A lovely woman that I thought of as my “second mom” died a few days ago. With her passing, reminders of other losses come flooding back, some still acute. All that past pain is mingled with the ache in my heart from the loss of this wonderful lady. It has not been an easy few days.
I have been doing a 30 Day Tarot Challenge, and with over 100 people participating, I have seen some really great decks. I loved the Crow Tarot, and so I purchased a deck for myself. My purchase arrived just before leaving for the wake, and on a whim, I pulled this card. The Ace of Wands. Appropriate, I think, in so many ways. For me, and for Rose (my second mom, whom I loved dearly). She is off on a new Otherworldly adventure, a new beginning, divinely guided, to a shiny bright city, while I am doing a similar thing in this world — embarking on a new path toward a new life as well (one that I hope is also divinely guided). I think we have both been bestowed with Crow blessings.
Yesterday was the funeral. We had a Catholic mass and then we all drove to the mausoleum for a small ceremony there before she is interred next to her husband. While the priest was speaking, I looked up at the arched window over us and saw hundreds of crows flying by. Then one crow, very close, flew past the circular window above it, for a moment framed against that circle of sky. And I smiled. Blessed again by crows.
Incidentally, crows are very dear to me, and I seem to be dear to them as well, since, many years ago, I rescued one Rudy, who was certainly a king among crows.
And I am not surprised, actually, that this queen among humans was honored by the crows this way. Or that messages from this dear lady, who was always one of my most staunch supporters, came to me through one of my favorite birds and spiritual ally. Birds have long been considered messengers from Spirit, and the crow is one who easily passes between the worlds. My heart soared when I saw these crows outside the mausoleum, and I knew that everything was alright at that moment; that there is life beyond death, and that we are always just a thought away from our departed loved ones. And if we pay close enough attention and stay open, we can receive love and guidance and even comfort, divinely sent, from the natural world around us.
