Joan Concannon, MA, LMFT, CST
Journal of Sandplay Therapy
Volume 24, Issue 1, 2015
Keywords
Sandplay therapy, crow, raven, “corvus,” symbol, bird, myth, alchemy, paradoxical opposites, dreams, critical animus, mother complex, death, synchronicity, shadow, suffering, dream, adult, female, woman, women, depression, clinical examples
Abstract
This article explores numerous symbolic meanings of the crow and raven found in myth and alchemy, as well as their expression in the sandplay process of several adult women. The living nature of these birds will be briefly considered. As with all symbols, the crow and raven carry a variety of attributes including their paradoxical opposites. The mythological-symbolic characteristics to be explored include: being a solar bird and a bringer of light, divine messenger, trickster and creator god, as well as related to darkness, evil, death and war. In alchemy, the nigredo, also called “corvus,” crow or raven, relates to the initial stage of the opus and the dark matter that needs to be transformed. The psychological meaning of this alchemical symbolism, as put forth by C. G. Jung, is presented. Additionally, Jung suggests that birds may symbolize spirit and thought, which in a woman may be the animus.
German / Deutsch
Das Symbol der Krähe und des Raben in Mythologie, Alchemie und Sandspiel
ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Dieser Beitrag erforscht die verschiedenen symbolischen Bedeutungen von Krähe und Rabe in Mythos und Alchemie, sowie deren Ausdruck in Sandspielprozessen verschiedener erwachsener Frauen.
SCHLÜSSELWÖRTER: Sandspieltherapie, Krähe, Rabe, Corvus, Symbol, Vogel, Mythos, Alchemie, Paradoxe Gegensätze, Träume, kritischer Animus, Mutterkomplex, Tod, Synchronizität, Schatten, Leiden, Traum, Erwachsener, weiblich, Frau, Depression, Fallbeispiele
Spanish / Español
Simbolismo del Cuervo y del Cuervo en la mit Ología, la Alquimia y Sandplay
PALABRAS SIGNIFICATIVAS: terapia de sandplay, cuervo, corvus , símbolo, pájaro, mito, la alquimia, los opuestos paradójicas, sueños, animus crítico, animus, complejo materno, la muerte, la sincronicidad, la sombra, el sufrimiento, el sueño, adulto, femenino, mujer, mujeres, depresión, ejemplos clínicos
French / Français
Le Symbolisme de la Corneille et le Corbeau dans la Mythologie, l’Alchimie, et Sandplay
MOTS CLÉS: la thérapie par le jeu de sable, la corneille, le corbeau, corvus, le symbole, le mythe, l’alchimie, les opposées paradoxales, les rêves, l’animus critique, l’animus, le complexe de mère, la morte, le synchronisme, l’ombre, la souffrance, le rêve, l’adulte, la femme, les femmes, la femelle, la dépression, les exemples cliniques
Suggested Citation
Concannon, J. (2015). Symbolism of the crow and raven in mythology, alchemy, and sandplay. Journal of Sandplay Therapy, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.61711/jst.2015.24.1.428
