Event:  Crows and Ravens: Birds of Myth and Magic

In the folk tales and mythology of the Native American tribes of the Pacific Northwest, Raven is a Trickster. That’s just one of the legends Rick de Yampert explores in his book Crows and Ravens: Mystery, Myth, and Magic of Sacred Corvids (Llewellyn, March 2024). In this program, which includes a PowerPoint slideshow, Rick will talk about the science of corvids (the bird family that includes crows and ravens) and how they remember human faces and hold “crow funerals.” He’ll explore myths from the ancient Celts, Vikings and Native Americans, revealing how they came to see these birds as sacred, supernatural creatures. And Rick will relate strange modern-day encounters with these birds and their uncanny behaviors, including the time he spied an upside-down crow in the backyard of his Palm Coast, Florida, home. Rick's talk will conclude with ways to build communion – both practical and magical – with these intelligent beings, and participants will be invited to share their corvid stories.