goddess, who sometimes took on the appearance of an omen-announcing raven flying above battles to predict the death of heroes or the outcome of confrontations.

The raven is a harbinger of omens, but also linked to transformation through Morrigan's metamorphosis. The transitions can therefore be interpreted both physically and psychologically.

It's also worth noting that in Gaulish France, the city of Lyon (Lugdunum, the city of the god Lug) is said to have been founded on the decision of a notable druid who, studying the flight of crows, chose this valley rather than another. 😊

The symbolism of the raven in Greek and Roman times

The raven can be found in several Latin and Greek tales: one of them links it to the god Apollo, making it the harbinger of his beloved's infidelity towards him.

The duality of the bird's symbolism between divine messenger and harbinger of bad news is thus represented in this myth. However, other tales will prefer to highlight its resourcefulness and intellect. 🌠

Native American symbolism of the raven 🦅

Outside Europe, the raven has also aroused interest, particularly among Amerindians. Its significance varies from tribe to tribe, but there are some recurring themes: the raven is the bearer of light.

In the beliefs of the Haida people (Native Americans on the west coast of the U.S.A/Canada), the world was once plunged into darkness. A raven, fed up with bumping into everything, stole from an old man and his daughter the light of the world, which they kept locked in a box in the form of a large ball of fire. So he threw it into the heavens and created the sun. 🌞

The symbolism of the raven in China

In Chinese traditions, the raven shares some of the same symbolism. Once again, it is associated with a divine messenger and, as with the Amerindians, it is also associated with the sun. ☀️

According to Chinese legends, 10 ravens once resided in 10 separate suns. When one raven left to travel around the world on a wagon and feed, another would return. Until 2170 B.C., the 10 ravens left together on the same day and caused serious fires around the world, until Houyi, the mythical celestial archer, shot down 9 of the 10.

3. The raven in modern times

The crow in literary tales 📚

• How could we write a chapter on the raven's place in literary tales without mentioning its numerous appearances in the “Fables de la Fontaine” as a cunning character (less so than foxes, in any case) or in “Grimm's Fairy Tales”, where it appears as a mysterious being linked to fantasy.

 

• It has also become a symbol of despair and loss (but also of alternative gothic culture) thanks to Edgar Allan Poe's novel “The Raven”🕸️

The Raven on big (and small) screens 📺

• He can be found in occult (The Witch 2015) or disturbing scenes (The Birds 1963) 🕊️ or serving cult antagonists (2014's Maleficent) .

• The symbolism of bravery in “The Crow - 1994”, where he is associated with the avenging hero Eric Draven, is also present.
• In “Game Of Thrones”, it's a symbol of prophecy and knowledge for Bran Stark.

The raven in the music 🎶

With its many symbols and popularity, the raven is a veritable muse for artists, musicians included! 🎵

However, it also appears in several songs by folk groups (Wardruna), because of its ubiquitous place in folklore.

4. Conclusion: the symbolism of the raven in our time 🕊️

• The raven has always carried strong symbolism, regardless of physical or cultural boundaries. However, they have always had a certain duality, seen as a divine messenger heralding good omens, it is also sometimes described as a bird of misfortune and interpreter of bad news. 🌗

 

• It's also a bird of knowledge, which doesn't prevent it from showing bravery and daring. Today, it's a bird rooted in everyone's mind thanks also to its many cinematic, musical or even graphic (paintings, drawings and photographs) appearances. 🎬 Yet it remains a little-known bird, evoking the mysteries and stories it hides.

 

• That's why we've designed a t-shirt so that you can all proudly display its symbolism while sharing its many meanings.😌