“Cruel birds—ravens—but wise. And creatures should be loved for their wisdom if they cannot be loved for kindness.” — Hannah Ken

I like the idea of the Raven becoming the symbol of Bedlam Farm, at least in my mind. I got this wonderful iron raven online and have struggled with where to put it. I wanted it in my office, but it seems it would be wasted here. I put it in my garden bed, but it looked out of place.

I looked out the window and saw the perfect spot in the hollow of an enormous limb that fell off the apple tree last year. It looks perfect there, calling out to the farm, us, and the animals in his different voices.

Ravens are among the most controversial birds. They are known for their cruelty, thievery, ingenuity,  incredible intelligence, and spirituality. They have always fascinated people who know and study them.

They are known for being shy, intelligent, and resourceful, almost beyond imagination.

They know people, steal eggs from nests, roll and duck away from hawks, and have strong relationships with other ravens. I like what Hannah Ken said above; Ravens are cruel but wise and deserve to be loved for their wisdom, if not for their kindness.

Two ravens are in our lives right now; they live in the big maple just outside our bedroom window and talk to us in the morning, just before the sun and beyond. They talk to us every morning. I know they hear us when we wake up.

What does a raven symbolize? A lot of things.

The Raven symbolizes prophecy, insight, transformation, and intelligence. The Raven invokes prophecy, wisdom, change, and intelligence. To some, it can also represent success in love and finding devoted, faithful partners.

Ravens know people and watch them closely.

Scientists who study them say they can work with tools,  distinguish from people, and show strategies and forethought regarding safety and self-preservation. They can be almost shockingly kind to other ravens and ruthless to other birds and small animals. Like donkeys, they never make the same mistake twice; everything must be their idea.

They are, say, scientists, almost frighteningly smart.

They can tell which humans are dangerous and which can be ignored or exploited.

Louise Erdrich is one of my favorite authors. Her writing first introduced me to the mystery of ravens (Edgar Allen Poe gave them a big dose of that also.)

“Ravens are the birds I’ll miss most when I die,” wrote Erdrich. “If only the darkness into which we must look were composed of the black light of their limber intelligence. If only we did not have to die at all. Instead, they become ravens. ”

Ravens make the perfect symbols of Bedlam Farm, at least for me. I wouldn’t mind coming back as a raven. My new raven has a home for now, I think he belongs there