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“At one time people were convinced that when someone died, a raven carried their soul to the land of the dead. Sometimes, however, such horrible, sad and painful things happened that the soul could not rest. So sometimes, but only sometimes, the raven would bring the soul back so that it would set things right.”
(The Crow, 1994)
Dark, grim and mysterious, in Western culture the raven is often associated with nefarious and infernal messages. Used to feeding on carcasses directly invokes the image of death and lifeless bodies.
If we study the legends of other peoples, from the Celtic Irish to the American Indians, here the raven evokes powerfully positive and fascinating atmospheres, in sharp contrast to the symbolism of Christian Europe. For American tribes, for example, the raven is in direct contact with the Great Spirit, mediator between the world of the living and the realm of the dead.
Behind the image of the raven can hide infinite meanings , and there are very few animals to which such opposite atmospheres are attributed. In this article I want to tell you what I think are the most interesting meanings related to the raven.
First, however, two premises:
– The raven is a complex symbol. Raven is dense with different, opposing interpretations scattered across time and space. Here you will not find the full list of its symbolism, but some meanings that struck me as strong and beautiful. For an extremely thorough study of the symbolism of the raven, I can recommend reading this beautiful article, written by scholar Octavius Bosco.
– The raven has a simple representation. Black, majestic, with a pronounced beak and strong claws, it is extremely beautiful and easy to portray. Regardless of the meaning you may associate with it, since it is highly characterized, it is ideal for pendants, icons and tattoos.
Along with cats, crows were associated with witches in the Middle Ages. In fact, it was believed that crows were their diabolical messengers and that the Devil’s brides could take the form of black birds in case of need. One of Disney’s most Gothic and creepy evil characters, the witch Maleficent, is always accompanied by a raven.
The raven appears as an evil symbol in demonology treatises: here we find Malphas and Harabs.
– The powerful Malphas is a Prince of Hell, 39th Demon invoked by King Solomon, can turn into a raven;
– Harabs are the hideous ravens of death, rebellious spirits in the service of Baal, the Lord of Murder.
The raven is a sacred symbol of Odin, god of the Vikings. A warrior and powerful deity, Odin has two ravens, Huginn and Muninn, which he releases at sunrise for them to fly around the world. These return in the evening and lean on the god’s shoulders, whispering the information and secrets they have gleaned during the day. The translation of their names is interesting: Huginn means “thought,” while Muninn means “memory.” Because of the importance of these animals to him, Odin is called “the Raven God.”
Few people know it, but crows are extraordinarily intelligent animals. Like humans, dolphins, and chimpanzees, they are among the very few who recognize their own image in the mirror and can process extremely elaborate thoughts, manipulating tools and structuring problem-solving strategies.
It is no coincidence that Odin’s two ravens are called “Thought” and “Memory”: for their thinking is extremely elaborate and they are endowed with a deep and rare sense of remembrance. In Japan, crows drop acorns on roadways for passing cars to open for them. Even, they often drop them at crosswalks so that they can safely retrieve the acorn when the green light goes off.
In the Celtic legends of Ireland, as well as in American Indian mythology, the Raven is a symbol of extreme intelligence and profound knowledge.
Although the raven holds infinite opposite meanings, there is one aspect that we find in all its interpretations, regardless of culture or time: passage.
In fact, the raven is always associated with a transition from one state to another. It symbolizes the transition from ignorance to knowledge, from life to death, from evil to good, from night to day.
In alchemy, as described by Octavius Bosco, “cutting off the crow’s head” indicates an important step in bringing forth the basilisk; the heart and head, in fact, are often important ingredients for magical preparations.
Metamorphosis, transformation and transition, then, are strongly symbolized by the raven in all their nobility and power.
Fascinated by the robust beak and the intricate mystery behind the raven, I wanted to create a pendant that would evoke its infinite meanings. Recalling the magical inspirations of ancient potions and the beauty of the skull, I reproduced the skull anatomically, so as to emphasize the life-death transition and knowledge.
The material chosen, silver, is itself a magical and lunar symbol, reinforcing the nocturnal atmospheres with which the raven is associated.
Discover the Raven’s Skull Pendant
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