Show respect for the clever messenger of the afterlife, the Raven, with this Norse/Celtic raven pendant. A pair of ravens are intertwined with intricate knotwork. Antiqued silvertone zinc alloy (nickel free). Pendant measures approximately 0.75” wide x 2” tall
For your pendant, you may select either a 17.5” silvertone snake chain with 3” extender chain, an 18” silvertone cable chain, or an 18” or 20” leather cord necklace with lobster clasp and 2” extender chain. (2MM round black leather cord with silvertone findings.
Hugin and Munin, also known Thought and Memory are a pair of ravens that fly all over the world (Midgard), and bring information to the god Odin in Norse mythology.
The ravens’ sign symbolizes wisdom, affection, healing powers, longevity, death, and fertility. It’s jet black color represents the night, the great void, and even the Earth.
Greeks believed that the white raven was the bird of Apollo – the God blackened the bird’s white feathers as it had revealed secrets. Ravens and crows are considered sacred in many cultures.
In Hindus, after the death of a loved one, families prepare the departed individual’s favorite foods and feed it to the crows and raven god. If a raven eats/touches the food, it means that the departed soul is happy and will rest in eternal peace.
Raven symbolism is also tied to shape-shifters and they are thought to be spell-casters. They also represent a change in consciousness and raven bird meaning is an ‘offering of its knowledge of the world to the people for safe-keeping.’
Some say the raven was born of the primordial darkness; others believe that it brought to light. This bird has been granted great power and is a symbol of mystery, memory, and thought.
Some Native American tribes link the Raven deity with the theft of the sun. As per animal totems, which hold great importance in the Native American culture, raven totem symbolizes a change in consciousness and also represents a shapeshifter.
The Celtic mythology is full of examples of birds either individually or in flocks acting as informers or messengers or serving divine beings in some way, meaning that the deity the bird accompanies invariably transforms itself into that bird.
Sometimes the same animal or bird will have different characteristics in different parts of the Celtic world. Where in some Celtic symbolism, the raven symbolizes war and is dear to Morrigan – the Goddess of war and sexuality; in Wales, the bird symbolizes protection and prophecy. Although they are harbingers of death, they are also symbols of rebirth and the afterlife.