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Raven
Raven is a central figure in West Coast
traditions from California to Alaska. Among his many feats,
he stole the moon and sun from the Sky Chief and put them
in the sky, brought humans the first berries and salmon,
and (according to several traditions) called the first
humans up from the earth, or discovered the first human
babies within a clamshell. Raven is known by many names,
including He'maskas (Bella Bella tradition), Txamsem or
We-gyet (Tsimshian), Nankil'slas (Haida), Yehl (Tlingit),
and Kwekwaxa'we (Kwakiutl).
Raven
was significant to the Celts as well, and the Raven was
the totem bird of the battle Goddess
the Morrigan;
often She appeared in the guise of a raven. When a Celtic
warrior preparing for battle saw a raven, he knew that
the Morrigan was with him, and the raven would bear his
soul to the blessed lands if he fell in battle. As a liminal
being able to fly between the worlds at will, Raven in
western traditions is often associated with magic, a shape
shifter, messenger, and often a trickster as well.
Animal
Spirits
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