In Native American lore, the raven is often celebrated as the light-bringer; the one who gifted humanity with understanding and discernment. The raven holds understanding in balance, attributed with the dual ability to both share and keep secrets. The black raven reminds us that wisdom can be found not only in the light, but also in the dark, shadowy void that our over-culture so fears and runs from. Carl Jung associated the raven with our shadow, that part of our psyche that we refuse to see or acknowledge. When we contemplate raven energy, we can tap into the courage to hold all of ourselves in awareness. The shadow contains the energy that we need to grow, to change, to break through from egoic pettiness and worry into the full, radiant being that each of us has already become. -ShamanTube