Be it Crow, Magpie, or Raven!

crow, magpie or raven by ana traina ~ 2012 ~

When I was young, I had three aunts who were Italian and very superstitious. They were wary of almost everything, like: Hanging paintings of birds in the house, feathers bring ailments. Killing a spider, (although they passionately hated them.) Breaking a mirror, 7 years of bad luck, (a very big one in my family, indeed.) The bed should never face the door as it resembled a coffin in a church. Giving a handkerchief as a gift as tears could flow. Never cross the silverware on a table as it would bring strife. Always pass each other the salt hand to hand, (without putting it down on the table) or there would be an imminent fight between the two. Never place a hat on the bed as it recalls a scene of imminent, or just occurred death. Never place an upside down loaf of bread on the table. Spilling olive oil. Spilling salt. Seeing nuns. Black cat crossing your path. Walking under a ladder. Crossing arms when shaking hands in a group. Crossing glasses when toasting in a group, Toasting with a glass of water. Owls. The number 17 and 13 people sitting at the table. However, their fear of crows, magpies, and ravens ran even deeper. Upon spying them from an open car window they would immediately in hushed whispers start counting them...

One's bad,
Two's luck,
Three's health,
Four's wealth,
Five's sickness,
Six is death.

Then like a combustible engine, the fights would begin as to the real meaning of such a sudden vision...one aunt would protest that it was a messenger of the gods foretelling good news. While another would say it was probably their old nanny, Ester, the witch! Then there would be a moment of complete and foreboding silence before they all broke out in peals of laugher, saying, between deep chuckles and catching their breath, that sometimes they actually saw real red horns growing out of Ester’s forehead. This, I must admit, frightened me a bit. However, most often than not they believed that crows were harbingers of death and disaster. On spying a crow, they would make the sign of the cross, blessing themselves against evil as they lifted their eyes up to god. But O’ woebegone if upon seeing crows, one cawed!  Cawing is what they most feared, as they believed it was an announcement of a death that was soon to be heard! A death of someone that was likely, very close. Perhaps, even one of their own! Again, they would bless themselves quickly and chant these words..."Go! Shoo!! Be on your way old crow, and bring me only good news." Even now, many years after they are gone, this memory brings a smile and a salty tear because I know, my great love of crows comes from these fond memories of my aunts and their fun fairytale-like ways of giving magical powers to what others might find just, ordinary.

Here are some other reasons why I love crows, that I was able to uncover and discover...

Crows are the bringer of messages from the spirit world, and it is thought to dwell beyond the realm of time and space.

When you meet crow, he could be telling you that there will be changes in your life and that possibly you should step by the usual way you view reality and look into the inner realms… walk your talk… be prepared to let go of your old thinking and embrace a new way of viewing yourself and the world.

Crows live a long time, and are monogamous. If the male crow dies, the female will never take another mate. Crows take responsibility for feeding their offspring, and escort their young in flight. Crows lead flocks of storks when they cross the sea to Asia.

Happy Crow, Magpie, and Raven Spying!