So the other day, as I was cleaning up my Pinwheel Girl workroom, I saw a huge flash of BLACK out of the corner of my eye coming through the patio doors from outside in the backyard…Something told to me to turn around and look, and as I did, I saw a second flash of BLACK….this one was even wider than the first.
The flashes of black were crows that had come to land on the fence posts enclosing my back yard. At first, you know, I was in awe…they were just so majestic perched there on the posts. And, wow, you know? There were TWO. Cool.
But a third one soon arrived. This one perched itself, first with its wings fully open from flight, onto a post on the other side of the fence…adjacent to the first two crows. This really made me take notice. Three crows were perched on my fence. I’d never seen a crow that up close before…and hadn’t realized the enormity of their size. They were imposing, but magnetic. Can you imagine three crows perched on your fence posts? It seemed , in a way, too good to be true.
"Wow, I should get my camera,” I thought. “I’m having a Crow encounter.” But then the three of them started to caw really loudly, and then one by one, each crow started flying towards something in the grass, flitting in and out, swooping down and up, over and over again, only to return time and again to their post. Then, to begin again within seconds the barrage of cawing, swooping, and flitting in and out of the grass.
I stepped out onto my deck to see what was happening and noticed a fourth crow in the birch tree directly in this area of my yard. It was observing more or less rather than participating. And then I saw a fifth crow perched high in my neighbor’s cottonwood tree – it also appeared to be “on guard.”
FIVE CROWS. “Hmmm. Something is happening here.“ Instantly, I started thinking about the number “5,” the significance of Crow animal medicine, and the sound of the “caw.”
But…to my horror, my BUNNY, who was out in the yard during all of this commotion, was the supposed target of all this crow activity. And there she was chasing them here and there, to and fro, til they returned to the fence posts. She was doggedly determined to chase them off, she flitted and darted, stopped and started. She even successfully chased one out into the open field behind my house. But they persevered in their attack on her…yet I could see her body running swiftly, outstretched legs, eyes wide open, chasing, chasing, chasing.
“Whatever is the matter,” I wondered. “What is this craziness?” I, too, then joined in the fray and started chasing the crows away.
In my naivete, I had no idea then what the crows wanted. I only saw my beautiful bunny, who has lived with me and my son in our backyard now for three and a half years, in total distress and under total attack. And so in that naievete, I was totally relieved to see that the bunny stayed put in the yard right where the crows had left her. I took that as a sign that she was comfortable with me…but perhaps, as I would find out the next day, that was quite a leap for me to make. I actually “consoled” my bunny, cooing to her, telling her I would protect her, softly whispering to her…and then I returned back to my workroom to continue with the day’s activities.
Much to my dismay the crows returned twice more throughout the afternoon and repeated their shenanigans. And twice more I ran out to the yard to shoo them away. Five crows…big, black crows with their shiny metallic black feathers, their loud, loud cawing…one rabbit…and me.
The next day I thought perhaps the drama was over, but I was wrong. Once again, the five crows returned and this time I saw one of the crows with a large piece of fur in its beak. During all of the swooping, flitting, and darting, it dropped the fur…and I ran out the patio doors to shoo them away again and give my bunny a much needed respite. It was then that I saw a small, brown, furry BABY BUNNY in the yard, just lying there out in the open, amidst a few tufts of yellowed grass. The fur that the crow had dropped had evidently been snatched from the baby’s nest in the grass – fur that came from my bunny’s own tummy to offer warmth and nurture to her young.
Now it was I who was in total distress at this point!
A baby bunny out in the middle of the yard with no protection! I knew that if I touched it chances of survival were slim to none. But what to do? I went into the house and came back out with a brush and dustpan. Why? I’m not sure. I had thoughts of moving it back into a more hidden nest area I could create in the grass. But by the time I returned, the baby bunny was gone. Nowhere to be seen, and yet the crows had not returned. Where did it go?
I poked around a bit and saw that the mother bunny had moved her young back into the nest area from where, possibly, one of the five crows had dragged it out. It was still alive, sleeping, heart beating. I could already see the development of its long ears, and its adorable cottontail. “Ok, well then, whew!“ was all I could muster at that point.
Back into the house I went.
That afternoon the crows returned and once again I was out there like a mother to the baby bunny myself. I felt this increasing anxiety and anger towards the crows. After all, five against one is a bit much, a bit skewed, don’t you think? I had noticed that all day, all night, from dawn to dusk, and through the night, my mother bunny stood watch outside in the yard, never leaving, never returning under the deck as she usually did. Instead she would munch ALL DAY on the leafy grass and then once in the morning and once at dusk, she’d hop over to the nest, lean over it, and nurse her young.
I was SO PROUD of my bunny! I must admit this. She was a fierce mother, determined, and completely confident against the crows. She was energetic, never tiring, always protective, on guard, defensive, and always at the ready. What a good little bunny.
But the afternoon brought more danger. The lawn service crew arrived and with them came the BIG LAWN MOWER. I had just gotten out of the shower when I heard the familiar roar. I was soaking wet and threw a t-shirt and sweat pants on and literally FLEW DOWN THE STAIRS, OUT THE DOOR, and INTO THE YARD, with my arms waving, yelling “STOP! STOP! STOP!” I showed the crew the baby’s little nest and the mowers agreed to steer clear of it. Another sigh of relief. Another “rescue.”
Again, I found that the bunny was teaching me lessons…just as she had when she first appeared in my yard over three years ago. Only this time, the crows were teaching me lessons, too.
Meaning of the Crow: Crow is an omen of changes to come. Crow medicine is about seeing all of our fates at the same time – past, present, future – in the Now. Crow medicine is also about having a powerful voice when addressing issues that seem out of harmony or out of balance. Crows encourage you to “caw” the shots as you see them. With the development of one’s Voice comes more personal integrity and character development and this allows loneliness to dissipate. Crow medicine is about shape-shifting your old reality into your future self so that there is balance between your past, present and future.
Meaning of the Rabbit: The rabbit is about fear and defense…leaping and hopping as a means of forward movement and escape…fertility and birth…sensitivity…and 28-day cycles due its procreation. Rabbits create “forms” which are used for hiding and resting. The rabbit digs a small, shallow “bowl” into the grass with an opening in front and in back to allow easy entry and exit. Often it is right out in the open but actually unseen. This means that people who identify with rabbits should probably plan for possibilities and not allow themselves to get boxed in or put in a corner. Rabbits can also easily shift from a freeze position to one of great speed. This is advantageous to emulate in that sometimes opportunities are fleeting and must be acted upon quickly in order to reap their benefits. Because of their sensitivities, rabbits can also show you how to see the various signs around you and then to respond accordingly.
I did indeed have a Crow and a Rabbit encounter this week. One that was dramatic and poignant. One that was hard not to miss in its clarity and directness. One that was pregnant with possibilities of what is to come as long as there is balance and integration of past, present and future. One that is highly instructive about setting boundaries, seeing the signs, being aware, and then acting appropriately in response. One that is about courage, determination, protection, quick thinking, awareness, purposeful action, and taking care of oneself so that others can be cared for, nurtured and protected efficiently. One that is about listening to the “caw” of teachers everywhere, even in our own backyards.
As I type this, I can see my bunny out there in the back yard, a shadow in the dusky early evening. She is munching away on the leafy grass that is due for yet another clipping. She is, as I have said before, one of my greatest teachers. I am so honored that she has chosen me to be her student in life.
To read more about the powerful teachings of the bunny who lives in my backyard, visit this post: http://pinwheelgirlmessagesfromthewind.blogspot.com/2009/05/there-are-teachers-everywhereand-wishes.htmlSources: Animal Speak by Ted Andrews, Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams & David Carson
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