The Archetypal Symbols of Divine Man

The common Raven (Corvus corax) is the largest perching bird in the world, renowned for its striking glossy black plumage, high intelligence, and complex social behavior. Widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere (and related species like the Australian raven in southern/eastern Australia), thriving in environments from Arctic tundras to deserts and mountain forests.

Ravens are highly opportunistic omnivores, meaning they will eat almost anything they can find, catch, or steal. Ravens are considered among the most intelligent animals on Earth, possessing cognitive abilities that rival chimpanzees and dolphins.

Ravens are strictly monogamous and bond for life. While a Raven looks jet black from a distance, its plumage is actually deeply coloured with blue and green hues, however that iridescent subtle colour we see is created by Light. This is because instead of relying entirely on pigments for color, the microscopic physical structure of their feathers refracts white Light creating these shimmering metallic hues.

So we have yet another stunning creature who is not only coloured by Light but is also considered to be one of the smartest creatures on the planet. The well studied student is already aware that this archetype features heavily in cross culture mythos however let's take an even deeper look into this symbol and how it relates to the Divine Human and the cycle they exist in.

Now before we begin with with our first Myth, I would like to clarify that this Essay will feature the Raven as opposed to the Crow. This is due to the fact, that although they are both Corvids, the Raven is a far more prevalent archetype in the mythos than the Crow. However, there are some cultures where the Raven and Crow is used interchangeably.

In this Essay let's begin with the story writers from Thailand and see how they have woven a story around our glossy black little friend.

The Legend of Mae Ka Phuak (The White Raven) begins, that at the dawn of the current cosmic cycle, all Ravens and Crows were actually born with pure white feathers. Among them was a magnificent female Raven named Mae Ka Phuak. She was deeply spiritual, choosing to observe strict Buddhist precepts.

She built her nest high in the canopy of a sacred fig tree, where she eventually laid five extraordinary eggs. These were no ordinary birds; they were destined to become the Pańcabuddhabyākarana—the five future Buddhas of our world era (including Gautama Buddha and the future Maitreya Buddha).

One day, while Mae Ka Phuak flew away from the nest to forage for food, a violent, terrifying storm swept across the land. The fierce winds broke the branches of the fig tree, knocking her five precious eggs into a rushing river below.

When the White Raven returned and found her nest completely empty, she was consumed by overwhelming grief. She flew across the land searching for her unborn children, crying until she could weep no more.

Brokenhearted, she died of a shattered heart but because of her profound virtue and love, she was immediately reborn in the heavenly realms as a Brahma god to watch over the universe.

Unbeknownst to the grieving mother, the five eggs did not perish. They floated to different shores where they were rescued and adopted by five different animals. A Hen took the first egg. A Naga (sacred serpent) rescued the second. A Cow cared for the third. A Lioness protected the fourth and a Turtle nurtured the fifth.

Each animal raised their foster child with immense love.

As the children grew, they realized they were not ordinary animals; they possessed incredible spiritual power and left their homes to live as adepts in the forest, seeking enlightenment. However after 12 years of wandering, the five young adepts cross paths and sit together under a single tree.

They begin sharing their life stories and realize they all share a miraculous, unknown origin. They meditate together to look back at their past lives and discover the truth: they are divine brothers, born from the wings of the great White Raven, Mae Ka Phuak.

The five divine brothers born from the White Raven's eggs are:

Kakusandha (Raised by the Hen)

Konagamana (Raised by the Naga)

Kassapa (Raised by the Cow)

Gautama (The Buddha of our current world, raised by the Lioness)

Maitreya (The future Buddha who has yet to arrive, raised by the Turtle)

In parallel versions of Thailand's folk tales, the common Ravens and Crows we see today lost their pristine white plumage and turned black as a symbol of the soot, sorrow, and earthly pollution that entered the world after the divine white mother left it.

In this Papuan Tribal Legend, it relays that there was a time when the world was trapped in a permanent, freezing winter. Humans and animals lived in dark caves, shivering and unable to cook food.

The Great Spirit took pity on the world and placed a glowing, magical coal of fire on top of the highest, most dangerous volcano. However, no animal dared to fly into the smoking, shaking crater to retrieve it.

However, the Raven—who at the time was a pristine, snow-white bird with a voice like a silver bell—volunteered. It braved the toxic gases and freezing winds, diving deep into the volcano to grab the burning ember in its beak.

But as the Raven flew across the land to deliver the fire to humanity, the intense heat of the coal scorched its white feathers, turning them glossy, iridescent black. The thick, sulfurous smoke choked its throat, changing its sweet song into a raspy caw.

When the Raven delivered the fire, the ice melted, and humanity was saved so his sacrifice was not in vain. Instead of mocking the bird for how he now looked, the tribes honored the Raven as a sacred hero.

They declared that its new black feathers were a badge of ultimate courage and selflessness, and to this day, traditional carvings in the region depict the Raven as a protector of the flame.

Then we have the Slavic Myth of the Raven and the Cosmic Waters. In the ancient mythic about the cosmic cycle, a great warrior— god Perun—was ambushed and slain by the forces of darkness or chaos (the Underworld serpent, Veles). His body was hacked into pieces and scattered across the earth, threatening to throw the world into permanent imbalance.

Because the material world has boundaries that spirits and lesser entities can not cross without disrupting cosmic laws, the gods summoned the Sacred Raven. As a swift messenger of the upper sky and a navigator capable of entering the divine realm of Vyrei without being corrupted, the Raven was given a vital mandate.

The gods instructed the Raven to fly to the very ends of the earth, past the edge of the world, where the two primordial springs flowed. The Spring of Mertvaia Voda, water that held the power to knit severed physical matter back together and the Spring of Zhivaia Voda, sacred water infused with the breath of life, capable of calling a soul back to its physical vessel.

The Raven flew across the cosmos, filling two small vials attached to its beak. Returning to the battlefield, the messenger executed the divine instructions perfectly. First, the Raven sprinkled the Mertvaia Voda over the shattered remains to fuse them back together. Instantly, the severed limbs, flesh, and bone drew back together and fused perfectly, leaving a complete but breathless body.

Then the Raven sprinkles the sacred water Zhivaia Voda onto the hero, this restores the divine spark, resurrects his spirit, and wakes him from his eternal sleep. The exact phrase used in Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian folklore is typically "Ох, как же долго я спал!" (or "Как долго я спал!"), which translates directly to "Oh, how long I have been asleep!".

So again we see the cycle of Divine Man, in the Underworld he unaware of his divine nature and is slain by the forces of darkness but the Living Waters ie: aether from the Celestial realm brings him back to life, or rather awakens him as he asks them how long he had been sleeping.

Now let's take a look at the the well known Ravens of Odin, Huginn and Muninn. The Norse story tellers relate that Odin sends Huginn and Muninn out to fly across the world. They soar over the realms of gods and mortals, gathering news and information for Odin, and return by mealtime or evening to perch on his shoulders.

They then whisper everything they have seen and heard into Odin's ears. Their names literally translate to "Thought" (Huginn) and "Memory" (Muninn), representing the core pillars of Odin's immense divine wisdom. However, Odin expresses a deep fear that one evening they will not return, though he worries more for the return of Muninn (Memory) than he does Huguinn.

This is a direct connection to the memory of the Divine Humans who will forget themselves as they descend through the Lower Ages of the Great Year.

Japan also has a Legend about our obsidian hued little creature and it is includes the goddess Amaterasu. However there is a bit of a twist with the iconography of Japan's Raven, as it has three feet.

The well studied student will immediately identify the 3 feet is denoting the Trinity which has layered meanings pertaining to the Divine and also their creation.

The name of their Raven is Yatagarasu which translates to "eight-span crow,". Again we see the symbolic representation of immortality but also the Messiahs in the number 8.

The oldest surviving written chronicle in Japan, the Kojiki, attributes the dispatch of the divine bird to the creator deity Takamimusubi (also known as Takagi-no-Kami). The Raven guided the divine Emperor Jimmu's expedition that was completely lost in the rugged terrain, suffering from extreme turmoil and confusion.

The Legend concludes with Jimmu facing his ultimate rival, the fierce local chieftain Nagasunehiko, who had previously killed Jimmu’s older brother. During a brutal, deadlocked battle, the sky darkens and a sudden storm hits.

A brilliant Golden Kite then descends from heaven and lands on top of Jimmu’s bow. The bird emanates a blinding, lightning-like luminescence that completely dazzles and confuses Nagasunehiko’s troops, allowing Jimmu to claim victory.

And once again the well studied student can identify that the narrative of the divine messenger in the Underworld is exemplified by this archetypal symbol of the Raven, while the divine power given to Emperor Jimmu is denoted by the Golden Kite.

The Sun Crow in the East Asian traditions, like Chinese and Korean folklore, also features a mythical three-legged crow (such as the Sanju Wu or Samjoko) that is said to represent the supreme power of the Creator.

Now shall we take a look to see how our Native American Indian story tellers have entwined this intelligent little feathered creature into their mythos. This is a traditional myth from the Haida peoples.

The Legend begins that after the great flood had finally receded, the world was empty, silent, and covered in water and mud. The Raven, who was bored and lonely, was flying along the deserted beach of Rose Spit looking for something to amuse him.

Suddenly, he heard a strange, faint sound coming from beneath his feet. It sounded like a chorus of tiny, muffled squeaks and whimpers. Intrigued, he flew down and followed the sound until he came across a giant Clamshell buried in the sand. Looking closely, the Raven saw that the shell was filled with tiny, timid little creatures.

There were 8 male humans huddled deep inside the shell, 4 in the front and 4 in the back, reluctant to leave its safety. The Raven, being curious by nature, wanted to see what these creatures would do if he tried to coax them out.

He told them of the wonders of the outside world, the warmth of the sun, and the adventures that awaited them. He crooned, wheedled, and joked until curiosity finally overcame their fear. One by one, the tiny humans began to crawl out of the clamshell.

As they stepped onto the sandy beach of Haida Gwaii, they immediately began to grow into their full size. Raven watched them with great amusement as they stretched, looked around in wonder, and began to explore their new home.

However, Raven soon grew bored again. The Men were all very similar, and they were lonely too. There were no Women, and without them, he knew the human story would quickly end. The Raven then flew to the opposite side of the island, where he encountered Chiton clinging tightly to the rocks. Using his cleverness, Raven pried the Chitons from the rocks and underneath them, he discovered the first Women.

The Raven brought the women back to Rose Spit. The Men and Women joined together, and from that union, the Haida nation was born and began to populate the islands. So we have a recounting of the Flood Myth denoting the archetypal symbol of the Raven of not just a divine messenger but actually is symbolic for the Creator.

The Native American Hopi have used the archetype to represent the Female attributes of the Creator.

They call her the Crow Mother, Angwusnasomtaka. They relay that she is the Mother of all Souls. She is considered a Wuya, a chief (primordial) Kachina, and is revered as the maternal leader and mother of all the Kachinas.

Our Irish story tellers have given us this Legend about the Raven in relation to their hero Cú Chulainn, he is the Demi-god warrior hero of Irish mythos. His divine attributes included, his muscles swelling to enormous sizes and a "hero’s light" that would pour from the crown of his head. In one myth he loses all ability to distinguish between friend and foe, slaughtering anything in his path.

However in this myth he is the divine warrior hero. During the great war for the brown bull of Cooley, Cú Chulainn was single-handedly defending the borders of Ulster. The Morrígan appeared to him as a young woman of breathtaking beauty, offering him her love, treasures, and assistance in battle.

Exhausted and entirely focused on the war, Cú Chulainn bluntly rejected her, stating he "had no time for a woman's backsides" while immersed in strife.

Deeply insulted, the demon goddess revealed her true nature and vowed to use her shapeshifting abilities to destroy him when he was at his most vulnerable. As she vanished, Cú Chulainn looked up and saw only a Scald-Crow sitting on a branch, realizing he had just made a mortal enemy of the demon.

True to her word, the Morrígan attacked Cú Chulainn mid-combat in three successive animal forms, each of which he managed to wound. As an Eel attempting to trip him in a ford, he crushed her ribs. As a Grey Wolf stampeding cattle, he blinded her in one eye with a sling-stone. As a hornless Heifer leading a charge, he broke her leg.

Knowing that he was exhausted, she shape shifted as an old woman milking a Cow on the side of the road, and offered him three sips of milk. Not knowing it was part of a spell, Cú Chulainn drank and blessed the woman with each sip—unknowingly healing the very wounds he had inflicted upon her.

Their final encounter is the most iconic imagery in Irish mythology. Tied down by a curse and surrounded by enemies, Cú Chulainn was mortally wounded in battle. To ensure he died on his feet facing his foes, he bound himself to a massive standing stone. For three days, his enemies stayed back, terrified that the legendary "Hound of Ulster" was still alive. The stone denotes it is his destiny.

The stalemate only broke when a black and white Scald-Crow, the Morrígan in her primary form—flew down and perched upon his shoulder. The landing of the Scald-Crow confirmed to the battlefield that Cú Chulainn was truly dead, sealing his tragic fate.

The well studied student will identify that the Morrigan, is the Irish version of the Greek goddess of fallen mortal woman, "Medusa". She is also specifically denoted as a hooded Crow or Scald Crow, these Ravens are not pure glossy black.

So we are seeing the darker side of Creation embodied by this archetype, but also separated into a different colour of the species. There are several myths that relate the Raven/Crow to death, or harbingers of negative situations. Again, this is displaying the polarity within creation, however the core archetype of a divine messenger or Creator remains apparent in the majority of these myths.

We even have mention of the Raven in the Biblical story of Elijah the prophet from 1Kings17. The parable begins, that Elijah was a prophet from Gilead who delivered a bold message to the wicked King Ahab. Elijah told the king that a severe drought would come upon Israel. There would be no rain or dew for several years except at Elijah's word.

Because King Ahab sought to harm him, God told Elijah to run away. God sent him to hide by the Kerith Ravine, a stream east of the Jordan River and promised Elijah fresh water from the brook. God then instructed the Ravens to bring him food and sustain him.

Every morning and every evening, the Ravens dutifully brought Elijah bread and meat allowing him to stay safely hidden in the ravine, ensuring he lacked nothing during the early days of the famine. However the drought continued without any rain, the water in Kerith Brook slowly dried up. When the brook was completely dry, God directed him to a new location in Zarephath, where a widow would care for him next.

Well it could not be clearer in this parable about the Raven, not only did the divine messenger guide the Divine Prophet to safety from his enemies, but also sustained him throughout a time of evil and wickedness in the Underworld.

The well studied student will also begin to identify our archetypal creatures endowed with structural colouring are very often connected to the cross culture Flood Myths. This is because the change of Light brings about the descent into the Underworld.

I think we shall finish our Essay into this beautifully feathered glossy creature with the Biblical story of Elijah. This final confirmation relating to the Divine Soul, shows our archetypal symbol of the Raven, embodies the attributes of God as our Male/Female Creator and also as a divine messenger and sustainer.