Bird Call

Dark Art

20 Nov

Written By Quinn

Someone sent this to me a couple of days ago, and it was the second time in as many days that she privately tagged me with a picture attached. Both contained a bird. My mythically inclined self was unable to keep quiet on the arrival of the second. I not-so-quietly suggested that it may be appropriate to take a closer look and maybe ponder the deeper significance lurking beneath a faraway friend’s random gestures. Because it appeared in both images, the first symbol I needed to look at was the bird. Whenever a large black bird appears in imagery, it can be challenging to know if it’s a raven or a crow. When analysing an animal’s symbolic significance, I usually start by looking at its essential characteristics. Obviously, I can only do this if I know what it is. There are clearly similarities between crows and ravens, but they also have subtle differences that change the symbolic interpretation’s overall meaning. Crows are known to be social, but ravens are less so. Both birds have shown high intelligence with the ability to problem-solve as well as being capable of understanding displacement. The main difference I can see is the social aspect and the diet. When dealing with ravens, it points towards rural landscapes and less trusting interaction with humans. Ravens are featured in many myths, both good and bad. The Greeks associated it with Apollo and considered it an omen of good luck. The Irish saw ravens as a common battleground feature and connected them to The Morrígan. Huginn (thought) and Muninn (mind) are a pair of particularly well-known ravens in Norse mythology. They flew around the world gathering information for the chief god Odin who had given Huginn and Muninn the ability to speak. And here in good ol’ England, we have a superstition that the monarchy and Britain will fall if the ravens leave the Tower of London.

The Girl and the Raven - Elena Helfrecht

The first image I received is pictured to the right. A woman’s hand holds a bird close to her body; the wing is open and symbolic of reciprocity. Overall the picture leans toward the gothic. The Girl and the Raven by Elena Helfrecht suggests a woman at one with the bird and the bird being at one with the woman. The picture’s hue gives the impression that they’re in a cold place. Part of me wonders if the raven is suggesting there is still warmth and companionship or maybe a desire to connect. The second picture (shown above) is more complex than the first. Dani Rolli’s Feed the Birds has an element of grunge thrown into it, and the figure comes complete with thorns and a halo. The bird is somehow attached to a scarf wrapped around the person’s face and covers the mouth; interestingly, the bird has its mouth open. To me, this is saying the bird is speaking for the human. The twig-like hair could suggest the bird’s nest, and I wonder if this is a subtle reminder of the Huginn and Muninn myth and the ravens representing thought and mind. The halo emphasises a holy element in all of this, whatever ‘this’ may be. If we look more broadly at the halo, it’s symbolic of being able to elevate oneself above the mortal coil. This isn’t possible in reality, but we can adjust our thinking to gain a higher perspective of a situation or person. In a general sense, halos can be symbolic of compassion towards that which is human. The figure’s torso looks male, but I can’t help but wonder if the visible wound on the breast area could indicate an inability to nurture. It’s clearly symbolic, considering the title. Does the title Feed the Birds suggest a need to feed the intellect?

But what does it all mean for me?

Well, I usually take these types of pics as a reminder that I have a handcrafted self who likes to play with the elements every now and again. It’s not so much the wild woman inside but the one who likes witchcraft and all things lunar, dark, hidden, and mystical. They tell me it’s time for black candles and incense. Winter is here, and it’s time to retreat from the outside for a while; it’s also time to pick up the books and learn some more.

Ahhhh, I think I get it now.

Let the mind speak.