The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

I went walking last Thursday evening. There was a beautiful crescent moon out. I could hardly walk straight for looking at the moon. I love walking at night...the air is crisp and cool, I love how things look at night...how the moonlight sometimes gives objects an almost cool sheen and other times a molten silver glow. It seems magical, mystical, peaceful and serene...I wanted to fling my arms wide and dance. Dance to music only I can hear, notes of tinkling silver floating in the air.



When I reached home, I sat upon the porch steps for a while just gazing at the moon, nothing in particular in my mind, just a feeling of peace. I listened to the leaves rustle in the slight breeze and I heard the crickets sing. I've always loved the night. The house gets quiet, everything is hushed and the hectic day just kind of melts away. Life is good.

What is your name? Rayven



How old are you? 38



When is your Birthday? September, 23rd



What is your zodiac sign? I was born on the cusp between Virgo and Libra.



Where were you born? Oklahoma



Where do you live now? Oklahoma



What color eyes do you have? Hazel



What color hair do you have? Lt. Brown



How tall are you? 5'6"



How much do you weigh? (Be Honest Ladies) 180



What is your race? Mixed



What is your worst fear? Being Alone



Do you smoke? No



Do you drink? Only to excess. (j/k)



Do you cuss? Nope, not unless you really tick me off!!



Do you use drugs? Only those I have a prescription for. LOL!



Have you ever or will you ever steal? Have stolen stuff when a teenager.



Are you dependable and/or trustworthy? Yes, very.



Do you play in a band or play an instrument? Nope



Do you have any tattoos and/or piercings? Ears pierced twice, want a tattoo.



If you had a favorite serial killer who would it be? Jack the Ripper



Do you suffer from depression disorder? No, I enjoy every minute of it!



If you had a choice about how you wanted to die what would it be? In my sleep or during sex.



Have you ever tried to commit suicide? No



Have you ever purposely caused harm to yourself or someone else? Yes



What subculture do you belong too? None



Are you evil? Not in the least little bit.



Do you believe that you can be possesed? I've seen it, so yeah.



Are you a paranoid person? Who me? Did you hear that?



Do you ever get jealous of somebody else? Only the beautiful and rich.



Are you obsessive and/or compulsive? No, no, I'm not...really....No



Are you a violent person? If provoked strongly enough, yes



Do you take your anger out on other people? Bad habit, yes, working on that



Do you blame other people for your mistakes? Nope..my choices...my mistakes



What is your favorite game? Law & Order



What is your favorite movie? Practical Magic



Who is your favorite band? Hinder



What is your favorite song? "Lips of an Angel"



What kind of books and/or magazines do you read? Everything, I devour anything...I love reading.



What is your favorite color? Red and Black



What is your favorite food? Shrimp Alfredo



What is your favorite drink? Dr. Pepper



Do you own a pair of converse? Nope



Do you own a pair of dickies? Nope



Would you ever kill yourself or someone else? In self-defense of myself or someone else, yes.



Are you a virgin? No...but it's been so long it kinda feels like it! LOL!



Are you kinky? Oh yeah!!!



Do you like biting? Yes



Do you masturbate? Uhmmmm...Yeah.



Do you watch pornography? If my partner wants to...it's no fun alone!!



Have you ever dyed your hair an unusual color? Nope



Have you ever shaved your head in a socially unacceptable way? No



Are you hyper active person? Just the opposite, laid back and chilled.



Are you religious? Spiritual more than religious. I do believe in God.



Do you have any self inflicted scars? Yes



Does pain turn you on? Not really



Do you stand for originality and creativity? Duh! I'm an artist!!



Do you like meeting new people? Not really, but I adapt.



What do you like most about life? My kids



What do you dislike most about life? Being lonely



Do you believe in love at first fright? Not really



Have you ever pierced a body part yourself? Yes



Have you ever had to beg for dinner money? No



Do you own a car? Yes



Have you been to jail, yet? No, and don't ever intend to go.



Are your clothes held together with safety pins? Nope



Do you have actual scars from punk rock shows? No



Have you ever vomited while making out? Ewwwww! No!



Have you held a job for less than a day? No



Do you own more than two pair of jeans? Yes



Have you ever had to fuck stuff up for no good reason? Not really



Have you ever been kicked out of your parents house? Yes



Have you ever been fired from your job because of your attitude? No



Does the world piss you off? Only on really bad days!!



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In early modern English witchcraft, a familiar spirit, commonly called a familiar (from Middle English familiar, related to family) or imp, is a spirit who obeys a witch, conjurer, or other users of the supernatural, and serves and helps that person.



Although they may not be as intelligent as their masters, they are often as intelligent as the average human. Familiars often perform domestic duties but also aid the person in bewitching people. If they look like ordinary animals, they can be used to spy on their masters' enemies.



These spirits are also said to be able to inspire artists and writers (basically like muses). Some reclusive wizards rely on familiars as their closest friends.



Familiars were mentioned in Shakespeare's Macbeth, as the witches called their familiars. Many other works have utilized familiars.



The most common species identified as familiars are cats, particularly black cats, owls, dogs, and sometimes frogs or toads. In later cases, familiars moved to more ethereal forms, often taking the shape of a "black man" thought to be representative of Satan.



Familiars are an identifying characteristic of early modern English witchcraft, and serve as one feature setting it apart from continental or New York witchcrafts.



Familiars are generally animals or such beings. They usually have some magical power. In many modern fantasy stories, a magician's familiar is a magical creature, furthermore, in many cases the power of the familiar is directly proportional to the power of the magician.



The form taken by the familiar is also influenced by the personality of its master. The relationships between familiars and their masters vary by story. Some familiars do not have free will and are nothing more than tools of their masters while others are willing servants who can make their own decisions and would leave their masters if mistreated.



Familiar spirits are also referenced in the Bible: "A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them." Lev. 20:27, KJV.

Salem Witch Trials

The Salem witch trials of Colonial America resulted in a number of convictions and executions for witchcraft in 1692 in Massachusetts, the result of a period of factional infighting and Puritan paranoia which led to the deaths of at least 25 people and the imprisonment of scores more. Witch trials were held in Europe several hundred years before those in Salem.



In 1692, in Salem Village (now Danvers, Massachusetts), a number of young girls, particularly Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam, Betty Parris and Mary Walcott, accused other townsfolk of magically possessing them, and therefore of being witches or warlocks in league with Satan.



The community, under threat from Indians and without any formal colonial government following the 1684 revocation of the Bay Colony charter and the 1689 revolt against Governor Andros, believed the accusations, and sentenced these people to either confess they were witches or be hanged.



The accusations spread quickly, and within only a couple of months involved the neighboring communities of Andover, Amesbury, Salisbury, Haverhill, Topsfield, Ipswich, Rowley, Gloucester, Manchester, Malden, Charlestown, Billerica, Beverly, Reading, Woburn, Lynn, Marblehead, and Boston.



The Beginning



In the cold winter of 1691-1692, Betty Parris and Abigail Williams, respectively the daughter and the ward of the Reverend Samuel Parrise, began to act peculiarly — speaking oddly, hiding under things and creeping on the floor. Not a single doctor the Rev. Mr. Parris brought forth could tell what ailed the girls, and at last one concluded that it was the hand of the Devil on them; in other words, they were possessed. Parris and other upstanding citizens began urging Betty and Abigail, and then newly possessed children Ann Putnam, Betty Hubbard, Mercy Lewis, Susannah Sheldon, Mercy Short, and Mary Warren, to name those who afflicted them. At last the girls began to blurt out names.



The first three women to be accused were Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba. Good, orphaned as a teenager at the death of her mother, a French innkeeper, was the town beggar, noted for her strange "muttering." Osborne was a bedridden elderly woman who had gotten on the wrong side of the Putnams when she cheated her first husband's children out of their inheritance, giving it to her new husband. Tituba was the Carib Native American slave of Samuel Parris; though she is very often referred to as black in modern historical and fictional interpretations of the trials, there is no evidence that she was anything but Native American.



These women were charged with witchcraft on March 1 and put in prison. Other accusations followed: Dorcas Good (four-year-old daughter of Sarah Good), Rebecca Nurse (a bedridden grandmother of saintly disposition), Abigail Hobbs, Deliverance Hobbs, Martha Corey, and Elizabeth and John Proctor.



As the number of accusations grew, the jail populations of Salem, Boston, and surrounding areas swelled, and a new problem surfaced: Without a legitimate form of government, there was no way to try these women. None of them were tried until late May, when Governor Phips arrived and instituted a Court of Oyer and Terminer (to "hear and determine"). By then, Sarah Osborne had died in jail without a trial, as had Sarah Good's newborn baby girl, and many others were ill; there were perhaps 80 people in jail awaiting trial.



Over the summer, the Court heard cases approximately once per month, at mid-month. Of the accused, only one was released when the girls recanted their identification of him. All cases that were heard ended with the accused being condemned to death for witchcraft; no one was found innocent. Only those who pleaded guilty to witchcraft and supplied other names to the court were spared execution.



Elizabeth Proctor and at least one other woman were given respite "for the belly," because they were pregnant. Though convicted, they would not be hanged until they had given birth. A series of four executions over the summer saw nineteen people hanged, including a respected minister, a former constable who refused to arrest more accused witches, and at least three people of some wealth. Six of the nineteen were men; most of the rest were impoverished women beyond childbearing age.



Only one execution was not by hanging. Giles Corey, an 80-year-old farmer from the southeast end of Salem, refused to enter a plea. The law provided for the application of a form of torture called , in which the victim was slowly crushed by piling stones on him; after three days of excruciating pain, Corey died without entering a plea.



Though his refusal to plead is often explained as a way of preventing his possessions from being confiscated by the state, this is not true; the possessions of convicted witches were often confiscated, and possessions of persons accused but not convicted were confiscated before a trial, as in the case of Corey's neighbor John Proctor and the wealthy English's of Salem Town. Some historians hypothesize that his personal character, a stubborn and lawsuit-prone old man who knew he was going to be convicted regardless, led to his recalcitrance.



The land suffered along with the people. Crops went untended, cattle uncared for. Often, accused people who had not yet been arrested gathered up their most portable belongings and fled to New York or beyond. Sawmills, their owners missing or distracted, their workers arrested or gawking at the spectacles at the jails or in the meetinghouses, sat idle. Commerce ground to, if not a halt, at least a snail's pace. And there was news of further Indian unrest to the west.



The Ending



The witch trials ended in January 1693, although people already jailed for witchcraft were not all released until the next spring. Officially, the royal appointed governor of Massachusetts, Sir William Phips, ended them after an appeal by Boston-area clergy headed by Increase Mather, "Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits," published October 3, 1692. In it, Increase Mather stated "It were better that Ten Suspected Witches should escape, than that the Innocent Person should be Condemned." Echoes of this phrase can be found in the United States of America's innocent-until-proven-guilty judicial system of today.



This incident was so profound that it helped end the influence of the Puritan faith on the governing of New England and led indirectly to the founding principles of the United States of America.



Participants



Clerical Participants And Commentators

The Rev. Cotton Mather

The Rev. Samuel Parris

The Rev. Increase Mather

The Rev. Francis Dane

The Rev. Deodat Lawson

The Rev. Samuel Willard

The Rev. John Hale



Presiding Officials



Presiding officials, Court of Oyer and Terminer

Lieutenant Governor William Stoughton, Chief Magistrate

Captain Jonathan Walcott

Sheriff John Walcott

Associate Magistrates

John Hathorne

Samuel Sewall

Thomas Danforth

Bartholomew Gedney

John Richards

Nathaniel Saltonstall

Peter Sargent

Stephen Sewall, Clerk

Wait Still Winthrop



Afflicted



Those who complained of bewitchment:

Sarah Bibber

Elizabeth Booth

Sarah Churchill

Martha Goodwin

Elizabeth Hubbard

Mary Lacey (also an accused witch)

Mercy Lewis

Elizabeth "Betty" Parris

Bethshaa Pope

Ann Putnam, Jr.

Susanna Sheldon

Mercy Short

Martha Sprague

Mary Walcott

Mary Warren (was accused of witchcraft when she recanted and said the girls "did but dissemble", i.e. "were just faking it")

Abigail Williams



Accused



This is not a complete list; there were anywhere from 150 to 300 accused recorded, and there may have been many more not imprisoned:

Capt. John Alden Jr.

Daniel Andrew

Sarah Bassett

Edward Bishop

Sarah Bishop

Mary Black

Dudley Bradstreet

John Bradstreet

Sarah Buckley

Richard Carrier

Candy, a slave from Salem

Mary Clarke

Sarah Easty Cloyce

Sarah Cole

Giles Corey

Mary Bassett DeRich

Ann Dolliver

Rebecca Eames

Mary English

Philip English

Abigail Faulkner

Ann Foster

Dorcas Hoar

Abigail Hobbs

Deliverance Hobbs

Elizabeth Howe

Mary Ireson

George Jacobs, Jr.

Margaret Jacobs

Elizabeth Johnson

Mary Lacey, Sr.

Mary Lacey (also an afflicted child)

Sarah Osborne

Lady Phips, wife of Governor Phips

Susannah Post

Elizabeth Bassett Proctor

Mary (Woodrow) Sibley, wife of Samuel Sibley

Tituba and her husband John Indian

Job Tookey

Hezekiah Usher

Mary Withridge

Executed

Bridget Bishop — hanged June 10, 1692

The Rev. George Burroughs — hanged August 19, 1692

Martha Carrier — hanged August 19, 1692

Martha Corey — hanged September 22, 1692

Giles Corey — pressed to death September 19, 1692

Mary Easty — hanged September 22, 1692

Sarah Good — hanged June 19, 1692

Elizabeth Howe — hanged June 19, 1692

George Jacobs, Sr. — hanged August 19, 1692

Susannah Martin — hanged June 19, 1692

Rebecca Nurse — hanged June 19, 1692

Alice Parker — hanged September 22, 1692

Mary Parker — hanged September 22, 1692

John Proctor — hanged August 19, 1692

Ann Pudeator — hanged September 22, 1692

Wilmott Redd — hanged September 22, 1692

Margaret Scott — hanged September 22, 1692

Samuel Wardwell — hanged September 22, 1692

Sarah Wildes — hanged June 19, 1692

John Willard — hanged August 19, 1692

Died In Jail

Sarah Osborne

"Dr." Roger Toothaker

Ann Foster

Lydia Dustin

Dorcas Good (daughter of Sarah Good)



Note



Increase Mather is frequently misquoted as saying it is better that "a hundred guilty witches go free": what he actually wrote, however, was "Ten Suspected Witches".



Spectral Evidence



One of the great injustices of the Salem Witchcraft Trials was the admission of spectral evidence. Spectral evidence was testimony that the accused witch's spirit (i.e., spectre) appeared to the witness in a dream or vision. The dream or vision was admitted as evidence. Thus, witnesses (who were often the accusers) would testify that "Goody Proctor bit, pinched, and almost choked me", and it would be taken as evidence that the accused were responsible for the biting, pinching and choking even though they were elsewhere at the time.



Thomas Brattle, a merchant of Salem, made note that "when the afflicted do mean and intend only the appearance and shape of such an one, say J. Proctor, yet they positively swear that J. Proctor did afflict them; and they were allowed to do so; as though there was no real difference between J. Proctor and the shape of J. Proctor."

Rev. Cotton Mather argued stenuously that it was appropriate to admit spectral evidence into legal proceedings. Robert Calef published More Wonders of the Invisible World to criticize Mather for this position. (Mather sued him for libel, and had the book burned in Harvard Yard). Cotton Mather remained unrepentant for his role in the trials and the admission of spectral evidence till his death.



Rev. Increase Mather, Cotton's father, however, became an opponent of spectral evidence - though not until after the Salem hangings had taken place, and not on the basis that it was false testimony by witnesses, but that it might be a deception by demons. He published Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits Personating Men, in which he argued that "It were better that ten suspected witches should escape, than that one innocent person should be condemned".

The legend of the Phoenix has been around for centuries. There are a few variations, but the basic idea is this: The Phoenix is a supernatural creature, living for 1000 years. Once that time is over, it builds its own funeral pyre, and throws itself into the flames. As it dies, it is reborn anew, and rises from the ashes to live another 1000 years. Alternatively, it lays an egg in the burning coals of the fire which hatches into a new Phoenix, and the life cycle repeats.



There are a few theories as to what might have given rise to such a legend. Perhaps a brightly colored bird was captured in Asia, and sold in a foreign land with wild stories about the bird's legendary powers, in hopes of jacking up the price.



Perhaps someone saw a common peacock backlit by the setting sun, and believed the bird to be on fire. There are a myriad of possibilities, none of which can be confirmed.



One theory about the origins of the Phoenix legend is rather bizarre, but may be closer to the truth than some others: The original 'Phoenix' may have been a crow or raven dancing in a dying fire. It sounds strange, but truth is often stranger than fiction.



Ravens and crows have been known to practice a peculiar form of behavior called 'Anting'. The bird will disturb an ant's nest, or sit over something sweet (like spilled honey or an almost empty soda-pop can), spread out its wings, and allow ants to run up and down its body. It is thought that the ants give the bird a sort of 'back massage' this way, or that they feast on feather mites which live on the bird and cause irritation. For whatever reason, they seem to enjoy the sensation and have been known to do it repeatedly.



In a similar way, some of these birds will sit over a hot surface, such as the dying embers of a fire, and spread out their wings. Perhaps they do it for the same reason we sit in a sauna - they just enjoy the heat - or perhaps they use the intense heat to encourage feather mites to find a different home. Since they won't talk, it's hard to tell.



However, if a bird such as a large raven sits on the embers of a fire, and for some reason chooses to flap its wings (maybe as a way to cool off, or maybe because it's ready to take to the air) then it could stir the fire to life again. The sudden resurgence of flames around it would almost certainly cause the bird to take off.

And voila - you have a bird rising from the midst of flames and ashes....The Legendary Phoenix.

It's been such a "Blah" day today. It is windy and cold, wet and dark. Perfect weather for snuggling up under the covers with a nice warm body. *Sigh* Any volunteers? Notice, I specified warm...no coldies need apply...I need heat! LOL!



Didn't get much accomplished today and God (!) I am eating the worst bag of popcorn I have ever had in my LIFE! Pop Weaver Sucks!! Ewww! Anyway...got side-tracked...my son left early to go back to his Dad's house and my eldest is out and about with her friends, so I am left at loose ends, so to speak.



I get lonely...not that being alone bothers me, because (hey!) don't mind spending some quality time by myself. There is a difference in being alone and being lonely. Anyone who has ever been lonely can attest to that. My friends don't live in town so visiting with them is usually limited to a couple of times a month.



I really wouldn't be as lonely and let's face it, bored...if I hadn't read all my books. I really need to quit doing that. I need to show a little restraint when I get some new books and save them for when I'm bored and lonely. Yeah...*rolls eyes*...like that's gonna happen. I get a book and I have to read it. It drives me crazy until I finish it. Okay, okay...so I might be a little neurotic...who isn't?



I noticed there are a lot of readers on this site. MY PEOPLE! Finally I have found you!! For years I doubted you existed, but here you are...and I'm so happy!! *Sniff, Sniff...sob* I don't know about the rest of you, but when I read a book, the words leap off the page and my mind takes flight into another realm. I become what I am reading. I love having such a vivid imagination! It is the best type of escapist entertainment. Let's face it...most movies are never as good as the books!



Well...I feel as though I've rambled enough for one day. I'd better say, "Good night." before I lose what few readers I have. To all...Be Blessed!

When God created woman, He was working late on the 6th day. An angel came by and said, "Why spend so much time on that one?"



The Lord answered, "Have you seen all the specifications I have to fulfill to create her? She must be washable, but not brittle, have more than 200 moving parts which must be replaceable. She cures herself and can work 18 hours a day. She must operate on all kinds of food and must be able to embrace several kids at the same time, give a hug that can heal anything from a bruised knee to a broken heart and she must do all this with only two hands."





The angel was impressed. "Just two hands.....impossible! Is this the standard model?! That's too much work for one day...wait until tomorrow then complete her."



"I will not," said the Lord. "I am so close to completion of My creation, which will be the favorite of My heart."



The angel came nearer and touched the woman. "But You have made her so soft, Lord!"





"She is soft," said the Lord, "but I have also made her strong. You cannot imagine what she can endure and overcome."



"Can she think?" The angel asked.



The Lord answered, "Not only can she think, she can reason and negotiate."



The angel touched the woman's cheek..."Lord, it seems Your creation is leaking! You have put too many burdens on her."



"She is not leaking...it is a tear," the Lord corrected the angel.



"What's it for?" asked the angel.



And the Lord said, "Tears are her way of expressing grief, doubts, love, loneliness, suffering and pride."



This made a big impression on the angel. "Lord, You are a genius. You have thought of everything! The woman is indeed marvelous!"



"Indeed she is. Woman has strengths that amaze man. She can handle trouble and carry heavy burdens. She holds happiness, love and opinions. She smiles when feeling like screaming, sings when she feels like crying, cries when she is happy and laughs when she is afraid. She fights for what she believes in and stands up against injustice. She doesn't take "no" for an answer, when she can see a better solution. She gives of herself so her family can thrive. She takes her friend to the doctor if she is afraid for them. She cries when her kids are victorious, happy when her friends do well, glad when she hears of births or weddings. Her heart is broken when family or a friend dies, but she finds the strength to get on with life. She knows that a kiss and a hug can heal a broken heart. Her love is unconditional. There is only one thing wrong with her: She forgets what she is worth...."

The concept of Gargoyles started between the 11th and the 13th Centuries. Their purpose was first to scare off evil, and second as a fancy way to divert rainwater.



Many have open mouths because they also functioned as downspouts to divert rainwater from foundations. As a result, many of the early Gargoyles also had rather long necks. The word "Gargoyle" originates from the old French word "Gargouille" meaning "Throat" but which also fairly well describes the gurgling sound of water coming through the downspout.



The Catholic Church originally used Gargoyles as a scary visual reminder to behave for their Pagan converts, many of whom were illiterate. They were something of a "sermon in stone", or a warning of sorts to teach the people how to behave in a non-written way. They are now pretty much ornamental and assume many different forms.



Most gargoyles are grotesque, but stone carvers in the past also honored relatives and friends by carving their faces into them. As they evolved, they morphed into often very elaborate statuary.



As Gargoyles evolved, they became symbols of sorts, using recurring themes, mostly related to Paganism. The five basic groups are listed below:



.....Faces with multiple smaller figures and one large figure, or one figure with mouth agape and protruding tongue - symbolizes the insignificance of the individual and how vulnerable we are to larger powers.



.....Detached heads - A real practice of the Celts, who were head hunters. They worshiped the heads they severed and believed these heads held supernatural powers.



.....Ambiguous gender and species - Specimens again date back to the Pagans. The Pagan religions existed to overcome chaos and peril. These Gargoyles are representative of the fear of the unknown. This type of Gargoyle is now known as "Grotesque."



.....Head entwined with branches and leaves - A branch coming out of the mouth or surrounding the head was a sign of divinity to the Celts. The Druids often depicted oak leaves, as the oak was sacred to them. This is often referred to as the "Green Man" today.



.....Sexual Themes - Used by the Pagan religions as symbols of fertility. If used on outside walls, they were thought to discourage evil. Again, we go back to the universal fear of sexuality that exists even today.



It is also believed that if approached by evil the Gargolyles would emit a high-pitched wail that would ward the off evil or warn the innocent of the presence of evil.

Ravens

Ravens - large black birds associated through history with mischief, darkness, and melancholia - are common throughout the old world and the new.





What they Look Like

Ravens are large black birds, with a blue-purple iridescence to their feathers. They are approximately 24-27 inches long at maturity, and their wingspan doubles that. The beak and feet are black, and the iris of the eye is brown. Young birds are less glossy than adults, but they lose the dullness when they reach maturity.



Although they are frequently confused with crows, ravens differ in many ways. A raven's beak is larger and heavier than a crow's beak. Their throat feathers are more pointed and elongated, giving them a 'spiky' appearance when they fluff up. Crows' throat feathers, on the other hand, are rounded, like a semicircular fan. Most noticeably, their caw is much deeper than the crow's call, and much throatier. Also, a raven's call is more varied than the repetitive cawing of a crow.



Legend has it that a raven's favorite food is the body of a dead man, or of other dead animals, and that a raven will go first for the eyes of such a fallen creature. Other tales say that ravens will hunt with wolves and share the kill with them.



There may be a certain amount of truth in these, for ravens do have a certain fondness for eating flesh. Dead bodies, however, take some time to decompose before the birds can easily tear the meat from the carcass. By going for softer tissues, like eyes, the birds are more likely to get a quick meal. Also, by following a hunting pack of wolves, ravens will have access to the meat as soon as the wolves begin to tear up their kill.



Despite their morbid tastes, ravens also do mankind a favor, by eating a number of undesirable insects, and sometimes even noxious weeds.



Ravens have been associated by various cultures with different qualities. In popular western literature, they symbolize darkness, depression, and death (popularized in Edgar Allan Poe's poem, 'The Raven'). In medieval times they stood for virility. Among native cultures, Raven is the 'trickster' spirit, a popular totem, and the creator of man, who placed the Sun in the sky.



Totem spirits play an important role in traditional native beliefs, and feature prominently in native mythology. They are spiritual incarnations of animals or natural forces or which exemplify the traits associated with that animal or phenomenon. They may be present in their earthly manifestations, but they aren't bound by physical forms.



The totem 'Raven', for example, is not just 'a raven', or 'all ravens' but The Raven - the one who personifies what it means to be a raven, and from whom all raven-like qualities are derived.



Raven is the spiritual father of all ravens, and of all who are called by him.



Totems are not 'gods', however. You don't worship a totem - you follow it. You learn from the lessons it teaches. You practice living by the ideals which it embodies. The Way of a totem is something you aspire to, rather like someone who aspires to live according to a code of honor.

You don't choose your totem...No... your Totem chooses You.



Raven as a Totem



Raven is a special totem. They are all special, of course, but Raven holds a unique place among totems. He is considered by many to be the creator, and sometimes saviour, of man. According to legend, he made mankind, he brought them salmon to eat, he stole fire from the sun so mankind wouldn't freeze, he brought them water to drink during a drought, and he taught man to enjoy life. Raven is a cultural hero - a creator... and a trickster.



Raven's mischief is legendary among the native tribes of the northwest. He is always playing tricks, changing shape, and never quite who or what or where you expect him to be.

With such a complicated, shifting totem, it's not surprising that different people have different interpretations of Raven's personality and gifts. Still, several main themes come up when you look at Raven. Here are a few of the main aspects of this complex totem.



The Creator Aspect



Raven is seen as giving life. He is primarily a helping, nurturing spirit. There is also a certain amount of self-sacrifice in his actions. He does what he does to ensure the happiness of others.



The Trickster Aspect



Raven is associated with joy and laughter. He is known to play tricks, but they are usually beneficial ones, teaching people to laugh at their own follies.



The Great Magician



Raven is seen as a shape-changer. He has the power to alter form, and to bring great changes in people's lives. He can also see through false forms, lies, and the tricks of others.



The Seeker of Secrets



Raven has a great sense of curiosity. He is a gatherer of information, and a sharer of secrets. The search for the Truth is predominant.

The Juxtaposition of Opposites



Raven is a contradiction. He is both black and white, joy and sorrow, saviour and nemesis. He is about both knowledge and secrets. He can be, and not-be.



Some cultures saw them as messengers to the gods, others believed they had prophetic powers, and still others worshipped them as the creator of the world. Even today superstitions abound concerning these intelligent and mysterious birds.



Due to their dark color, and the traditional association of death and blackness, it is no surprise that many cultures viewed crows and ravens as intermediaries between us and the afterlife, or associated them with sorrow and dying.



Among other peoples, however, it was the wit and curiosity these birds displayed which colored their spiritual significance. They were associated with joy and laughter, and a spirit of mischief.



Even in Siberia there were myths and stories told of how Raven created the world. Anywhere these dark birds have overcome challenges and eked out a living in rough or hostile environments, tales have been told about their ingenuity and love of life.



In Australia, where the role of the laughing trickster is filled by the kookaburra, the raven has a slightly different role. There, raven is a bird of sorrows. He takes the sadness from humanity, and flies away with it. The Australian raven's mournful call reflects the burden he carries.



We don't know much about religions such as the Druids, or the way they worshipped, but they grew out of these early earth religions, and probably held many of the same basic beliefs. It is commonly accepted, however, that they saw the natural world as symbolic of a spiritual one, and attributed significance to the presence and actions of certain animals. Ravens, crows, and even magpies were probably considered 'ominous' birds - birds who could give an omen or sign of things to come.



There has traditionally been a lot of suspicion directed at people who keep ravens or crows as pets. They have been called witches, or suspected of diabolic dealings. The birds have been denounced as familiars, in the same way black cats were supposed to be evil spirits in animal form, helping the witches with their evil spells. Angry crowds would kill the animals, and sometimes the 'witches' with them.



There is still a lot of misunderstanding today about the role these birds play in religions such as Wicca. Some practitioners do keep familiars, or have spirit animals as guides, but these animals are supposed to be benevolent helpers, not messengers from Satan. In fact, Wicca does not recognize the existence of a 'Devil' as understood by the Christian faith. The natural world is seen as the source of power instead, and ravens or crows acting as familiars guide the practitioner to new understandings about their world.



Paganism, such as it is practiced today, also tends to view ravens and their cousins as animal guides, and part of the circle of life. The significance attributed to these birds varies by individual interpretation, but most see them as a positive sign. Some still follow Celtic beliefs that ravens serve the warrior goddess known as The Morrigan.



The Morrigan was, according to legend, a very fearsome goddess, capable of turning the tides in a war. It was good to have her on your side, but terrible to be on the receiving end of her wrath. She could, supposedly, turn herself into a raven to survey the battlefield and encourage her chosen side to new levels of brutality. When the war was over, and ravens descended to the battlefield, she would feast with them on the bodies of the dead.



Another god of legend associated with ravens was Odin. According to Norse legends, he kept two specific ravens, called Hugin and Munin, whose job it was to keep him informed of everything which happened on the earth. Hugin's name meant 'thought' and Munin, 'memory'. When the two would leave him, he would be without thought or memory until they returned. Then they would tell him stories of all they had witnessed or heard. Because of Odin's affinity with these birds, the Norse revered all ravens. Even today they tell stories about these birds, and the god they served.



Folklore and Superstitions regarding Ravens



In the same area, locals used to tip their hats to Ravens, in order not to offend them.



Ravens are associated with the devil in many parts of UK.



In Yorkshire children were threatened with the Great Black Bird which would carry them off if they were bad.



It has been said that a baby will die if a raven's eggs are stolen.



Ravens are considered royal birds. Legend has it King Arthur turned into one.



Alexander the Great was supposedly guided across the desert by two ravens sent from heaven.



The Tower of London houses ravens, and has for over 900 years. It is said that if the ravens ever leave the Tower, England will fall. Or, to be more exact, if they leave the Tower, the Tower will fall - and since the tower is (theoretically at least) tied to the crown of England, the Crown will fall - and if the Crown falls, then the Country shall fall, too.



If a raven perches on a house in Wales, it will bring prosperity to the family within.



In Scotland, a raven circling a house was said to predict the death of someone within.

Halloween, that is. I love Halloween! It is my favorite holiday. I've always dreamed of going to a Masque. Who wouldn't, I guess. I'm dressing up this All Hallows Eve as a Witch. Beware...don't come to my door...unless you're prepared...



"I put a spell on you and now you're mine. It's been 300 years to the day...

Now the Witch is back....and there'll be hell to pay. I put a spell on you....and now you're MINE!"

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