CROW: Represents ~ Sacred Law

Crows are considered to be able to see Sacred Law, or Universal Truth, beyond man made laws.  Crows and Ravens are highly intelligent and recognize people they see frequently.  They know who their friends are and who isn’t a friend.  They bring us messages from the spirit world, they love to play and talk, and they would love to take your shiny jewelry and baubles to decorate their nests.  They are some of the true characters of nature!  Those who have Crow or Raven as an animal spirit totem usually have crows and ravens around them.

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 people” by Slow Turtle. Even with the knowledge of alchemy possessed by certain boat people, none had ever seen the powerful shape shifting of 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 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 “truth 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 is 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 the 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 has shown up in dreams, in nature, and/or we feel a kinship:

When Crow medicine appears, we must pause and reflect on how we 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 of the human culture. With Crow medicine, we speak in a powerful voice when addressing issues that for us seem out of harmony, out of balance, out of whack, or unjust.

If crow has landed, in order to see what is true, we may need to weed out past beliefs or ideas to bring ourselves into the present moment. Crow also speaks of needing to remember that Divine Law is not judgment or denial of self-truths, Divine Law is honoring harmony that comes from a peaceful mind, an open heart, a true tongue, a light step, a forgiving nature, and a love of all living creatures. Honor the past as our teacher, honor the present as our creation, and honor the future as our inspiration.

As Crow energy assists us to allow our “personal integrity” to be our guide, our sense of feeling alone will vanish. Our personal will can then emerge so that we will stand in our truth. The prime path of true Crow people says to be mindful of our opinions and actions. Be willing to walk our talk, speak our truth, know our life’s mission, and balance past, present and future in the now.

Remember, 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. We must put aside our fear of being a voice in the wilderness and “caw” the shots as we see them.

Shape shift that old reality and become our future self. Allow the bending of physical laws to aid in creating the shape shifted world of peace.

Painting: King Crow, by Morgan Jones

Some information/excerpts on Crow is from the book “Medicine Cards” by Jamie Sams and David Carson