Ravens have a strong place in our psyche. They are one of the few birds that most of us instantly recognize either by sight or sound. There are also very few other birds that are so important to us in terms of their spirituality.
For most of us…
This is a bird that we have grown up seeing in movies and heard about through legend and myth. Consequently, there is a lot of interest in this mystical bird. Hopefully, the 12 spiritual meanings of ravens on this list will, therefore, give you a better sense of their significance when you come into contact with them in the future.
Contents
- 12 Spiritual Meanings Of Ravens
- Enjoying Reading About Raven Symbolism?
- Spiritual Meanings Of Ravens – Final Thoughts
12 Spiritual Meanings Of Ravens
So, let’s get to it and take a look at the first spiritual symbolism of the raven.
1. Psychic Powers
The spiritual meanings of ravens have a strong association with the occult and mystic powers. They are believed by many to have the ability to see into other worlds, beyond what we can see as humans in our normal surroundings. They are even depicted as having a third eye in drawings and paintings.
The gift of foresight…
Ravens are also believed to be able to see into the future. Poet Edgar Allan Poe wrote about these legendary abilities in “The Raven,” which was published in 1845. The poem tells the story of a distant lover who receives a visit from a talking raven.
Finally, if you are visited by ravens, it could be that you have ‘the gift’ and possess special psychic powers. So, if you feel a close connection with these special birds, you may have hidden traits and qualities you never knew of.
2. Resilience and Survival
The raven is the master of surviving in harsh conditions. It can thrive in the blistering heat of the South American desert and is equally at home in the freezing cold of the wilderness in the Arctic. It is a true survivor that will make the best of things, regardless of where it finds itself.
In the spirit of resilience through hardship…
The presence of a raven is a reminder of the importance of learning how to adapt to your environment. This is an essential skill that can help you to prosper and succeed where all those around you fail. Therefore, don’t think of how you can change things around you but how you can change yourself to best suit the situation you are in.
Plus, as well as being adaptable, a tough mental attitude and the ability to endure hard times will take you further than you could ever expect. Look at the raven and see how it can soak up seemingly endless punishment.
Tap into your inner mental strength, and it will lead you to a lifetime of success.
3. Persistence
Ravens have many great personality traits, and persistence is right up there as one of their best. Despite the greatest of hurdles and the most difficult of situations, this is a bird that will not give up or back down.
When you see a raven, it is there to remind you to dig deep and utilize this amazing quality to your advantage. Maybe you are guilty of quitting when things don’t go your way, and you frequently fail because of it. Keep in mind that to succeed at anything can take numerous attempts before you master whatever it is you have set out to achieve.
And you already have it in you…
Think about when you were a toddler and how many times you must have fallen over before you eventually learned to walk. Think about how many times you had to try before you could ride a bike, skateboard, ski, or play a musical instrument without people reaching for the earplugs!
Nothing worth achieving in life is ever easy. So, channel your inner toddler and inner child when things get tough. Stick with it, keep going, and great things will come of it moving forward.
4. Wisdom and Cunning
Ravens are incredibly intelligent birds and often use their intellect to communicate and problem-solve. Additionally, they can use tools and do so to trap and catch their prey.
When you feel an affinity for ravens, it can mean that you have a strong intellect, but you also use it in a way that is beneficial to you. Rather than just waste your talents, you solve problems in a considered and rational way.
Are you creative?
A raven can also be a means to draw your attention to your creativity and inventiveness. And, if you are a creative person, the raven could be alerting you to someone who is trying to use and cash in on your ideas. Therefore, you need to be careful of the people around you who might want to steal all your hard work.
5. Emotional Stability
If a raven crosses your path, it can mean that you have a problem controlling your emotions. You are quick to show when you are happy or sad, and you are equally quick to show your anger. Essentially, you are short-tempered, and you fly off the handle when faced with even the smallest of problems.
Moreover, your inability to suppress your anger may now be hampering your normal life. People around you could be starting to avoid you because they just don’t want to have to deal with your emotional outbursts.
And seriously, who could blame them?
The raven is trying to nudge you out of your present emotional state. If its appearance doesn’t help, then you should try a few more traditional approaches to get to the bottom of things. Try talking to someone about how you feel and consider taking a short anger management course.
6. Transformation
One of the most important spiritual meanings of ravens is transformation.
So, why is that?
That is because ravens are often seen around dead or dying animals. Consequently, many people think of them as representing death and as being a bad omen. However, this could not be further from the truth. The point of death represents the time of transformation, rebirth, and new beginnings.
This means that, in your life, seeing a raven shows a phase of change. This is the cycle of life. It can bring with it times of joy or pain, but like life itself, these times will be transient and will ultimately transition into yet another new phase.
7. Expression
Ravens have a very distinctive sound. Once you hear a raven, you will never mistake them again for another bird. They, therefore, have their own special identity as a result.
When you hear a raven caw or croak, it may be reminding you that you should be more individual and express yourself in your own unique way. You should not feel pressurized to conform to the crowd or to please other people.
Be true to yourself and be prepared to go your own way.
8. Collaboration
Ravens are highly cooperative and will work together with their own, as well as other species. This also perfectly demonstrates their intelligence and adaptability, that we have looked at earlier.
Ravens will help each other to build their nests and hunt for food. They will also work as mating pairs to feed and protect their young whenever they can. This is not just a trait of the raven but of many different animals, which of course, includes us humans.
The most fascinating fact about these birds is that they will alert vultures to the presence of dead animals. They do this because they have incredible sight and can see carcasses much further away than birds like vultures. They do this because the bigger birds can tear off larger chunks of flesh, which makes it easier for the raven to take manageable pieces of food.
And symbiotic collaboration is a marker for life’s successes…
This remarkable piece of cooperation could be connected to the meaning that the raven is trying to convey. That is, to succeed, you need to actively seek out people around you to lend a hand. You should do this with your life partner and also with your work and business colleagues.
To truly be successful, you cannot do it alone. You must learn whom you can trust to help you achieve your own personal goals and ambitions. Then, work in harmony so both consequently benefit from what will hopefully become a symbiotic relationship.
9. Trying New Things
Ravens are very inquisitive birds, and they are also open to trying new things that are specifically related to their diet. This is a fantastic trait because it helps them to survive where, otherwise, they would perish.
Ravens will essentially eat anything. They will eat insects, birds’ eggs, fruit, vegetables, or pretty much whatever they can find. Moreover, they aren’t fussy and will take whatever they can get and explore any new food source they come across.
The raven could be passing on this message that to truly flourish, you should be more open to new things in your life.
In what way?
You might have fallen into a rut that has stunted your personal and work life. Maybe you are having problems with your relationship, maybe you are bored with your partner, and this all stems from being stuck in the same routine. You also might be bored with your work, or you have just not seen the progress you expected. All because you are doing the same old things.
You should be asking yourself, “Where will I be in five years if I change nothing?” We all know the answer is usually that you will be exactly in the same place, but five years older. Is that really where you want to be?
If not, you had better start bringing in the changes!
10. Selectiveness
Although a raven is not a solitary bird, it can seldom be seen in a flock. It is very selective about whom it associates with and will avoid being in a large group. This is the message the raven is trying to convey to you.
Let me explain…
When you see a raven, think about if you have people in your life who are more acquaintances than true friends. If this is the case, do you really need them in your life, and are they contributing anything positive to it? Ask yourself if you would not be better off having a few close friends around you who you know can be trusted and relied upon.
It is more likely that you would enjoy a better social life and be better supported by not having large groups of unwanted people surrounding you. Go for quality over quantity every time when it comes to friendships.
11. Soul Mates
Ravens generally mate for life. Once they get together, they stay together and work tirelessly to increase the strength of their pair bonding. In fact, I honestly can’t help but think that it is us that can learn so much from these birds in this day and age.
When you witness a raven, it can therefore be a sign that, for you singles, there is a strong chance you will meet the love of your life. Be open to meeting your new mate, and hopefully, you will soon be following the lead of this remarkable bird.
12. Danger
Encountering a raven might be a warning of danger. It could be a sign that there are people who are surrounding you and pretending to be your friends but are secretly trying to do you harm. Consequently, show caution and do not share information excessively with people you don’t know well.
Think about who these people might be and start to take steps to minimize your contact with them. You should also pledge to continue to be much more discreet with what you tell people in the future.
Enjoying Reading About Raven Symbolism?
If so, we’d like to invite you to learn more about Red Bird Spiritual Meaning, Hawk Symbolism, Bluebird Spiritual Meanings, Robin Symbolism, Dove Meaning, Cardinal Meaning, Eagle Symbolism, and Blue Jay Spiritual Meaning.
And if you dreamt about a raven…
Take a look at the meanings behind a Dream About Birds. Or simply explore our comprehensive collection of dream guides about anything from a Dream About Owls to Drawing Dream Meaning, Dreams About Ex-Boyfriends, Broken Teeth Dream Interpretations, or Dreaming About a Dog Attack.
We’re here to inform you on any dream interpretation you may need in 2023.
Ok, back to today’s guide…
Spiritual Meanings Of Ravens – Final Thoughts
I’m sure you will agree that many think ravens only carry with them negative energy. However, I hope my list of meanings behind ravens has helped to dispel this misinformed belief. They are a much maligned and misunderstood bird, so it is good to put the record straight.
Maybe Alfred Hitchcock was a lot to blame because of his 1963 thriller movie named appropriately, “The Birds.” This was based on the 1952 short story penned by Daphne Du Maurier. The movie depicted a flock of demented, vicious birds hell-bent on killing the inhabitants of a small Californian town.
But now, you can ignore that specific piece of fiction and relax the next time you see one of these magnificent birds. After all, you now know that they are more likely to be bringing good news than bad.
Happy raven spotting!
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