Raven Animal Symbolism and Fun Facts
Ravens represent intelligence, transformation, death, cleansing, spiritual awakening and more. Read on to find fun facts about ravens and raven animal symbolism.
Dave and I visited Bryce Canyon in Utah in November. While we were there, we saw a couple ravens in the parking area. I was able to take some photos of one of the ravens. This is the first time I’ve seen a raven close-up or taken any photos of a raven.
Anytime I see a new bird or creature, I like to learn about it and its animal symbolism. Here are a few things I’ve learned about these impressive birds.
Ravens are large, black, glossy birds in the same family as crows. They are larger than crows and have a thicker bill. Ravens can be up to 25 inches tall with a 50-inch wingspan. They also have a wedge-shaped tail. Their wings beat in a more smooth, steady fashion than the uneven, choppy wing beats of crows. Ravens can be seen flying solo, in pairs, or as a family group.
Ravens mate for life and typically raise one brood per year. A brood can have 3-7 young. Ravens are some of the smartest birds. They are empathic and console others. They collaborate with wolves in finding food. They can talk with various noises that convey emotions like tenderness, happiness, anger, and surprise. A Swedish study even found that ravens can learn to use tools, pre-plan, and bargain for what they want.
Ravens are also known to be tricksters. Scientists have observed that ravens throw off other ravens by pretending to hide food in one place before sneakily hiding it in another. Some fascinating studies have been performed with ravens that show their human-like intelligence. (See 10 Incredible Facts About Ravens by Melynda Sorrels.)
Biblical References to Ravens
Ravens are mentioned in the Bible several times.
In 1 Kings 17:4-6, ravens brought Elijah, the prophet, bread and meat in the morning and the evening.
Proverbs 30:17 warns of the demise that will come to those who do not honor their parents, “The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.” One of the Ten Commandments says that those who honor their father and mother will live long upon the land. The proverb is probably alluding to an early demise for those who dishonor parents. Thus, the birds that eat carrion, like the raven and young eagles will devour their carcasses.
In Genesis 8:7, Noah sent out the raven after the flood to see if the waters had receded. The raven kept flying back and forth until the waters receded.
In Luke 12:24, Jesus uses the raven as an example of someone who trusts in the Lord, “Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?”
Raven Animal Symbolism
Many civilizations equate ravens with death or impending destruction. Some birds are considered omens of death because they feed on carrion. But this isn’t always perceived as a bad thing. Birds that eat carrion also have positive symbolism because they are part of nature’s clean-up crew. By removing the dead carcasses, they keep diseases from spreading. Thus, they can also have a cleansing and even healing symbolism or represent transformation.
Seeing a raven might give you pause to ask yourself if there is something old or dying in your life or environment that you need to purge. Ravens also invite us to reframe death as a transition from one state of being to another. Ravens can represent letting old things go so you make room for new and better circumstances.
Because ravens have various sizes of feathers that are iridescent, some cultures view them as a symbol of shifting consciousness and accessing subconscious wisdom.
Ravens represent communication which correlates to the Throat Chakra (or 5th Chakra). They remind us to remain true to our voice and to use our voice wisely.
The Raven’s impressive intelligence and psychic abilities correlate to the Third Eye or sixth chakra. The raven could appear in our lives when we are going through a spiritual awakening or are transitioning from one level of thinking to a higher one. They can remind us to look at life through an aerial view with a broader perspective.
The black coloring of the raven correlates to the Root Chakra (or 1st Chakra) which reminds us to ground ourselves and connect to the earth. When going through transitions and spiritual awakenings or facing life’s challenges, it’s important to ground yourself solidly with the earth.
Perhaps Noah’s roaming raven is where the raven gets its symbolic meaning related to time and timing. Just as Noah had to wait for the right time to emerge from the ark, the events of our lives are often subject to timing. Raven tells us to trust God’s timing. The raven can tell us to act while the timing is right, so we don’t miss windows of opportunities. Or the raven can tell us to be patient and wait for things to unfold in their proper time and way.
Throughout various cultures, the raven corresponds to magic, mystical, and spiritual surprises.
I particularly enjoyed learning about the raven’s correlation to spiritual awakening. This is something that has been a theme for me this year. In fact, the reason we were in the area of Bryce Canyon where I saw and photographed the raven was because the next day I was attending an event where I would be speaking on “Finding Peace in a Turbulent World.” In this presentation I shared concepts I have gleaned as I’ve gone through a spiritual transitioning and awakening. You can view my presentation in the free “Finding Peace in a Turbulent World” course.
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