RavenWind
by
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Myths, legends, and folktales tell their stories with authors generally unknown. Contemporary Native American folklore, when expressed through folk art or stories, may or may not reveal the artist.
It is through myths and legends continually retold that everything important for Native American life is found: creation of the world, sun, and moon, the color of the mountains, the four directions, the spirit life of trees, and the rich lore specific to each animal and bird. All this is central to the social structure, values, spiritual realities, and daily life of the Native American.
Wherever raven families are found, which is in most parts of the world, they are usually presented in local folklore as highly intelligent ancient messengers of the gods, although occasionally they are buffoons. This bird who developed its current brain power some eight million years ago is the earth's smartest bird and one of the smartest animals, along with chimpanzees and dolphins. As such, Raven is central to mythology worldwide.
Raven of folklore calls us to follow, to listen, and experience life in all its complexity, insight, ambiguity, contradiction, and humor. You are invited to join me as we look at Raven in world history and in Native American myths, legends and folktales.
Feel the presence of the spiritual in the mundane,
discover anew things we know but cannot explain,
quiver inside at the experience of magic,
recognize the paradoxes within the world and ourselves,
respect the sciences and know there is more,
and feel the unseen winds breathing the spirit of life into us.
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About the Book
From ancient lore, down millenniums, traveling through worldwide mythologies, legends, and folktales, the mythical raven is entwined in the history of mankind. Most researchers agree that about twenty thousand years ago the first Americans came from Siberia across the Bering Land Bridge to what is now North America. The Siberians and their shamans were accompanied by the mythical raven who mediated between the physical and spiritual worlds.
With the Siberian influence, Northwest Native American mythology speaks of the raven as creator, destroyer, and trickster. As in Siberia, raven soars on the wind between the great spirit/mystery and the physical world. Raven teaches respect for earth and the oneness of all that is.
In RavenWind, author Hartzell Cobbs offers at look at the raven's role in world history and in Native American myths, legends, and folktales. He tells how the raven of folklore calls one to follow, to listen, and experience life with all its complexity, insight, ambiguity, contraction, and humor. With an emphasis on Native American tradition, Cobbs explores the presence of mythical raven in the mundane.
About the Author
Hartzell Cobbs earned a doctorate in religion from the Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, California. He directed an international nonprofit corporation and taught gerontology, spirituality and ethics courses at Boise State University. Cobbs has taught throughout the world where he explored the folkloric myths, legends, and folktales of many cultures. Living in the Northwest, he became a student of Native American raven myth and legend that inspired the writing of this book.