Raven Altar Cauldron

Raven:Folklore tells us that Raven is a trickster, a protector, a teacher, and a bringer of great magick. Some may associate Raven with death, war, and evil, while others see Raven as a bird of wisdom and good omens. The Raven is considered one of the oldest and wisest of animals, with a high level of intelligence, flexibility, and adaptability. Since Ravens can be taught to speak and have such a complex vocabulary of their own, they are connected symbolically to both wisdom and prophecy. This speaking ability leads into the legend of Ravens being oracles, harbingers of powerful secrets, and messengers communicating deep mysteries. In Celtic animal symbolism it is a bird closely connected with battle and the Celtic Goddess Morrigan, who was a remarkable prophetess. "To have a raven's knowledge" is an Irish proverb meaning to have a seer's supernatural powers. Scottish Highlanders associate ravens with the second sight. Raven symbolism of wisdom and knowledge-keeping is connected with the Welsh hero Bran the Blessed, whose name means Raven. Bran was the holder of ancestral memories, and his wisdom was legendary, so much so that he had his head (the vessel of his powerful wisdom) removed and interred in the sacred White Mount in London. Ravens are still roosting there (in the Tower of London), and they are thought to keep Bran's wisdom protected and alive by their presence. The raven is symbolic of mind, thought, and wisdom according to Norse legend. Odin (also known as the Raven God) was accompanied by two ravens: Hugin, who represented the power of thought and active search for information, and Mugin, who represented the mind and its ability to intuit meaning rather than hunt for it.