Crows have often been shrouded in magic and mystery in many different beliefs and superstitions. To some, seeing a crow is good luck, yet to others, crows are omens of back luck and are dark creatures. Crows and ravens are featured heavily in Celtic Mythology, and one theory of where their association with death is thought to come from. Others believe that people see crows as bad omens because of their black colour, which is associated with death and demise. Even today, crows are often used in literature and films to depict darkness and death. They also feature heavily in the horror genre of films and books.
The Phantom Queen
In Celtic Mythology, the Phantom Queen, also known as Morrigan, is a powerful but dark goddess that brings fear to those who encounter her. She is the representation of darkness, magic and war. Morrigan has the ability to shapeshift into a crow or raven. As a crow or raven, she takes on a dark role flying over battlefields causing men to die or turn on each other. When she takes her usual form, she is often accompanied by a murder of crows or an unkindness of ravens. To see the crow or raven of the Phantom Queen meant almost certain death.
The book of Genesis
In the book of Genesis, there are several mentions of the Raven; Noah sent out the Raven to see if it could find dry land after the earth flooded. The raven returned and was not able to find good news. Some see this as symbolic of the raven's association with bad luck. Other people see Noah's faith in the raven as a sign that it is a clever, cunning bird which he can use to help humanity. There are many interpretations of the book of Genesis, but the raven plays a key part in the book in assisting Noah in searching for dry habitable land.
Crows in numbers
Some people believe that the number of crows changes the meaning of seeing a crow. One crow is a sign of spirituality and reminds you of the spiritual world. A group of crows sleeping symbolises peace between you and your friends. Crows playing are a sign of happiness, and that good things are coming your way. A crow call is a distinctive sound; if you see a group of crows talking to one another, it may indicate that you should communicate more with others. There are also some more specific meanings for seeing two, three, four, five and six crows. Crows are certainly symbolic and have a presence in spirituality. Whether you choose to believe in spirituality and the meaning of crows or not, seeing crows together or on their own can be very significant for some people.
Crows intelligence
Crows are actually very intelligent birds; they have one of the largest brains of all birds. They’re intelligent enough to fear people but will keep revisiting a place if they are provided with food. People can form bonds with crows by providing them with a source of food. The crow then repays the favour by bringing the person gifts in exchange for the food. The trinkets crows often bring include buttons, shiny rocks and even pieces of jewellery. This gives crows a reputation for stealing, which can add to their mysterious and magical status. Crows' intelligence goes even further; they often hide food and move it several times, each time returning to the spot where they placed the food.
No matter what your beliefs are about crows, they're very intelligent and intriguing birds that are common in the UK. You can find them in gardens searching for food or in woodlands and open fields. You will be able to recognise a crow by their appearance; they’re completely black, including their beaks. Crows also make a very distinctive caw-caw sound as they speak to other crows and warn of approaching predators. Crows are capable of communicating different messages to each other, another indication of their superior intelligence over other common birds. Look out for crows; when you’re next out in nature, you might find seeing a crow or a murder of crows symbolises something happening in your life.