The raven is my favorite bird, and while it is usually considered a symbol of death and ill omens, I have found that the raven in cultural and religious stories has done more good than bad.

Some examples of the good the raven has done:
--- In North American mythology, the raven created the world we live in when he carried a stone until tired, when he dropped it and created land when the stone fell into the ocean and expanded;
--- In North American mythology, the white raven brought the Sun, Moon, Stars, Fresh Water, and Fire to the world when he stole them from the greedy gray eagle and dispersed them throughout the world. The smoke from the fire brand he held in his beak made his solid black;
--- In North American mythology, the raven brought light into the world. The Great Spirit had given all the animals in the world a box to open. When the animals opened the boxes all the things that comprise the world came into being. All the animals had opened their boxes, except the seagull, who's box contained the light of the world. The raven stuck a thorn in the gull's foot until he dropped the box, and out came the sun, moon, stars, and thus the first day began;

Of course, these are only a few stories of the good the raven has done. The raven has also done wrong, but I think its good is worth much more than its wrong.

So, this is a tribute to the raven, one of the most misunderstood yet most beautiful animals.


created July 30, 2009

© Morgan Allen