croak
Trickster
Crows are awesome. It depends what culture's description you're looking at. Here's a description by someone on a Shamanistic path: Crow as Totem
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How Does One Find Their Spirit Guide?
- Thread starter ryynänen47
- Start date
Crows are awesome. It depends what culture's description you're looking at. Here's a description by someone on a Shamanistic path: Crow as Totem
painted wolf
Grey Muzzle
The status of crows or any other animal is dependent on the culture (and the person) through which they are viewed.
There is no single "crow totem".... assigning definitive attributes to an animal spirit is a New Age practice. Western people love to define things so they can keep them organized.
wa:do
There is no single "crow totem".... assigning definitive attributes to an animal spirit is a New Age practice. Western people love to define things so they can keep them organized.
wa:do
croak
Trickster
I agree wholeheartedly. I was just listing a particular person's view of Crow who identifies with a Shamanistic path. Nothing more, nothing less.
I don't think you can find a totem by reading a description on a page. She seems to agree: About the Animal Totem Dictionary
I was simply contrasting it to the idea that crows were 'harbringers of misfortune'. That's the Judeo-Christian view, and possibly others as well. I'm not about to paint all cultures with the same brush. If it appeared that way, I apologize.
painted wolf
Grey Muzzle
Technically/traditionally speaking the only people with Totems are members of the Pacific Northwest Nations like the Haida. They are not spirit guides.
wa:do
wa:do
croak
Trickster
I suppose that depends on your definition of totem.
And I never claimed they were spirit guides. You're right, this is a thread about spirit guides. I simply wanted to show a different interpretation of Crow, and it came under the heading of totem.
Here's a collection somebody came up with: The Mythology of the Crow. I'm not saying any of the listed cultures treat Crow as a spirit guide.
painted wolf
Grey Muzzle
I just want to keep New Age concepts from creeping into the discussion. When I hear people mention "totems" I tend to be put on guard.
Crows are awesome both from a scientific and cultural standpoints.
wa:do
Crows are awesome both from a scientific and cultural standpoints.
wa:do
croak
Trickster
Spirit guides can invite New Age concepts as well. I can understand your reaction, though.
And that they are! I miss watching and listening to the crows... I saw some Hooded Crows recently, though. That cheered me up.
Comicaze247
See the previous line
Good point. I'm trying to train myself to move away from the categorizing habit. I know that categorizing takes away from the depth and understanding of anything, but I suppose some habits are harder to break than others.
The crows seem to be calling my name, thought Caw.
Azakel
Liebe ist für alle da
I haven't had an experience with a crow, I did though I few years back have one with a Raven. It followed me around for a good hour making this weird noise(not sure what it was).
(also) The other night I had a dream i which (I think it was) a beaver was trying to get me attention(this was i a dream).
One ever know what will appear to them.
(also) The other night I had a dream i which (I think it was) a beaver was trying to get me attention(this was i a dream).
One ever know what will appear to them.
bain-druie
Tree-Hugger!
It's true, crows are negatively viewed as harbingers of misfortune in Western society largely due to Judeo-Christian influence. This has much to do also with the way we see death.
In the Celtic pantheon, the Morrighan is the goddess of war, death, and prophecy; but also of fertility and healing. Her 'familiars' (for lack of a better term) are crows, ravens, and wolves. Many Dualist Western minds find it difficult to reconcile the goddess of death and war also specializing in healing and fertility; but this is a reflection of the beautiful balance that is life here in this realm. Morrighan is not to be feared, nor is death, nor are crows. It is a part of reality that our ancestors dealt with FAR better than we do, as a rule, in Western society.
Generally the Morrighan - or her crows - brings a message of needed ruthlessness. What I mean is this: crows clear the ground; they are carrion birds. They feast on dead flesh; thus clearing the ground for new life to spring up. When Crow comes to you on a consistent basis, one thought you might explore is the need to clear some ground in your life; are there things hindering you in your life path that you should get rid of? They need to go; it's dead flesh, don't let it rot on the ground.
The Morrighan as a healer is far different from our traditional ideas of healing deities: she is not a nurse, or a gentle sort of physician - she's a surgeon. If she sees something needs to be cut off, she will do it. It will at times hurt like F*** when the Morrighan heals; but it's always necessary and usually an emergency. Crows and ravens are her agents.
In the Celtic pantheon, the Morrighan is the goddess of war, death, and prophecy; but also of fertility and healing. Her 'familiars' (for lack of a better term) are crows, ravens, and wolves. Many Dualist Western minds find it difficult to reconcile the goddess of death and war also specializing in healing and fertility; but this is a reflection of the beautiful balance that is life here in this realm. Morrighan is not to be feared, nor is death, nor are crows. It is a part of reality that our ancestors dealt with FAR better than we do, as a rule, in Western society.
Generally the Morrighan - or her crows - brings a message of needed ruthlessness. What I mean is this: crows clear the ground; they are carrion birds. They feast on dead flesh; thus clearing the ground for new life to spring up. When Crow comes to you on a consistent basis, one thought you might explore is the need to clear some ground in your life; are there things hindering you in your life path that you should get rid of? They need to go; it's dead flesh, don't let it rot on the ground.
The Morrighan as a healer is far different from our traditional ideas of healing deities: she is not a nurse, or a gentle sort of physician - she's a surgeon. If she sees something needs to be cut off, she will do it. It will at times hurt like F*** when the Morrighan heals; but it's always necessary and usually an emergency. Crows and ravens are her agents.
Klaufi_Wodensson
Vinlandic Warrior
Because you follow Jesus. In a sense, he is your spirit guide. However, you normally would not understand the desires and yearnings of other people, so this wouldn't make sense to you.
Klaufi_Wodensson
Vinlandic Warrior
I don't believe that there are spirits who are out to get you. I don't think any conscious being of any sort would deliberately pretend to be nice just in order to get close and invade your life. It makes no sense. I believe in the "you respect me, I respect you" sort of thing. The spirits I believe in are nature related, so if you respect nature, the spirits respect you.
InChrist
Free4ever
croak
Trickster
It depends on the culture. In some, there are spirits that are out to get you. I can't say what the case is for shamanism, however (which isn't just one set belief system, anyway).
Klaufi_Wodensson
Vinlandic Warrior
Well the spirits I believe in are nature based, and nature is certainly not malevolent. It just exists
painted wolf
Grey Muzzle
No idea.... I never sought anything out.
But if I had to guess, it would the the same desire to talk to a personal god that answers prayers.
No.... seeking power is a huge no-no. Most people only get a better view of their own relationship with the divine and their own psyche.
wa:do
painted wolf
Grey Muzzle
Nope.
We don't believe in "demons" and our "malevolent spirits" are pretty obvious about what they do. They certainly don't help people.
wa:do
ps. No one trusts that all spirits are "good"... spirits are what they are. Most are neither good nor bad, but they can be dangerous if they aren't respected. It seems to be a particularly Christian view that things have to be either "good" or "bad".
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