The Crow Totem: Adaptability, Reflection, and Magic

Crows are a part of the same family in which Ravens, Magpies, and Jays reside. They are considered some of the most intelligent birds on the planet. They mimic, they have self-recognition when seeing themselves in mirrors, they can even troubleshoot and shape tools to retrieve food from tricky places. And they eat everything, which probably makes it easier for them to live all over the world. They are incredibly adaptable.

The Crow's distinctive features are its iridescent black feathers, thick, stout body, and unique call that is well-recognized. They are monogamous and live in families of other breeding pairs. These families, or roosts, occur in their greatest numbers during the fall and winter but theories abound as to why this happens. Roosts can hold just under a hundred crows, to thousands, tens of thousands, and, though very rarely, more than a million!

About the time we begin to see the end of the summer coming, we sometimes attempt to squeeze more "summer activites" into those warms days. We go to the rivers, take the kids on one last trip before school starts, have more BBQs with friends and family.

We gather with our flock.

Interestingly, this escorts our time into a new season: autumn, a season of great change, colorful satisfaction, shedding what is no longer needed, and preparing for the darker days of introspective winter.

Autumn acts as a sweet spot between the intensity of summer's pace and the den of winter's hibernation.

So, how does Crow speak to us during this time? Crow reminds us of the mysterious, the approaching days of less sunlight, magic and miracles, adaptability, and to stand confidently as our true selves.

A time of reflection and internalization approaches: for now, embrace the magic of autumn with the after-glow of summer's driven intensity with courage and joy.

For more information about Crow ecology, visit http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/crowfaq.htm or http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/american_crow/id

For more information about Crow as a totem animal, visit http://www.spiritanimal.info/crow-spirit-animal OR check out Animal Speak by Ted Andrews and Animal Spirit Guides by Steven Farmer.

Photo Credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/47246995@N00/1567912349/">ed ed</a> via <a href="http://compfight.com">Compfight</a> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/help/general/#147">cc</a>

#Autumn #EarthMedicine #AnimalTotems #Totems #Biology #NatureConnection