A meditation on crows

A meditation on crows...

I have been noticing a lot of crow activity in our neighbourhood recently, and that got me thinking about crows. Crows are pretty common birds, often unappreciated or even despised by some. The are loud, and not especially beautiful. 

The crow can invite us to celebrate the ordinary, and to even pay attention to them and discover their unique gifts.

Crows are part of the Corvidae family. The crow’s cousins include magpies, blue jays, jackdaws, rooks, nutcrackers and ravens. They are actually quite exceptional birds in terms of intelligence and adaptability. They are known for their problem solving skills and ability to communicate. They are cooperative breeders, which means that the young stick around and help to raise subsequent siblings. They can live for up to 14 years in the wild. (info from livescience website)

Often, I admit, I have found crows annoying. They are so loud I can hear their cawing from inside my house. But the more I get to know about them, the more that annoyance changes to intrigue. They are among my neighbours in this watershed, and within the community of creation. 

Great Spirit of All,
I give you thanks for the ordinary
and the extraordinary
creatures I come in contact with 
in my daily life.
Thank you for the blessings of crows,
and open my heart to learn
of their goodness. 
Draw me into the community of creation,
that I might see all creatures as 
gifts with lessons to offer.
Amen