November 9th, 2012 by Carrie Crotts
I am someone who finds meaning in every day life. I believe that every day strange occurrences can and do have deeper meaning.
Recently, I was having a lovely conversation with one of my close friends. As we were talking, I heard scratching and flapping in our chimney.
No way. Are you serious?!
Ever so cautiously, I opened the fireplace doors (hoping that a bird would not fly STRAIGHT into my face) and peered in. I didn’t see anything in the immediate area. I looked up, and sure enough, there was a crow sitting on top of the open flue.
Great. How am I going to get him out of there? I did a quick research on Google for ‘how to remove a crow from your chimney’’ and there were several articles about building rather complicated contraptions out of cardboard that required you to go on the roof to basically air lift the bird out of the chimney.
Nah. Too complicated.
I think I can literally reach in, grab him and pull him out.
This is what I set out to do. I suited up with a shower cap to cover my hair, a bandanna to cover my mouth & nose, long sleeve clothes to cover my body and gloves. I reached in. After several failed attempts at getting a good grip on him, i.e. I was only able to grab one leg – I decided that I needed to take a stronger approach if I was gonna get this little guy out.
The crow and I needed some bonding time to get to know each other. He was clearly distressed so I let his heart rate settle a bit and slow down panting. I then used a chimney sweep broom to try to lift him up a bit so he could get out. That didn’t work, but it seemed to show him I was interested in helping him. I also talked to him and let him know that I was there to help him and that I wanted to get him out.
I decided the only way this was going to work was to try to grab him again and pull him down through the gaps in the flue. I told him that it was in his best interest to work with me and let me help him.
I contorted my body (yoga to the rescue – literally!) inside the fireplace, reached firmly in and grabbed his body. He started flapping around, and I was able to grab both legs.
Success!
Except he was flapping and cawing like crazy and I wouldn’t be able to get him through the flue opening.
I said to him, “You have to settle down and bring your wings back in, or I can’t get you out.” After a bit, he did settle down a little (maybe he understood I was trying to help him so he cooperated for a second). I took that window of opportunity and pulled him gently, yet forcefully down through the flue.
He was out! I then quickly ran to the front door (with him flapping like crazy) and let him out. He immediately flew away. I was glad he didn’t seemed injured.
What an adventure!
I find this significant because it was the second time the Crow Community has come to me for help in the last year. Last summer it was an injured crow with a bloody wing that our dogs got ahold of. I wrapped him up in a towel and drove him to the bird clinic. They said that injured birds can’t be re-released so the best thing to do is to put them down. 
I said my good-bye’s to him and told him my Husky dog would help him with his transition. (My beloved Husky had died just a couple weeks earlier, so I was still very much in a grieving phase over that.)
And now this time, a crow was stuck in the chimney.
What does THAT mean?!
I got out my Animal Speak book and looked up the Crow Totem meanings:
Keynote: The secret magic of creation is calling
According to Ted Andrews, “wherever there are crows, there is magic. They are the symbols of creation and spiritual strength. They remind us to look for opportunities to create and manifest the magic of life. They are messengers calling to us about the creation and magic that is alive within our world everyday and available to us (Andrews, 131-132).
Crows black feathers symbolize the night. Black is the color of creation and the womb for which new things are born. It is the maternal color and thus the black night gives birth to the dawn of a new day.
I connected this to my recent events. Three months ago, I left my corporate day job and stepped out full time into my Tarot consulting practice. I’ve been very internally focused, as I work through old wounds, fears and self-limitations about going out on my own. I’ve been doing inner child work to process insecurities that have risen to the surface to be addressed. As I liberate my emotional self, I am setting myself free to grow and expand in the world.
I crave meaningful work and to help bring balance and intuition back into the business world.
I have been devouring all kinds of entrepreneur information, i.e. how to build social media strategy, launch products, overcome fear of rejection, etc. I’m building my team. I’m working with the awesomeUrsa Minor to crystallize my branding and develop a new website that reflects Samsara’s mission in the world. I am learning the in’s and out’s of blogging. I’m setting up tools & processes. BTW, props toEvernote!! (It’s a note capture program for the Mac).
I am learning to… create… and overcome limitations.
Like my crow friend in the chimney. I was there to help set him free when he was stuck. I feel the Universe has been giving me the right people I need to help me move to the next stage of my path.
Interestingly enough, we have astrological influences at play in helping liberate old wounds. I think this quote from Lynn Hayes from her Sunday Inspirations blog post on July 8th is rather timely – You are the Custodian of the World Within Yourself:
“Venus squares Chiron today, opening up old wounds around our own inner beauty or personal value. These old wounds are like trapped birds – they seek release which leads to freedom and the soul’s purpose. Don’t trap your wounded places – allow them to fly free and lead you to your own freedom and joy.”
We currently have the asteroid Chiron in retrograde. He is known as the ‘wounded healer.’ In retrograde, these energies of deep wounds rise to the surface of our lives to have the light of understanding shone on them to heal them. I’ve been walking this path lately, and so have several of my friends.
Have you been working on any trapped emotional ‘birds’ lately? Have any crows been especially active around you? Did they have a message for you? Drop a line below and tell your story. I can’t wait to hear it and the insights you gained.
