In our tradition we divide the year not only by eight solar and
agricultural holidays, but also by the Kalends. We celebrate twelve
months of the year by the common calendar, plus a special thirteenth
month for Samhain. These month cycles are associated with different
totemic spirits. Each month is assigned an animal, a bird (or other
flying creature), and a tree. November's totems are Rowan, Raven, and
Fox.
The totemic associations are as follows:
Fox – (Sionnach) trickster, invisibility, shape-shifting, diplomacy, wildness
Rowan – (Luis) protection against enchantment, psychic power, self-control
Raven – (Bran) underworld messenger, shape-shifting, trickster, initiation, protection
Raven
The
Raven is the most sacred bird of the British Isles. Raven is a bird of
magic and mysticism, shapeshifting, creation, birth and death, healing,
initiation, protection and prophecy. Raven is great at vocalizations and
can even be taught to speak. She can use tools, is not intimidated by
others, is fast and wary, and does not make easy prey for other animals.
In
the Near East, Raven is considered unclean, due to the fact that she is
a scavenger. In Norse tradition, Odin had 2 Ravens as messengers
(Thought and Memory). Furthermore, Odin was known to shape-shift as a
Raven. In the Pacific Northwest, Raven was the bringer of life and
order. She was the bringer of sunlight. Even in British tradition, Raven
is seen sometimes as a bird of morning, sunlight and joy. In the tale
of Beowulf, Raven helps Beowulf to victory.
Bran
the Blessed, whose name means Raven, was sometimes known as the Raven
King. He was beheaded in battle, and his head was buried in White Mount,
which later became the hill on which the Tower of London was built. His
head was placed to face the enemies and protect England from invasion.
In fact, both London and Lyons had Raven totems. Furthermore, both
cities were dedicated to Lugh who was warned of the approach of the
Formorians by Ravens. Another legend claims that King Arthur became a
Raven upon his death.
Ravens
are often associated with death and the Underworld. The cries of Ravens
are heard before death in battle, and Ravens are often said to bring
messages from the Underworld. For this reason, they are bird of prophecy
and divination. The Raven has the ability to see the past and the
future, while living in the present.
In
this way, the Raven is a bringer of Initiation, both little “i” and big
“I.” Initiation is, after all, a death of one thing and the birth of
another.
Raven
is strongly associated with Morrigan (and one of Her particular
aspects, Badb). Morrigan appears on the battlefield as Raven (or
Scald-Crow), bringing havoc and fear in the enemy. Linked to their
presence at or proclamation of Death, they are associated with deep
healing (the kind of healing that comes from radical confrontation with
the hidden), the type of healing offered by the Morrigan.
