All of nature belongs to the cosmic dance of the existence we share. Native americans have a long history of honoring and respecting this fact. Animals and other natural elements offer signs, omens, legends, wisdom, and more to their culture and spiritual beliefs. For Christians, my research into some of their oral stories reveals that a number of their stories of creation, the flood, and such, actually mirror tales in the bible. I say this so you’ll simply entertain, rather than taking issue with what comes next.

For days and weeks now, Crow has been a recurring animal in my life. This shouldn’t seem like a surprise in this city as there are so many of them everywhere and I’m sure you have similar experiences where you live. This makes it difficult to determine if something unique to my experience was happening regarding my noticing. Nevertheless, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my observations were accurate that Crow was trying to tell me something. Yesterday, and the day before, realizing the difficulty in determining if my hunch was right, I put a clear thought in my head that I needed a sign that was far more obvious.

This afternoon I left home to join a friend of mine for a coffee. On the walk over, on the opposite side of the street, I saw two Crows squawking and making a huge ruckus and a third on the ground. The hatchling was pushed and the parents were frantic, protective, and encouraging (in a scolding way to my ears ) the young bird to get their butt off the pavement and up into the tree. A pedestrian, oblivious to what was happening continued walking up the sidewalk near where this was occuring, resulting in a dive-bomb run from one of the parent crows. I didn’t take this to be a sign, this was just the season and they were on the other side of the street. Nonetheless, it was very entertaining and wonderful as new life always is an awesome thing and I continued on my way.

I got about a block further along and suddenly, out of nowhere, a solitary Crow swooped down from behind me and right past the top of my head, parking himself in a tree just a few metres ahead. After witnessing what I saw back up the street, I was ready to dismiss this as another protective parent. Standing in one place, looking about, I wondered where the baby was and where the other parent was. Then I realized he wasn’t squawking either like the panicked parents normally do. So I retraced my steps a few paces, looking into the trees, on the street, under the cars, into the bushes and lawn, wondering where the baby was hiding. There was no other Crow. This suddenly seemed to be the obvious sign I was looking for.

Once back home, I began to research the traditional legends of Crow and Crow Medicine as taught by the First Nations People. I have resources available to me in my private library related to many traditions, religions, and mystics that have amazing connections to what we experience and interweaves well into each other, supporting rather than negating each other. Here is what it says about Crow:

Crow

~~~~~~~~~~ LAW ~~~~~~~~~~

There is a medicine story that tells of Crow’s fascination with her own shadow. She kept looking at it, scratching it, pecking at it, until her shadow woke up and became alive. Then Crow’s shadow ate her. Crow is Dead Crow now.

Dead Crow is the Left-Handed Guardian. If you look deeply into Crow’s eye, you will have found the gateway to the supernatural. Crow knows the unknowable mysteries of creation and is the keeper of all sacred law.

Since Crow is the keeper of sacred law, Crow can bend the laws of the physical universe and “shape shift.” This ability is rare and unique. Few adepts exist in today’s world, and fewer still have mastered Crow’s art of shape shifting. This art includes doubling, or being in two places at one time consciously; taking on another physical form, and becoming the “fly on the wall” to observe what is happening far away.

The Europeans that came to Turtle Island were named the “boat peple” by Slow Turtle. Even with the knowledge of alchemy possessed by certain boat people, none had ever seen the powerful shape shifting of the shamans who utilized Crow medicine. Many boat people were frightened by what appeared to be animals coming into their camps or dwellings to discern their medicine. Crow medicine people are masters of illusion.

All sacred texts are under the protection of Crow. Creator’s Book of Laws or Book of Seals is bound in Crow feathers. Crow feathers tell of spirit made flesh. Crow is also the protector of the “ogallah” or ancient records.

The Sacred Law Belts, or Wampum Belts, beaded by native women long before the boat people or Europeans came to this continent, contain knowledge of the Great Spirit’s laws, and are kept in the Black Lodges, the lodges of women. The law which states that “all things are born of women” is signified by Crow.

Children are taught to behave according to the rules of a particular culture. Most orthodox religious systems create a mandate concerning acceptable behavior within the context of worldly affairs. Do this and so, and you will go to heaven. Do thus and so, and you will go to hell. Different formulas for salvation are demanded by each “true faith.”

Human law is not the same as Sacred Law. More so than any other medicine, Crow sees that the physical world and even the spiritual world, as humanity interprets them, are an illusion. There are billions of worlds. There are an infinitude of creatures. Great Spirit is within all. If an individual obeys Crow’s perfect laws as given by the Creator, then at death he or she dies a Good Medicine death — going on to the next incarnation with a clear memory of his or her past.

Crow is an omen of change. Crow lives in the void and has no sense of time. The Ancient Chiefs tell us that Crow sees simultaneously the three fates — past, present and future. Crow merges light and darkness, seeing both inner and outer reality.

If Crow medicine appears, you must pause and reflect on how you see the laws of the Great Spirit in relation to the laws of humanity. Crow medicine signifies a firsthand knowledge of a higher order of right and wrong than that indicated by the laws created in human culture. With Crow medicine, you speak in a powerful voice when addressing issues that for you seem out of harmony, out of balance, out of whack, or unjust.

Remember that Crow looks at the world with first one eye, and then the other–cross-eyed. In the Mayan culture, cross-eyeds had the privilege and duty of looking into the future. You must put aside your fear of being a voice in the wilderness and “caw” the shots as you see them.

As you learn to allow your personal integrity to be your guide, your sense of feeling alone will vanish. Your personal will can then emerge so that you will stand in your truth. The prime path of true Crow people says to be mindful of your opinions and actions. Be willing to walk your talk, speak your truth, know your life’s mission, and balance past, present, and future in the now. Shape shift that old reality and become your future self. Allow the bending of physical laws to aid in creating the shape shifted world of peace.

Crow …

Are you “cawing,”

So I may know,

The secrets of balance,

Within my soul?

Or are you sending,

Your sacred “caw”

Just to remind me,

Of universal laws?

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Now, this is all very interesting, particularly considering recent events and conversations. In part, my own thoughts, reflections, and awareness around certain issues have revealed some feelings that speak to what Crow suggests. Having had a conversation of significance prior to looking into this, I see again many things said during the conversation that reflected my relationship to what is said about Crow Medicine. In relation to my passionate desire to better unveil the truth, speak about existence, religions, and more importantly the human condition, I cannot deny what is suggested by what Crow says. This is fascinating.