Represents: Magic, healing, creation
The Raven is associated with the Morrigan, especially in her Medb (pronounced “MAYV”) aspect. “Medb” means “Intoxicating” in Irish.
Medb is one of the names of the triple Battle Goddess known as the Morrigan. The Raven aspect of the Morrigan evokes images of bloody, corpse-strewn battlefields. But Raven is much more than a carrion feeder. Raven is also a psychopomp who carries the souls of dead warriors to their next destination in the afterlife. Sometimes she brings them back to be reborn as well.
The Morrigan in her Raven aspect is also a Goddess of Sovereignty who presides over the union of the land and the king. Raven reminds us that if the land suffers, the people suffer, and if the people suffer, the land suffers. She teaches us that try as we might, we cannot separate ourselves from the land. What we do to the land we do to ourselves.
Raven is a symbol of the Order of the Taibhsear as well. She was chosen because of all the psychopompic birds, her shamanic magic is the most powerful. She is known for her intelligence and craftiness, and these talents shine through when it comes to shamanic journeying.
If a Raven spirit animal has come into our life, magic is afoot. Raven activates the energy of magic and links it to our will and intention. In Celtic lore the Morrigan sometimes used Raven as a messenger and a spy, sending her to watch rival armies on the battlefield and seeing the scene through Raven’s eyes. This ability to act as a go-between can greatly aid those who have a Raven spirit animal and can call upon her in times of need.
People of the Raven have the capacity to make great changes their our own lives and in the lives of others. If Raven is your spirit animal, you have the ability to take unformed thoughts and intentions and manifest them into reality. Hers is the power of creation; of making dreams real.
Raven teaches us how to go into the dark of our inner selves and bring out the light of our true selves, resolving inner conflicts that have long been buried. This is the deepest power of healing we can possess.
Just be sure to use caution when calling upon Raven for purposes of manifestation. She has a twinkle of trickery in her eye, and will sometimes give you exactly what you ask for in order to teach you a hard lesson. If Raven is your spirit animal, your motto should be, “Be careful what you wish for.”
Explore the significance of some common spirit animals by clicking a link below.