What is the symbolism of the crow as a totem animal?

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 crow is not exempt.

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

Sometimes adored for its mischief 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 on the entire northern hemisphere of our globe. 🧠

But then, what is the symbolism of the crow as a totem animal? 🐦

In reality, the word raven is used to designate no less than fifty different animals belonging to the genus of corvus, the corvids. This genus includes all the subspecies of crows (American crow, shore crow, Sinaloa crow and many others...) and ravens (Common raven, Little raven, Rook and more...).

1. The meaning and virtues associated with the Raven

The raven is an ambivalent animal, both appreciated and feared. It is a symbol of a mediation between life and death, due to its black plumage, its hoarse cry and its scavenger diet. However, several of its qualities are revered, such as its intelligence, its sociability and also its adaptation: very cosmopolitan, the raven can be found in any type of environment on the globe. Over time, it will be associated with both good and bad omens...
Let's see it together!

Symbolic 1: Death & Renewal 🔄

• The raven being a scavenger, is often found on battlefields feeding on the victims of human conflicts. Very quickly, it was associated with the omen of the lady in black.

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

• In Celtic mythology, the raven will be associated as much with death and war as with the transformation of the soul and its renewal. It then becomes a spiritual guide capable of crossing the borders between the two worlds. 🌌

Symbolic 2: Audacity and courage 💪

• Crows are intelligent beings, and they show great discernment when it comes to solving problems related to their habitats or food! Some have even been known to impersonate eagles using their silhouettes in order to scare smaller animals away from their burrows and steal their food. 🦅

• As said earlier, they are also very cosmopolitan, found in Siberia as well as in Australia, they know how to adapt to the harshest changes in environment to stay in the same place. If that's not courage, what is!

• Also, it is a bird that dares to challenge its adversaries . Fearless in the face of threats, it does not hesitate to attack its predators to protect its peers or its territory. 🛡️

Symbolic 3: Magic & Prophecy 🔮

• His dark and enigmatic appearance has often led him to associate with witches and magicians, sometimes as a simple familiar, sometimes as spiritual companions in magical practices.

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

• His ability to fly was also seen as an asset that allowed him to see the world from above and bring crucial information, making him an important companion for spiritual rites.

Symbolic 4: Knowledge & transformation 📚

• As you have read above, crows are intelligent, they can imitate sounds and speak a few words in several languages, or even entire sentences for the gigantic northern crows (more than 1 meter in diameter with the wings). They can also make memory objects; use them; imagine 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, every day they travel the worlds and bring back to their master the knowledge acquired during the day.

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.

2. The raven among ancient peoples

The symbolism of the raven among the Vikings ⚔️

In the northern countries, the raven was not only a symbol of intelligence and loyalty but also of bravery. And sometimes, it 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.

To observe two ravens on a branch, this number rather than another, was then the omen that the god Odin was observing us; since it 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 takes the appearance of a raven announcing omens flying above battles to predict the death of heroes or the outcome of clashes.

The raven is therefore an animal that announces omens but also linked to transformation through the metamorphosis of Morrigan. We can therefore find an interpretation for both physical and psychic transitions.

It should also be noted that in France, at the time of Gaul, it is said that it was the city of Lyon (Lugdunum, the city of the god Lug) which was founded by decision of a notable druid who, studying the flight of crows, chose this valley rather than another. 😊

The symbolism of the raven among the Greeks and Romans

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

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

The symbolism of the raven among Native Americans 🦅

photo of a native american raven totem

Outside Europe, the raven also arouses interest, particularly among Native Americans. Its meaning varies according to the tribes, but we still find recurring themes: the raven carrying light.

In the beliefs of the Haida people (Native American people of the west coast of the USA/Canada), the world was once plunged into darkness. A raven, who was tired of bumping into everything, stole from an old man and his daughter the light of the world that 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 crow in China

In Chinese traditions, the crow has common symbols to the previous ones. Once again, it is associated with a divine messenger and, as with the Native Americans, it is also associated with the sun. ☀️

According to Chinese legends, there once resided 10 crows in 10 separate suns. When one crow went around the world on a chariot and fed, another one returned. Until 2170 BC, all 10 crows set out together on the same day and caused severe fires in the world until Houyi, the mythical celestial archer, shot down 9 out of the 10.

3. The Raven in Modern Times

The Raven in Literary Tales 📚

• How can one write a chapter on the place of the raven in literary tales without mentioning its numerous appearances in the "Fontaine's Fables" as a cunning character (less than the foxes in any case) or in the "Grimm's Fairy Tales" where it appears as a mysterious being linked to the fantastic.

• It has also become a symbol of despair and loss (and also of alternative goth culture) thanks to Edgar Allan Poe's novel "The Raven". 🕸️

The Raven on big (and small) screens 📺

• We can find him in occult scenes (The Witch 2015) or disturbing scenes (The Birds 1963) 🕊️ or serving cult antagonists (Maleficent 2014).

• The symbolism of bravery in "The Crow - 1994" where he is associated with the vengeful hero Eric Draven is also present.

• In "Game Of Thrones" it is a symbol of prophecy and knowledge towards Bran Stark.

The crow in music 🎶

Due to its many symbols and its popularity, the raven is a true muse for artists, including musicians! 🎵

• However, it also appears in several songs of folk groups (Wardruna) due to its omnipresent place in folklore.

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

• The raven has always been able to carry strong symbols without worrying about physical or cultural borders. However, they have always had a certain duality, seen as a divine messenger announcing good omens, it is also sometimes described as a bird of misfortune and interpreter of bad news. 🌗

• It is also a bird that carries knowledge and understanding, which does not prevent it from showing bravery and audacity. Today, it is a bird anchored in everyone's mind thanks to its many cinematographic, musical or graphic appearances (paintings, drawings and photographs). 🎬 However, it remains a little-known bird evoking the mysteries and stories it hides.

• That's why we made a t-shirt out of it so that you can all proudly display its symbolism while sharing its many symbols.😌