Corvus is part of the ravens' scientific name. It is actually latin for raven, but i have found that it is a popular name for people who love ravens or ravens to use.

Ravens, as are very important to me. I have always had an infinity with the Raven ever since I can remember. The reason for this is that the raven is my spirit or totem animal, in more of a shamanistic concept.

Raven is a spirit messenger and the bringer of gifts. For some tribes, his voice is an omen of warning, for others, it's a harbinger of change. For still others, Raven is a sacred contact that can carry prayers (or desires) upwards. But, Raven is also a trickster, and has the weakness of greed. Ravens seem to be everywhere, watching everything and everyone, and scavenging our leavings for their food. They know our ways, but only laugh at us, as though we were children among the living things. Raven's voice tells us to stop and look for what folly we might be acting out, to not take ourselves too seriously. Raven simply sits and waits out the rains that would make a human being feel victimised. Raven has patience, and doesn't worry about a thing. Raven knows that there will be food, and that the rain will end, and that there's no point in complaining. Raven looks at humans, so worried about how things will go, and just laughs.

Ravens have often been popular symbols of evil and death. They play the part nicely and are quite appropriatly dressed. They are of course scavengers and so tend to hang around dead creatures (a gathering of Ravens, by the way, is called a murder). Their racous caws are considered omens of death in folklore. If ravens gather or caw in the vicinity of a house it is expected someone will die there soon. The idea is that all birds cary the souls to the land of the dead, or perhaps heaven, but i think a raven would be best suited for the job.

Raven is frequently associated with powerful magic and omens. Its symbolism parallels that of the coyote and the rabbit in Native American myths, and it is worshipped as a Deity. The Haida and Tlingit people of western Canada and Alaska revered the raven as a hero and helper of human beings, a role reflected in Raven's prominent position in the totems of Northwest. Raven is believed to have placed the sun, moon, and stars in the sky, brining light to the people both day and night.

Raven (as with the crow, with which is synonymous), wields powerful magic. In Native American myth Raven restores order to the heavens; a Sioux belief links Raven to abundance and prosperity. One legend tells of a white raven that warns the buffalo every time hunters approach. This leads to hunger and starvation, and Raven is eventually captured by the hunter and thrown into the fire. But it escapes before being completely burned, being only blackened by the flames; black becomes its permanent colour. As Raven flees, it promises never to warn the buffalo of approaching hunters again. Raven is thus a kind of phoenix that rises from the ashes, symbolising renewal, transformation, and the promise of abundance.

There is a medicine story that tells of Crow's fascination with her own shadow. She kept looking at it, scratching it, pecking at it, until her shadow woke up and became alive. Then Crow's shadow ate her. Crow is Dead Crow now.

Dead Crow is the Left-Handed Guardian. If you look deeply into Crow's eye, you will have found the gateway to the super-natural. Crow knows the unknowable mysteries of creation and is the keeper of all sacred law.

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 utilised 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 the 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 "true 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 are 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 an 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 comes to you, you must pause and reflect on how you 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 created in human culture. With Crow medicine, you speak in a powerful voice when addressing issues that for you seem out of harmony, out of balance, out of whack, or unjust.

Remember that 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. You must put aside your fear of being a voice in the wilderness and caw the shots as you see them.

As you learn to allow your personal integrity to be your guide, your sense of feeling alone will vanish. Your personal will can then emerge so that you will stand in your truth. The prime path of true Crow people says to be mindful of your opinions and actions. Be willing to walk your talk, speak your truth, know your life's mission, and balance past, present, and future in the now. Shape shift that old reality and become your future self. Allow the bending of physical laws to aid in creating the shape shifted world of peace.

From Medicine Cards by Sams and Carson