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Crow
Crow
- Law
Prayer
Crow.
. .
So
I may know, The secrets of balance, Within my soul?
Or
are you sending, Your sacred "caw" Just to remind me, Of universal
Laws?
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. The
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 the 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
are 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
Sow Turtle. Even with the knowledge
of alchemy possessed by
certain
boat people, none had ever seen the powerful shape shifting of
shamans
who utilized 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 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 medicine
appears
in your card spread, 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 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.
Why
the Crow is Black
One day, a crow and a hawk hunted together in the bush. After travelling
together for some time, they decided to hunt in opposite directions, and, at
the
close of the day, to share whatever game they had caught. The crow traveled
against the sun, and at noonday arrived at a broad lagoon, which was the
haunt of
the wild ducks. The crow hid in the tall green reeds fringing the lagoon,
and
prepared to trap the ducks. First, he got some white clay, and, having
softened
it with water placed two pieces in his nostrils. He then took a long piece
of
hollow reed through which he could breathe under water, and finally tied a
net
bag around his waist in which to place the ducks.
On the still surface of the lagoon, the tall gum trees were reflected like a
miniature forest. The ducks, with their bronze plumage glistening in the
sun,
were swimming among the clumps of reeds, and only paused to dive for a tasty
morsel hidden deep in the water weeds. The crow placed the reed in his
mouth,
and, without making any sound, waded into the water. He quickly submerged
himself, and the only indication of his presence in the lagoon, was a piece
of
dry reed, which projected above the surface of the water, and through which
the
crow was breathing. When he reached the center of the water hole he remained
perfectly still. He did not have to wait long for the ducks to swim above
his
head. Then, without making any sound or movement, he seized one by the leg,
quickly pulled it beneath the water, killed it, and placed it in the net
bag. By
doing this, he did not frighten the other ducks, and, in a short time he had
trapped a number of them. He then left the lagoon and continued on his way
until
he came to a river.
The crow was so pleased with his success at the waterhole, that he
determined to
spear some fish before he returned to his camp. He left the bag of ducks on
the
bank of the river, and, taking his fish spear; he waded into the river until
the
water reached his waist. Then he stood very still, with the spear poised for
throwing. A short distance from the spot where he was standing, a slight
ripple
disturbed the calm surface of the water. With the keen eye of the hunter, he
saw
the presence of fish, and, with a swift movement of his arm, he hurled the
spear, and his unerring aim was rewarded with a big fish. The water was soon
agitated by many fish, and the crow took advantage of this to spear many
more.
With this heavy load of game, he turned his face towards home.
The hawk was very unfortunate in his hunting. He stalked a kangaroo many
miles,
and then lost sight of it in the thickly wooded hills. He then decided to
try
the river for some fish, but the crow had made the water muddy and
frightened
the fish, so again he was unsuccessful. At last the hawk decided to return
to
his gunyah with the hope that the crow would secure some food, which they
had
previously agreed to share. When the hawk arrived, he found that the crow
had
been there before him and had prepared and eaten his evening meal. He at
once
noticed that the crow had failed to leave a share for him. This annoyed the
hawk, so he approached the crow and said: "I see you have had a good hunt
to-day. I walked many miles but could not catch even a lizard. I am tired
and
would be glad to have my share of food, as we agreed this morning."
"You are
too
lazy," the crow replied. "You must have slept in the sun instead of
hunting
for
food. Anyhow, I've eaten mine and cannot give you any." This made the hawk
very
angry, and he. attacked the crow. For a long time they struggled around the
dying embers of the campfire, until the hawk seized the crow and rolled him
in
the black ashes. When the crow recovered from the fight, he found that he
could
not wash the ashes off, and, since that time, crows have always been black.
The
crow was also punished for hiding the food, which he could not eat by being
condemned to live on putrid flesh.
Some Myths and Legends of the Australian Aborigines
By W. E. Thomas