Deanne McKeown
SPIRIT RAVEN VESSEL
Throughout human history, the raven has been a powerful symbol
and a popular subject in mythology and folklore. These large,
intelligent birds have been associated with omens, death, world creation
and are always seen as cunning tricksters.
A version of a legend from the indigenous tribes of the Pacific
Northwest says that raven was originally white but was turned black
from soot when he flew through the smoke-hole of the Great Spirit's
home and stole light. Just as the White Buffalo and other white
animal totems take on unique spiritual powers, the White Raven has
been revered by humans all over the world. In this version of a Native American creation story,
White Raven left the spirit world with a
pebble in his beak, which he accidentally dropped - this pebble
became the created world.
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