The Nature Pages

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	Ravensong A Natural And Fabulous History Of Ravens And Crows by Catherine Feher-Elston Jeremy P. Tarcher, 2004.
	Archaeologist and historian Catherine Feher-Elston composed this study of corvids in 1991, the first in a planned series of books about totemic animals. Her graduate studies and increased involvement in Native American issues (see Children of Sacred Ground) sidelined the series for many years. But now, a new edition of Ravensong has been published along with Wolfsong, and her Naturesong series seems to be revived.		Raven and Crow told the prophet-chief that long, long ago, in a land far away, a savior of the world was born on Solstice Night. Circling Raven listened to the revelations of the Bird People, and told his people that on the night of winter solstice, they should include the remembrance of this savior's birth in their prayers." The Prophecies of Circling Raven
	Weaving Native American folklore together with contemporary ornithological research, Feher-Elston explores the natural and cultural history of ravens and crows in a succession of chapters on these omnivorous birds in mythology, shamanism, science, law and the modern world.
Search our selection channels between tof new, used and out-of-print books.	While the Common Raven is one of the most widespread species in the world, the focus of this book is on the American Crow and the Common Raven as found in North America, where they have had a profound affect on the myths, dreams, legends and religions of indigenous and transplanted human cultures. In her "Myth Time" chapter, Feher-Elston recounts seven tales from the Haida, the Salish, the Tse-Shaht and even the Cherokee. "Westerners may believe that they alone are the masters of the universe, that only they hold the keys to knowledge," she writes. "Such people walk alone in the World of Man all the days of their lives, never realizing that Raven's world is all around them."		Raven shamans and priests are found today from Siberia across into Beringia and into North America. Kwakiutl dancers become ravens. Yaqui shamans take peyote or datura and transform into crows to do their spiritual work. Raven priests offer tobacco to gods in Mexico and Central America. Priests and priestesses dance for House Crows during autumn festivals in Bali, and they serve Kali and Shiva in India. Raven religion survives in its many manifestations.
	Illustrated by Lawrence Ormsby, this lyrical book combines myth, philosophy and science in a beautiful and informative tapestry.