The Raven & The Underworld: A Jungian Perspective

Helen Moores

Dec 4, 20244 min read

Updated: Jan 17

Crows and ravens have woven themselves through the tapestry of my life, their midnight black wings unfolding at moments of quiet revelation, giving shadowed warning or messages.

At times, their arrival has felt like a silent whisper of foreboding, a reminder of endings just beyond sight, yet laced with the strange comfort of wisdom.

Always, they return.

Always, I listen.

Throughout history and across cultures, animals have served as powerful conduits of meaning, rich with symbolism that often transcends the physical realm.

From the winding grace of the serpent to the haunting cry of the owl, creatures of the natural world whisper ancient truths and spiritual insights, their forms entwined with archetypes that stir the depths of the unconscious mind.

The Collective Unconscious - Jung

Jung’s theories offer profound insight into the universal symbolism of birds and animals across cultures, viewing them as expressions of the collective unconscious - timeless patterns of meaning shared by all humanity.

Birds, often depicted as messengers of the divine, are symbols of transcendence and spiritual awakening.

Their flight mirrors the human psyche’s longing for freedom, intuition, and connection to higher realms.

In myths and dreams, they represent the soul's journey, echoing Jung’s concept of individuation - the process of self-discovery and integration of the psyche’s fragmented aspects.

Animals, by contrast, are powerful archetypes of instinctual wisdom and primal forces.

They embody the raw, unfiltered aspects of the self that Jung associated with the shadow - hidden impulses and emotional truths buried beneath consciousness.

The Raven

Consider the raven - cloaked in midnight plumage, their intelligence and mysterious nature make them ideal vessels for spiritual projection.

Legend has it that they hold a unique position as intermediaries between the seen and the unseen, embodying the space between life, death, and transformation.

Across Norse mythology, the raven appears as the companion of Odin, a figure of wisdom, prophecy, and knowledge hidden in the shadows.

Similarly, in Celtic traditions, the Morrigan, a goddess associated with war and fate, often took the form of a raven, foretelling death and the shifting of power.

Let's also not forget when Willow accidentally turns Fin Raziel into a crow in the film Willow.

Or The Three-Eyed Raven in Game of Thrones.

The Crow

In Native American spirituality, the crow is seen not as a mere harbinger of doom but as a keeper of sacred law, a messenger between worlds.

The Crow people of the Great Plains regarded this bird as a spiritual guide, bridging the physical and spiritual realms.

Likewise, in the myths of the Pacific Northwest, the raven is a creator figure, both trickster and bringer of light, emphasising transformation and the duality of wisdom and mischief.

From a Jungian perspective, these black-feathered messengers evoke the shadow self - the parts of our psyche that remain hidden or repressed.

The raven, with its affinity for carrion and death, mirrors the necessary confrontation with mortality and the unconscious truths we often fear.

Yet, it also symbolises transformation, for in decay, new life begins, and within the shadow, profound wisdom lies waiting.

Why do animals resonate so deeply in the symbolic landscape?

Jung would suggest it is because they bypass the rational mind, speaking directly to the unconscious.

They awaken the ancient, instinctive layers of the psyche, reminding us of the mysteries that cannot be fully articulated in language.

Myths and stories featuring these creatures draw from the archetypal wellspring, mirroring the spiritual quests and psychological struggles we all face.

The raven's connection to the spirit world may stem from its role as a scavenger, living at the edge of life and death.

In dreams, a raven or crow can signify a call to explore one's own inner darkness - to face grief, loss, or the need for transformation.

Reminding us that wisdom is often found in confronting the shadow, not in avoiding it.

Yet, not all symbolic animals are bound to shadow work.

The butterfly speaks of hope and the soul's transcendence. Its metamorphosis from caterpillar to winged beauty mirrors the spiritual evolution we undergo in times of profound personal growth.

The lion, golden and majestic, stands as a solar symbol of strength and leadership, echoing the powerful energies of the conscious self.

Final Thoughts...

In the modern world, the ancient language of animal symbolism endures, reappearing in art, literature, and personal spirituality.

The tattoos we wear, the spirit animals we identify with, and the recurring creatures in our dreams all reflect this ongoing dialogue between the self and the unconscious.

To understand these symbols is to gain a deeper connection with the psyche's language, to embrace the mystical layers of existence where the raven speaks not just of death, but of the wisdom hidden within it.

Through their forms, we glimpse the archetypal truths that shape our lives - the cycles of birth, death, and rebirth - the call to face the shadow, and the promise of transformation.

To honor the wisdom of these creatures is to reconnect with the ancient pulse of nature and the soul, a whisper from the wild inviting us to remember that we, too, are part of the great and mystical web of being.

The Raven & The Underworld: A Jungian Perspective

Crows and ravens have woven themselves through the tapestry of my life, their midnight black wings unfolding at moments of quiet revelation, giving shadowed warning or messages.

At times, their arrival has felt like a silent whisper of foreboding, a reminder of endings just beyond sight, yet laced with the strange comfort of wisdom.

Always, they return.

Always, I listen.

Throughout history and across cultures, animals have served as powerful conduits of meaning, rich with symbolism that often transcends the physical realm.

From the winding grace of the serpent to the haunting cry of the owl, creatures of the natural world whisper ancient truths and spiritual insights, their forms entwined with archetypes that stir the depths of the unconscious mind.

The Collective Unconscious - Jung

Jung’s theories offer profound insight into the universal symbolism of birds and animals across cultures, viewing them as expressions of the collective unconscious - timeless patterns of meaning shared by all humanity.

Birds, often depicted as messengers of the divine, are symbols of transcendence and spiritual awakening.

Their flight mirrors the human psyche’s longing for freedom, intuition, and connection to higher realms.

In myths and dreams, they represent the soul's journey, echoing Jung’s concept of individuation - the process of self-discovery and integration of the psyche’s fragmented aspects.

Animals, by contrast, are powerful archetypes of instinctual wisdom and primal forces.

They embody the raw, unfiltered aspects of the self that Jung associated with the shadow - hidden impulses and emotional truths buried beneath consciousness.

The Raven

Consider the raven - cloaked in midnight plumage, their intelligence and mysterious nature make them ideal vessels for spiritual projection.

Legend has it that they hold a unique position as intermediaries between the seen and the unseen, embodying the space between life, death, and transformation.

Across Norse mythology, the raven appears as the companion of Odin, a figure of wisdom, prophecy, and knowledge hidden in the shadows.

Similarly, in Celtic traditions, the Morrigan, a goddess associated with war and fate, often took the form of a raven, foretelling death and the shifting of power.

Let's also not forget when Willow accidentally turns Fin Raziel into a crow in the film Willow.

Or The Three-Eyed Raven in Game of Thrones.

The Crow

In Native American spirituality, the crow is seen not as a mere harbinger of doom but as a keeper of sacred law, a messenger between worlds.

The Crow people of the Great Plains regarded this bird as a spiritual guide, bridging the physical and spiritual realms.

Likewise, in the myths of the Pacific Northwest, the raven is a creator figure, both trickster and bringer of light, emphasising transformation and the duality of wisdom and mischief.

From a Jungian perspective, these black-feathered messengers evoke the shadow self - the parts of our psyche that remain hidden or repressed.

The raven, with its affinity for carrion and death, mirrors the necessary confrontation with mortality and the unconscious truths we often fear.

Yet, it also symbolises transformation, for in decay, new life begins, and within the shadow, profound wisdom lies waiting.

Why do animals resonate so deeply in the symbolic landscape?

Jung would suggest it is because they bypass the rational mind, speaking directly to the unconscious.

They awaken the ancient, instinctive layers of the psyche, reminding us of the mysteries that cannot be fully articulated in language.

Myths and stories featuring these creatures draw from the archetypal wellspring, mirroring the spiritual quests and psychological struggles we all face.

The raven's connection to the spirit world may stem from its role as a scavenger, living at the edge of life and death.

In dreams, a raven or crow can signify a call to explore one's own inner darkness - to face grief, loss, or the need for transformation.

Reminding us that wisdom is often found in confronting the shadow, not in avoiding it.

Yet, not all symbolic animals are bound to shadow work.

The butterfly speaks of hope and the soul's transcendence. Its metamorphosis from caterpillar to winged beauty mirrors the spiritual evolution we undergo in times of profound personal growth.

The lion, golden and majestic, stands as a solar symbol of strength and leadership, echoing the powerful energies of the conscious self.

Final Thoughts...

In the modern world, the ancient language of animal symbolism endures, reappearing in art, literature, and personal spirituality.

The tattoos we wear, the spirit animals we identify with, and the recurring creatures in our dreams all reflect this ongoing dialogue between the self and the unconscious.

To understand these symbols is to gain a deeper connection with the psyche's language, to embrace the mystical layers of existence where the raven speaks not just of death, but of the wisdom hidden within it.

Through their forms, we glimpse the archetypal truths that shape our lives - the cycles of birth, death, and rebirth - the call to face the shadow, and the promise of transformation.

To honor the wisdom of these creatures is to reconnect with the ancient pulse of nature and the soul, a whisper from the wild inviting us to remember that we, too, are part of the great and mystical web of being.

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