crow

Talking Crow

crowtalker I just had to share this “only in Raventalker’s World” story that happened this morning. 

I always get to work an hour or more before I should be here. I like to use that quiet time to get my day organized and to just enjoy a little quiet, me time. So after I get my day ready I decide to step outside to search for some clovers and meditate before everyone starts coming in. 

I’m looking in a patch of clovers when a crow lands on the lamp pole on the street next to me. He begins calling in other crows with the short, quick calls. I begin mocking his calls. He calls 3 times, I call 3 times, he calls 4, I call 4, etc. Suddenly another crow lands on the lamp pole just up from us on the street. Now I have 2 of them and I’m mocking both crows. Another crow comes in and lands on the lap pole in the parking lot and now there are 4 of us :-). 

Here’s the layout: 
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All of us are calling back and fourth and I giggle to myself about whats going on. I keep searching through the clovers, and calling at the same time. The crow from the parking lot lamp pole wants a better view at what I’m doing so he flies over to the building behind me. The sun is coming up from the other side of the building so I can see the building’s shadow in front of me. I can see where the crow is and as I continue searching for clovers and mocking their calls, the crow on the building steps around to the other side of me so he can see what I’m doing. Suddenly the crow on the building makes the little growling sound crows make to symbolize affection. 

We call a few more times back and fourth and then they all leave.

I felt for a moment like Snow White in the forest talking to the animals. It was a precious moment, connecting with my crow cousins. A moment that in the middle of these hard times, I was able to smile and feel good inside. I didn’t feel so alone and  felt connected, a part of something more than just my own being. 

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Many Blessings, 
Raventalker

Fall Hollow – Natchez Trace Parkway

Today I took a trip down Natchez Trace Parkway to Fall Hollow where you can hike to a couple of different waterfalls. I started the trek on the Tennessee side at the 444 mile marker and made my way down to mile marker 391.9 to Fall Hollow. The brochure said it was not an easy hike down or back up for that matter. About half way down I had to find a good sturdy stick to help me the rest of the way down. Without that stick I doubt I would have made it back up. It had rained all night and was still raining off and on today so the hike was worse than normal. There were lots of places you had to hold on to the trees to make it down to the next level. The good thing is you really don’t have to hike very far to reach the falls. There were 3 different falls to Ooooo and Ahhhh over and I’m glad I made the trip down to see them.

At the last waterfall I started taking a video and a little blue butterfly decided to pay me a visit. It danced all through the waterfall and then up into the forest where it disappeared.

Check out the video and the photos below 🙂

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

Understanding Crow Sounds

I had an interesting chat with a Crow this morning … he kept making the Rattle or Comb Call that you’ll find on this link… he was really quiet and just made this sound gently. I did a bit research to find out what that particular sound meant and this is what I found  (it is used to acknowledge familial association, whenever a crow does such a performance, they are expressing a willingness to be approached, and a need for affection).

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/american_crow/sounds

This was the first time I had heard this sound from my crow friends … usually in pairs this one was alone and I walked up close and he sat there watching me, so would whistle and talk to him and he made that sound back at me so I went inside and brought him out some extra treats.

I have seen several documentaries that speak about the meanings of the different crow sounds so I am always paying attention to the sounds they make when I see them.

Many Blessings,
ravensig

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When You Hear the Black Bird Caw

It all started with a shiver and twitch of my nose
I could feel it coming .. a bit of rhyme .. a bit of prose
Magic flowing through the crisp Autumn air
I throw my hands up with a witchy flair

A giggle creeps up from within
Quickly turning into a cackle straight from the loony bin
People then wondering what on Earth I’m up  to
Me? Oh nothing .. just stirring my brew!

Spreading magic across the land
With a click of the mouse and a wave of the hand
Eye of newt, toe of dog, vampire’s blood and gargoyle fat
Thrice around the cauldron we go, oops almost forgot me cat!

Boil, boil, bubble and brew
Hold on, this rhyme is almost through
Potions and notions all now complete
May your Halloween be ever so sweet

A quick whistle to summon my broom
Now, off I go .. zoom, zoom, zoom
Magical blessings to one and all
Don’t forget to smile when you hear the black bird caw!

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Many Blessings,
Raventalker

Morning Caw

Every morning for the past several weeks I am greeted by the crows caw… I hear them as I’m crawling out of bed at 5am and then again when I step outside my door.. they are there to say good morning. When I get to work I often hear them in the distance giving their wake up call. This morning was no different .. only they were close enough to snap a few clicks. Most associate morning wake up calls with the rooster .. but for me it is the crow. 🙂


Many Blessings,
Raventalker

A Moment of Perfection!

Perfection!

A thought came to mind yesterday and I told myself I should have written it down at that very moment before it got lost in shadows of my brain. I got busy and distracted and of course did not write it down but I do remember the basis of the thought.. it was only the exact phrasing that escapes me now. “The world is made up of a beautiful variety of imperfections… I consider myself just a tiny part of those imperfections.”

Late last night as my husband was looking through the lampwork beads he had been creating, I am once again confronted with this concept of what’s perfect and what’s not. What he thought was an imperfect bead was absolutely beautiful to me.. one of my all time favorites so far that he had made. He insisted it wasn’t usable because it wasn’t perfect… but to me … it was already perfect… perfectly beautiful.

This morning as I ponder more on this thought of perfection, a crow caws in the distance and I as turn to search from where the voice came… the sun is just peeking up from the hillside, the dew on the grass sparkles like little diamonds,  the birds patiently wait with their song in the nearby  trees as I top off the feeders, a cool breeze fills my senses with the refreshing smell of Spring and a smile takes shape from the inside out. In that perfect moment I knew. So I said, Yes Spirit … I understand now what I need to write about today.

Have a look around at the trees… so many shapes, sizes, color and species… who is to say which may be the perfect one. Further more, why does one even have to be perfect. To me, they are all perfect… they are all trees and within each one lies it’s very own distinct beauty.

dandelion….. and take a look at this dandelion.. nearly half it’s seed heads are gone… one dangles there to the side ready to take off with the slightest breeze…. is it perfect? YES, yes it is! It is as perfect a dandelion as any dandelion could be. Would a small child pass it up and not take a very big deep breath and blow with all their heart and soul in hopes for their wishes to come true? NOPE! So, yes, that dandelion is perfect.. no matter what it looks like … it is still a wish waiting to be made. PERFECTION in all it’s glory!

Take a look at the world for what it has to give and not how you think it should look. Now what do you see?

Many Blessings,

ravensig

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Story of the day – The Crow

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Story of the day:

I was taking the dog out.. nearly left my camera behind… but grabbed it last minute.

As soon as I step outside, a flock of crows flew past and two of them landed in the tree top just in front of me. You know me… so I began snapping pics and when they flew away I walked the dog around the yard.

I headed over to the tree from yesterday’s ghostly adventure but the sun was already down and I snapped photos anyway but nothing… as I turn to walk away from the tree I noticed a black feather… woohoooo lookie.. this is for me! As I walked around I found loads just in front of that tree.. no where else …. just there in front of that crazy tree!

I just counted the feathers … 11 of them!

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Many Blessings, 
Raventalker

See below for information about the crow and the number 11.

The Crow:

Crows are the keepers of the Sacred Law and to have a Crow totem is very powerful.

Personal Integrity are your watchwords and your guide in Life. If you have a Crow totem, your prime path  is to be mindful of your opinions and actions. You must be willing to walk your talk, to speak your truth and to know your life’s mission.

Crow is a omen of Change.   Crow lives in the void and has no sense of time, therefore, it sees past, present and future simultaneously. Crow merges both light and dark, both inner and outer. It is the totem of the Great Spirit and must be respected as such.

They are symbols of creation and spiritual strength. Look for opportunities to create and manifest the magic of life. Crows are messengers calling to us  about the creation and magic that is alive in the world today and available to us.

Number 11:

Number 11 symbolizes the principles of spiritual awakening and enlightenment, high energy, idealism, inspiration and intuition, illumination, visionary, enthusiasm, creative/creativity, self-expression and sensitivity, and mysticism.  Number 11 tells us that to connect with our higher-selves is to know and live our soul mission and life purpose.

When the Universe Speaks

It’s not often in life that we get the privilege to feel the universe cheering us on… as if we are on the right track and Spirit keeps giving us that “atta boy” pat on the back to keep us trucking on in the right direction. When it does happen .. be sure to stop for a moment to make note and give thanks. Don’t let those moments just slip on by. Enjoy the moment!

This morning as I made my way into the office …. I sat down at my computer… turned it on and right away I get a really great message from a Facebook friend thanking me for making her mornings bright. I was caught off guard but it sure did bring a smile to my face as well. She was thanking me for something that I had hoped would happen when I post the things I post and when I blog about the many topics I touch upon.. but you never know if the message is really getting out… I often wonder if it really means anything to anyone. The confirmation this morning from my friend was a wonderful gift!

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In the middle of our conversation I ran out quickly to refill the bird feeder outside my office window. Just as I stepped out the back door of the office, I heard a noise, looked up and several crows were perching on top of a street lamp just across the street. I put my bird seed down and grabbed my camera to snap a couple of pics and WOW!!! A hawk flew into the frame and was buzzing the crows sitting

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on top of the light. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and couldn’t believe that I was lucky enough to be standing there with my camera in hand taking pics of it all! I am still excited with the energy that was stirred from this event!

I love those little surprises .. the crows, the hawk.. the message from a friend.

Here’s a bit of info for the Hawk and the Crow:

Hawk is the messenger, the protector and the visionaries of the Air. It holds the key to higher levels of consciousness. This totem awakens vision and inspires a creative life purpose.

Crow lives in the void and has no sense of time, therefore, it sees past, present and future simultaneously. Crow merges both light and dark, both inner and outer. They are symbols of creation and spiritual strength. Look for opportunities to create and manifest the magic of life. Crows are messengers calling to us about the creation and magic that is alive in the world today and available to us.

So what does all of this tell us?

It tells us to always be ready and willing to enjoy the moment when it comes. You never know from what direction love, kindness, happiness, surprises and magic will appear. Be ready and willing to accept it as it comes!

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

Brother Crow

Crows are messengers calling to us about the creation and magic that is alive in the world today and available to us.

This morning as I was getting ready for work… I could hear a crow outside my window cawing up a storm… and then I heard his message more clearly than ever.

It wasn’t that the Crow had a message for me this morning… it was that he carries with him a message always… you hear it when you are ready. He is forever singing out his message by his magical caw… it is up to us when we are ready to hear what he has to say.

Many Blessings for a magical day!
Raventalker

Just One of Those Magical Days

My day began with the dog wide awake and jumping around. He never does this at 5am when I wake up and get ready for work.. he usually lays sleeping with the hubby .. .both sound asleep without a care in the world. This morning, he was wide awake and bouncing up and down, so I took him outside, thinking maybe he needed to go out. So I step outside with Monty and there is this crow up in the trees cawing like it is nobody’s business. He cawed and cawed as loud as he could. Ok Mr. Crow .. I hear you!

Crow is a omen of Change. Crow lives in the void and has no sense of time, therefore, it sees past, present and future simultaneously. Crow merges both light and dark, both inner and outer. You must be willing to walk your talk, to speak your truth and to know your life’s mission.

On my in to work… I am driving down the interstate and get this sense of change coming. It was a quick glance of me driving down this interstate .. but it being an entirely different interstate than what I was on. I had this same feeling the day before and a few days before that as well. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm…. One begins to wonder… just what exactly is it that is coming?

So, I finally arrive at work and have this feeling when pulling into the parking lot that I need to grab my camera and take some photos. I am drawn to some tall grass in an area just off the parking lot that I usually never venture into. I go inside put all my things away, get my computer going and head outside to see what there is to see with camera in hand! I snapped a couple of photos of the tall grass and reviewing the photos from the camera preview screen.. I am just not drawn by what I see.. so I stand up and have a quick look around, wondering what is it that has drawn me to this spot and then just around the corner of a hedge I see this lone bloom hanging out.. just waiting for me to notice it.

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It seems out of place, hanging there all alone and I didn’t think so much about it at the time.. I only thought about how beautiful it was and how I had to try and capture it’s gift to share with everyone. Writing this now I can relate… I, myself … often feel very alone and find myself just hanging out with no one else but myself. Sure there are others all around… but really I feel just like this blossom.. just hanging out with myself.. lol.. no crowd.. just me.. hanging out with my thoughts.

So, now I am inside writing my blog for the day and a Bluejay lands at my window.. looking in and screaming at me! I turn and say “What???” He gives me a look and then screams some more and flies away… then back he came and repeated his looking and screaming. Ok Mr. Bluejay.. I hear you too!

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A  Blue Jay totem says, you must learn to use your personal power properly. Develop your gifts and you will have unlimited potential. A Blue Jay totem links you directly with the power of the Earth itself. It can link the heavens and the Earth and give you access to universal energies and power.

I know I have been out of the loop lately .. I haven’t been blogging and I haven’t felt connected to others lately. I have felt very disconnected. I was telling myself that I was just taking a break. Well, I guess my feathered friends are telling me break time is over and I need to get back to it! Okay! Okay! I hear you!

Many Blessings for a magical day!
Raventalker

My Photo Scavenger Hunt

This morning after arriving at work.. I felt this pull to take my camera outside to see what there was to see. I looked at my surroundings with thoughts of wonder and hopes of inspiration. Here are a few of the things that I saw through the lense of my camera. ENJOY!

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Many Blessings,
Raventalker

 

Magical Moments

I am having a really odd.. yet wonderful day today. I just have to share my experience this morning…

So,  get this.. first off right out of my house I see the 2 deer in my back yard..

As I am typing up my daily blog .. today about the deer.. I finish the blog.. turn to look out

my window and 2 rabbits are out there

along with about 6 or more different birds..

lol.. I have meditation music playing in the background …  I grab my camera and snap a couple of pics of the rabbits … so I plug my camera back up to the computer to upload the rabbit photos off my camera and I hear this crow sounding off.. I thought … hmmmmmmm is that in my music? so turned around to double check and nope there are 2 crow cousins out there now! I’m starting to feel like snow white in the magical forest this morning!! lol..

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Oh and lets not forget this Mocking bird that popped in to say hello as I was taking pictures of the Crows

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and one last note: while I was typing this story up… I paused to tell my story to a co-worker friend and right as I started my story a dove flew onto my window ledge looking right inside .. straight at us.. lol.. my friend stopped in her tracks to say.. “well hello there!”

Giggles… looking forward to what’s next!

Many Blessings,
Raventalker 

Today’s Walk

What a beautiful Spring day!

I pushed myself away from my desk and took myself down the street to the park and walked for my lunch break. I was greeted at the path entrance by sister crow, cawing from overhead.

Crows are the keepers of the Sacred Law and to have a Crow totem is very powerful. Personal Integrity are your watchwords and your guide in Life. If you have a Crow totem, your prime path is to be mindful of your opinions and actions. You must be willing to walk your talk, to speak your truth and to know your life’s mission. Crow is a omen of Change. Crow lives in the void and has no sense of time, therefore, it sees past, present and future simultaneously. Crow merges both light and dark, both inner and outer.
It is the totem of the Great Spirit and must be respected as such. They are symbols of creation and spiritual strength. Look for opportunities to create and manifest the magic of life. Crows are messengers calling to us about the creation and magic that is alive in the world today and available to us.

As I rounded my path for the 3rd time.. look at what was gifted to me 🙂

As I’m making my rounds my dear friend the dragonfly swoops by for a visit… and I say hello!

Dragonfly is the essence of the winds of change, the messages of wisdom and  enlightenment; and the communication from the elemental world. Dragonfly medicine beckons you to seek out the parts of your habits which need changing.  Call on Dragonfly to guide you through the mists of illusion to the pathway of transformation. 

The Jasmine is starting to bud and the fragrance is already filling the warm spring air… mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…. so relaxing!

Jasmine is an astringent, anti bacterial, anti viral, cooling and bitter herb. It stimulates the uterus, calms nerves and is reportedly an aphrodisiac for women.

It is also used as an alternative for cancers, as well as viral and bacterial infections. J. officinale is used in perfumes, as well as flavoring for maraschino cherries.

It is mostly used in Ayurvedic medicine for infections with high fever, conjunctivitis, sunstroke, dermatitis, as well as cancer of the bones, lymphatic nodes and breast cancer.
Also it is used for mouth ulcers, and the fresh juice is applied to corns.

  • This is useful for severe depression and especially for postnatal depression.
  • It is useful during childbirth since it relieves pain and strengthens contractions and is also a hormonal balancer.
  • On the skin it is used with great effect to treat dry, stressed and sensitive skins and also helps to increase elasticity.
  • It has anti-depressant, antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, aphrodisiac, emmenagogue, emollient, galactagogue, sedative and uterine properties.

The Robins are everywhere .. preparing their nests and fetching food for the young ones that have already hatched.. I always smile when I see the Robin.. it reminds me of the fairies.

A Robin totem will stimulate new growth in all areas of your life. Believe in yourself as you move forward. Obstacles will fall by the wayside if you do and confrontations will be for show only. This totem gives you the ability to will new growth into your life. Meditate on Robin and the correct path will be revealed to you.

I have to also speak of the Polk Salad that grew along the path .. It reminds me of my grandmother… when I was young she would always send me out to pick it when was ready. Then she would take it inside…. wash it off and cook a big pot of it … I never ate because I couldn’t stand the smell.. but she sure loved it!

Since pioneer times, pokeweed has been used as a folk remedy to treat many ailments. It can be applied topically or taken internally. Topical treatments have been used for acne and other ailments. Internal treatments include tonsillitis, swollen glands and weight loss. Dried berries were ingested whole as a treatment for boils, taken 1 berry per day for 7 days. Grated pokeroot was used by Native Americans as a poultice to treat inflammations and rashes of the breast. Independent researchers are investigating phytolacca’s use in treating AIDS and cancer patients. Especially to those who have not been properly trained in its use, pokeweed should be considered dangerous and possibly deadly.

All in all I’d say another productive walk 🙂

See you on the next round!

Many Blessings,
Raventalker

A simple thought and a quote

Today I leave you with a simple thought and a quote:

Each man is good in the sight of Great Spirit. It is not necessary for eagles to be crows.  – Chief Seattle

raven

Be who you are and not worry about what others may want or wish you to be. We all have value and each our own gifts to the world.

Happiness is flying with your own wings not riding on the wings of another.

Many Blessings,
ravensig

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