I often awaken early to listen to the arrival of the coming day. The birds’ song opens the day with hope and melody, infinite possibilities of what could come, hope for joy, hope for peace, a hope for love on a melody of repetitive notes high in the trees. Today the song is peppered with the cawing of the Crow. This morning I remember a Great Sadness, this time last year a dear friend lost her son, as always too soon back into the heavens.  As we left the hospital that day- she and I were the only two souls on the street corner, a crow stood noiseless up on a lamp post watching us.  I knew it was a sign, “it is commonly accepted from many ancient cultures that The Crow is The Harbinger that guides souls from The Realm of The Living to The Afterlife.” I knew her son was safe.

Fast forwarded a year later, the Crow has returned appearing twice this week. A few days ago, he flew right in front of me as I entered my patients home for the last time. She was in her last hours, peacefully transitioning, I said my goodbye as I gently kissed her on the forehead.  And then again yesterday another patient had slipped from this world to the next in one still breathe, the crow greeted me upon my arrival to confirm his passing-again landing on the roof and silently watching me.

Some would say I am seeing things that aren’t there, but I believe that life is rich with symbolism and signs from the Spirit World.  It brings me comfort and strength to know that at moments of our greatest challenges as human beings that Spirit finds a way to show us comfort in that we are never alone, we are all connected, and our Souls are eternal moving from this world to the next.