Edible Raven

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - No Wimpy Wines

2011-03-16T15:06:00.000-07:00

Ravenswood Winery

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - A Ravenous Brew

2011-03-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

Black Raven Brewing Co.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Software

2011-03-02T06:19:00.000-08:00

Raven Software

Happy Birthday Edward Gorey

2011-02-22T06:27:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Edward Gorey!

National Love Your Pet Day

2011-02-21T10:08:00.000-08:00

Wishing all pets out there a very happy tail-wagging and purring National Love Your Pet Day and very special wishes and love to LaKeit, Nugget, Gretel, Macie, Hansel and Tasha.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens - Veggie Ravens

2011-02-16T13:34:00.000-08:00

Ravens' Restaurant - Vegetarian Dining on the Mendocino Coast...we're now ravenously hungry!!!

Superstition of the Week - Valentine's Day

2011-02-11T06:37:00.000-08:00

St. Valentine’s Day...gone to the birds

The origins of this day are not exactly clear but it may have been created from Lupercalia, a pre-Christian Roman festival that was held in the honor of Pan and Juno to ensure fertility and a bountiful harvest. This festival was thought to start on the evening of February 14th and young men drew names of girls from a large urn to discover who would be their partner for the festival.

However, in the 4th century, the Christian Church became concerned about this pagan festival and tried to abolish it, but to no success. Thus they renamed the day after St. Valentine, supposedly an early Christian martyr, though it is highly likely that St. Valentine may have never existed.

The Puritans brought Valentine’s Day to America in 1629 but life was harsh and there was no time allowed for celebrations that seemed frivolous. Consequently, it took about another hundred years for Valentine’s Day to be celebrated in the United States.

During the middle ages there was a superstition believed that the first bird a young girl would see on Valentine’s Day would identify who her future husband would be:

Blackbird = A Clergyman

Robin = A Sailor

Goldfinch = An Extremely Wealthy Man

Yellowbird = A Well Off Man

Sparrow = A Farmer

Bluebird = A Happy But Poor Man

Crossbill = An Angry Man

Woodpecker = Will Never Marry

Dove = A Kind and Good Man

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Valentines

2011-02-09T13:11:00.000-08:00

Raven Heart Available at All Us All the Time on Zazzle

Superstition of the Week - The Oscar Curse

2011-02-04T06:50:00.000-08:00

The Oscar Curse

We had not heard of the Oscar Curse but there was a rumored theory that women who win the Best Actress Academy Award are doomed to divorce.

Now according to an article in the Huffington Post, researchers at the University of Toronto have released a study that found the effect of the “Oscar Curse” has the data to back it up.

Researchers compared actresses who won Best Actress from 1936 to 2010 to those who were nominated but didn't win, and found that winners were, indeed, 1.68 times as likely to divorce as non-winners. Of the 265 married nominees, 159 eventually divorced--a whopping 60 percent. The same was not true for men--there was no significant difference in divorce risk for Best Actor winners and Best Actor nominees.

Here are a few notable names who were plagued by this curse: Jane Wyman, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Helen Hunt, Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, Hilary Swank, and Sandra Bullock.

Cool Stuff We Found Related To Ravens (Or In This Case Crows)

2011-02-02T06:21:00.000-08:00

Matsumoto Castle, also known as the “Crow Castle” because of its black exterior, is a premier historic castle in Japan built in 1504 by the Shimadachi Sadanaga clan out of earth, stone and wood. “Crow Castle” was in use from 1504 to 1868 until the outer castle was demolished when the land was reclaimed in the Meiji Restoration. The original black keep and inner walls survived. The “Crow Castle” is now listed as a National Treasure of Japan and is located in the city of Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture and is within easy reach of Tokyo by road or rail.

Superstition of the Week - Zombie Apocalypse

2011-01-28T09:19:00.000-08:00

Zombie means “living dead,” and was originally a god in different countries in Africa, particularly in the Congo. However, the term also grew into an integral part of voodoo magic describing a corpse that has been enchanted and brought back to life by having part of its soul restored by a sorcerer, who then has control over the zombie.

It was believed the only people who can become zombies are those who have had an unnatural death. Thus to prevent the sorcerer from being able to bring them back as a zombie, was to symbolically kill them for a 2nd time.

Of course Hollywood has now added several incidents where one might get zombied.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Yet Another Musical Raven

2011-01-26T14:01:00.000-08:00

Amos Lee Mission Bell

Superstition of the Week - Blue Monday

2011-01-21T06:10:00.000-08:00

Watch out, it is that time again: Blue Monday, "the most depressing day of the year."

According to a, well let's just say very creative formula, written by psychologist, Cliff Arnall, in 2005, this upcoming Monday, January 24th, is the day when post-holiday gloom is at its worst.

While on the payroll of a PR firm five years ago Arnall "calculated" that the Monday falling in mid-January was the most miserable day of the year. To make this divination, the former Cardiff University lecturer came up with a complicated equation comprising seven variables: (W) weather, (D) debt, (d) monthly salary, (T) time since Christmas, (Q) time since failed quit attempt, (M) low motivational levels and (NA) the need to take action.

Consequently, this unique bit of math was used to give academic weight to a press release put out by Sky Travel encouraging people to cheer themselves up by taking a trip during this time of year. Hmmmm.

Soooooo...I guess if you are down in the dumps on Monday, you can say your mood is substantiated by the seven-variable Arnall equation. Even though you are depressed, you will at least sound impressive.

Cool Stuff On Ravens - The Tower of London

2011-01-19T09:56:00.000-08:00

It case you missed our previous post, let us introduce you again to the Tower of London Ravens...

Marley, a male, born in North Somerset, age 3

Erin, a female, born in North Somerset, age 3
Merlin, a female, born in South Whales, age 4
Baldrick, a male, born in Dartmoor, age 4
Munin, a female, born in North Uist (Scotland), age 14
Thor, a male, born in Hampshire, age 14
Hugine, a female, born in North Uist (Scotland), age 14
Gwylium, a male, born in Welsh Mountain Zoo, age 21

Source: The Historic Royal Palaces website, hrp.org.uk

Superstition of the Week - Clocks

2011-01-14T06:29:00.000-08:00

There is a superstition that says if a clock which has not been working suddenly chimes, there will be a death in the family.

Cool Stuff on Ravens - Learn a New Language

2011-01-12T05:45:00.000-08:00

Is one of your 2011 New Year's resolutions to learn a new language? If so, here is your bilingual Raven....

Bilingual Ravens

Cherokee....Kalanu
Cree....Kahka'kwi
English....Raven
Danish....Ravn
Dutch....Raaf
Finnish....Korppi
French....Corbeau
Gaelic....Bran
German....Rabe
Greek....Korax
Hopi....Adoko
Icelandic....Hrafn
Inuit....Tulugaq
Irish....Fiach
Italian....Corvo
Japanese....Karasu
Latin....Corvus
Polish....Kruk
Portuguese....Corvo
Scots Gaelic....Fitheach, Fhitich
Spanish....Cuervo
Swedish....Korp
Turkish....Kuzgun
Welsh....Cigfran
Yiddish....Woron
Zuni....Kotollo-ah

Superstition of the Week - Rabbits

2011-01-07T09:04:00.000-08:00

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2011 is the year of the Golden Rabbit, which begins on 2/3/11 and ends on 1/22/12. Here are a few superstitions on our fine floppy-eared friends.

RABBITS

A rabbit running through your yard is a sign of fertility either meaning it is a good year to have children or to grow a garden.
A rabbit running down the street means there will be a fire in the neighborhood.
Dreaming about a rabbit means you could soon be confronted by misfortune.
Seeing a white rabbit is a death omen, this might stem from British folklore where it was believed that wicked witches turned themselves into white rabbits or hares.
Seeing a black rabbit is unlucky. Not sure if this is related to the black cat superstition or that in some folklore it was thought that black rabbits host the souls of human beings.
A superstition to gain good luck, usually a present, that was also common in many part of Great Britain, with several variants, was saying ‘Rabbits’ three times before going to sleep on the last day of the month, and then ‘Hares’ three times first thing when waking in the morning. Another version of this myth states that on the first day of the month you should shout out ‘White Rabbit’ when you wake up in the morning and then shout out ‘Black Rabbit’ right before you go to bed that night and you will have good luck throughout the month. A more modern version states the person should say “rabbit, rabbit, white rabbit” upon waking on the first day of each new month, and doing so will bring good luck all month long. Yet there are other versions that say instead of the first day of the month it should be the first day of the new moon.
And finally...the rabbit’s foot. The most common superstition of this supposed lucky charm says the rabbit’s foot will bring luck and protect the owner from evil spirits if carried in the pocket. Though some versions say the original owner must give their rabbit’s foot away and the recipient of the gift would have good fortune. If the owner were to keep the foot for themselves, they would in turn have bad luck. Also if the recipient loses the rabbit’s foot, they would also have bad luck. Oh but there is more....
In American folklore, the foot of the rabbit is considered an amulet of good luck originating from African-American folk magic known as hoodoo. But not just any rabbit’s foot will do. It needs to be the left hind foot. Here is where it gets sticky. Some say the rabbit must be shot by a silver bullet in a cemetery while others say the rabbit should be captured alive in the cemetery and the foot needs to be cut off while the rabbit is still alive. Also the phase of the moon is important, but again, some say the rabbit should be taken in the full moon where others say it should be taken in the new moon. There are even others that say it should be a Friday, preferably rainy.

We think we will just let them keep their furry little feet and we will find our good luck someplace else.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Skulls

2011-01-05T09:33:00.000-08:00

Raven on Skull Statue from Goery Details

Superstition of the Week - Happy New Years Food

2010-12-31T12:30:00.000-08:00

Lucky Food for the New Year (adapted from myrecipes.com)

Japanese tradition calls for eating soba noodles on New Year's Eve to ensure a long life.

It is customary in Spain to eat twelve grapes at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve.

Juicy pork is the lucky food of choice for Germans.

Brazilians associate red lentils with wealth, so it's common to feast on these satisfying seeds at New Year's celebrations in Brazil.

In China, Chinese potstickers or fried dumplings symbolize wealth since they resemble coins.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-24T14:31:00.000-08:00

Wishing you a Ravenous Holiday!

Superstition of the Week - Mistletoe

2010-12-17T11:57:00.000-08:00

Mistletoe, also known as Celtic-All-Heal was popular by the 19th century. Since the times of druids, it was associated with fertility and kissing.

Luck favors those who kiss under the mistletoe but turn against those who avoid it.

Unmarried girls used to steal sprigs of mistletoe from church decorations and hid them under their pillows as a charm to dream of their future husbands.

Burning old mistletoe was said to predict marriage prospects of an unmarried girl. Steady flames ensured happy marital life while the spluttering flames predicted bad tempered and cross husbands.

The Bean Plant Studio Holiday Art Sale

2010-12-01T09:06:00.000-08:00

For those you live in Northern Colorado we would love for you to stop by and take part in a festival of eye candy created by local artist this Friday from 5-8pm and Saturday from 10-4pm.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - More Ravenous Music

2010-12-01T08:56:00.000-08:00

The Darkest Pieces of Classical Music, MP3 Download from Amazon $1.99

Superstition of the Week - Black Friday

2010-11-25T10:08:00.000-08:00

Here is a good luck ritual to prevent one from being trampled in the Black Friday Shopping Crowds:

Get out of the bed on the left side
Turn around 3 times
Pat your stomach twice
Hop on your right foot 5 times
Hop on your left foot 6 times
Count backwards from 20 to 1
Twitch your nose 7 times
Take 3 deep breaths
Get back into bed and sleep until Saturday morning

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Turkey Jerky

2010-11-24T06:13:00.000-08:00

Raven Brand Products & Deli Turkey Jerkey

Superstition of the Week - Hearses

2010-11-19T15:13:00.000-08:00

It is considered bad luck to unexpectedly meet a hearse coming towards you and even worse, if the hearse is empty.

Superstition of the Week - Spider Webs

2010-11-12T09:21:00.000-08:00

Continuing with the spider theme from last week...Spider Webs.

It is believed that spider webs are an omen of future prosperity. Unless it is absolutely necessary, it is best to leave spider webs whee they are because removing them also removes the potential wealth.

Well I was destined to be poor with the spider superstitions, but looking at my bookcases right now, this one may cancel the bad luck out.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Amazing Origin Cafe

2010-11-10T06:19:00.000-08:00

Okay, not really a raven, but the little guy is sporting a pretty awesome feather cap. Actually this is from a coffee label that we designed for Amazing Origins Cafe at Isis Books & Gifts Store. Like its name, this cafe serves the most amazing roasts. You also won't meet a nicer guy than the owner Jeff Miles. If you live in the Denver area, please stop by for a pour over or latte, enjoy Barista Jesse's cool artwork on the special's board and then soak in the positive energy as you browse the bookstore. Before you leave be sure to get yourself a bag of those great freshly roasted organic fair-trade coffee beans...with that feather-cap-wearing dragon. It truly is AMAZING!

Superstition of the Week - Spiders

2010-11-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

SPIDERS

Believe it or not, supposedly seeing a spider is a lucky sign and a lot of times indicates money. This association dates back to the Roman times, when people wore spider amulets to attract success in business.

In England it indicated you will be coming into money. However that is only if the spider is found in a proper place. If it is found on places such as the kitchen table, it needs to be picked up and moved outside. If the spider dies during transport, all the money will be lost.

Small spiders were frequently called “money spiders” and it was considered extremely bad luck to kill one.

Sadly, I maybe destined to be poor....

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Ale

2010-11-03T14:42:00.000-07:00

Alaskan Brewing Company's Double Black IPA

Superstition of the Week - Halloween

2010-10-29T06:08:00.000-07:00

HALLOWEEN

First a little history...

The Celtic Druids celebrated their year end on 10/31 with a festival called Samhain, which means summer’s end. They would praise Baal, the sun god who helped provide their harvest and asked the god for support to make it through the upcoming winter. On this day the Celts believed that the souls of the dead could return to visit the living. Some of these spirits would amuse themselves by playing tricks on the people.

When the Romans conquered the Celts, they also added their autumn festivals to the culture. One of these gatherings honored Pomona, the goddess of fruits and trees. Some believe this is why apples are included in some of our present-day Halloween celebrations.

When the Christian church tried to take over, they set out to abolish the old pagan celebrations. In many cases they did this by superimposing their own festivals on days of the pagan celebrations. Because of this, Pope Gregory III moved All Saints’ Day from May to the beginning of November. A century later, Pope Gregory IV declared that All Hallows’ Eve would be held on 10/31, All Saints’ Day on 11/2 and All Souls’ Day on 11/2.

In the 19th century immigrants from Scotland and Ireland brought Halloween to the United States as a secular fun celebration incorporating bats, cats, ghosts, witches, jack-o'-lanterns, fortune telling and bobbing for apples.

Then in the 20th century the notion of trick-or-treating came about in the United States, though it is thought it does have roots to old world’s rituals. On the eve of All Saints’ Day, poor people in England carrying jack-o'-lanterns made from mangel-wurzel (a variety of beet) went door to door begging for soul cakes.

Okay now on to the superstitions...

If you hear somebody walking behind you on Halloween, do not turn around. This is from the belief that it is likely to be the dead following you and it would be fatal to look any of them in the face.

It was also believed that if you go to a crossroads on Halloween and stop to listen to the wind, you will hear your future for the following year.

Another superstition is if at midnight on Halloween a girl stands in front of a mirror while eating an apple and combing her hair, she will see a reflection of her future husband.

Also see our Apple Superstition Posts

Apples

Apples Part 2

Apples and True Love

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Candle Stickers

2010-10-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

And if anybody knows where we could score some of these, please let us know...

Superstition of the Week - Werewolf

2010-10-22T06:06:00.000-07:00

WEREWOLF

The werewolf superstition dates back to the Greco-Roman times and was particularly popular in the medieval era. During these times it was believed that people were turned into wolves by a magical enchantment. It was also thought that the folks most vulnerable to this enchantment were those born on Christmas Eve or born out of wedlock.

The most popular belief to kill a werewolf, is by a silver bullet; however, it was also believed you could cure a werewolf if you knew their first name. You need to call out that person’s name 3 times while they are in wolf form. But be careful, because if you get the name wrong, the curse will also come after you to transform you into the wolf.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens - Raven Tarot

2010-10-20T09:54:00.000-07:00

Raven's Tarot Site

Superstition of the Week - Pumpkin

2010-10-15T06:05:00.000-07:00

PUMPKIN

Though the pumpkin was a harvest symbol, it was also believed to scare away evil spirits. Folks would carve hideous faces into them and illuminate with a candle on Halloween to scare away the evil spirits that would come out on that special night.

These pumpkin lanterns were eventually called jack-o'-lanterns from an old Irish story. An Irishman named jack cleverly tricked the devil out of stealing his soul, but because of the disreputable life he had led was not allowed to enter into heaven. He was condemned to wander the world in darkness, but the devil eased his burden by giving him a piece of coal from hell to light his lantern.

There is a superstition that says Good Friday is best day to plant pumpkins. This is because of the belief that pumpkins ward off evil.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - More Music

2010-10-13T05:21:00.000-07:00

Down - Diary of a mad band

Superstition of the Week - Witch

2010-10-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

WITCH

The word “witch” comes from the Saxon wica, which means “wise one.”

The ancient Assyrians, Babylonians, Hebrews, Greeks and Romans all mention witches in their writings. In Greco-Roman times, they were renowned for their healing skills using herbs and potions. Unfortunately, even back then, not everyone approved of this practice. Pliny, Ovid, and Plutarch all wrote negatively about witches.

Sadly, over time witches began to be viewed as entities that cast evil spells to hurt others. Persecution of witches began when the Christian Church started fostering the belief that witches were associated with the devil. They told stories that witches copulated with demons, conducted wild orgies, and indulged in sinful behavior.

This unjustified belief led to horrific injustices and the torture and death of many innocent men and women by hanging, drowning or being burned at the stake. This unbelievable craze lasted for almost 250 years.

During this time several myths came about. Witches were thought not to have a soul and thus made no reflection in the mirror. They would recite the lord’s prayer backwards and were thwarted by anything made iron. People also believed that witches possessed “devil’s marks,” which were warts, moles or other birthmarks, usually in the area of the armpits.

If anything bad happened in the community, it would be blamed on a witch such as a calf dying, crops failing, or if a baby was stillborn. Even storms and murders were blames on witchcraft.

A wide variety of amulets and other form of protection were used to protect people and their homes from witches. It was also believed that witches could hurt you if they had a small piece of you to work with. Thus, some folks thought one needed to be extremely careful to dispose of nail clippings, cut hair, blood, urine and saliva in order to prevent a witch from getting their hands on it.

Because of the way movies and children’s books portray witches, the stereotypical image of a witch is a hideous hag with a warty nose, pointed chin who lives alone with a black cat and casts evil spells. In reality, witches today practice a pagan religion that honors the Goddess and believe in the sanctity of all life.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Music CD

2010-10-06T04:54:00.000-07:00

Nox Arcana - Shadow of the Raven

Superstition of the Week - October

2010-10-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

A superstition says that a warm October will lead to a frigid February. Also if the leaves wither on the trees versus falling to the ground, a frosty winter with much white stuff is on its way.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Apples

2010-09-29T10:09:00.000-07:00

1920's Label for Bird Valley Apples

Superstition of the Week - Vampires

2010-09-24T13:29:00.000-07:00

VAMPIRE

The older belief (before the invasion of teenage vampire angst) was vampires were living dead that came out only at night, could transform themselves into bats, and would suck blood from the living. A victim of a vampire bite ultimately would become a vampire themselves. They could not survive in sunlight and could be warded away by garlic, crosses or holy water. Also it was initially thought there were only 3 ways to kill a vampire: burn it, decapitate it, or thrust a wooden stake through its heart. Sometimes all 3 just to be safe.

Then a bit of trivia...F.W. Murnau, the German filmmaker, was the first person to depict a vampire on screen, in Nosferatu in 1922. Also, Bram Stoker’s famous Novel Dracula has been filmed 30 times in 50 years.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Table Runner

2010-09-22T05:23:00.000-07:00

Raven Table Runner from Gailsong (be sure to also check out those placemats).

Superstition of the Week - Doggies

2010-09-17T07:21:00.000-07:00

DOG

An old superstition says that if a dog howls near a door it is a sign of misfortune.

Another superstition says that if a dog howls at the moon, it is a sign that death is coming.

It was also thought that if a dog whines when a baby is being born, the child will most likely lead a hard life.

Some say it is good luck for a strange dog to follow you home.

Cool Stuff We Found Named Raven - A Kitty

2010-09-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

Raven from Entry Kitten Diary #9 on The Cats Tripe Blog

Superstion of the Week - Football

2010-09-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Madden Curse

Some believe if an NFL player graces the covers of Madden NFL video games they are doomed by a curse to injury or subsequent obscurity. Here is the curse’s toll so far...

2000 – Barry Sanders: This running back shocked the Lions by abruptly announcing his retirement and did not play a single down that season. Since Barry Sanders quit before the start of the season he was replaced by Dorsey Levens who was bothered by a bad knee through out the season and was released in 2001 from the Green Bay Packers.

2001 – Eddie George: This Tennessee Titan running back bobbled a pass that was intercepted and returned for a touchdown and the team suffered a loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Playoffs. The following season hampered with injuries, his rushing averaged was at an all-time low.

2002 - Daunte Culpepper: The Minnesota Vikings quarterback suffered a knee injury and missed the last five games of the year.

2003 - Marshall Faulk: Plagued by an ankle injury from the prior year, this St. Louis Rams running back's rushing yards dropped to under a 1000 and the Rams missed the playoffs.

2004 – Michael Vick: The Atlanta Falcons quarterback suffered a fractured right fibula in a pre-season game one day after Madden NFL 2004 hit store shelves.

2005 - Ray Lewis: Suffered a torn right hamstring in the 6th game causing this Baltimore Raven running back to miss the rest of the season.

2006 - Donovan McNabb: The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback flouted the curse by saying that the injuries associated with it "might be a trend, but I don't believe in the curse at all." True to form, McNabb suffered a sports hernia in the first game of the season. He played on for another eight games despite the painful injury, but after being re-injured in a game against the Dallas Cowboys, he finally opted for surgery and missed the final seven games of the season as the Eagles finished last in the NFC East.

2007: Shaun Alexander: This Seattle Seahawks running back, with a 5.1 yards per carry rushing average, spurred his team to their best season ever and first Super Bowl appearance in the prior season. Then three weeks in to the new season, he broke his left foot in a game against the New York Giants and missed his team's next six games.

2008: Vince Young: The Tennessee Titans quarterback hurt the quadriceps in his right leg during the Titans' fifth game of the season and didn't participate in Tennessee's game against the Houston Texans the following week, marking the first time in his career (including middle school, high school, college, and the NFL) that an injury kept him from playing.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Suncatcher

2010-09-08T12:31:00.000-07:00

Raven Pewter Suncatcher from Gryphon's Moon

Superstion of the Week - Dice

2010-09-03T05:43:00.000-07:00

Dice

It is considered good luck to carry dice in your pocket. If you happen to find a die somewhere, take not of the number of spots on the side facing up:

One Spot – Good news is on the way.

Two Spots – Fun travel is in the future.

Three Spots – A pleasant surprise is coming.

Four Spots – Beware of problems arising in the near future.

Five Spots – Your mate will be untrue.

Six Spots – Great fortune in the form of unexpected money.

Cool Stuff We Found Out About Ravens - The Existance of Sea Ravens

2010-09-01T05:39:00.000-07:00

Image from gma.org

SEA RAVENS

Sea Ravens live in the cold waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. They can be found on rocky bottoms with sand or mud, or among seaweeds, occasionally swimming up to the surface waters. Sea ravens vary in color from blood red to reddish purple, chocolate, or to yellowish brown and are covered in small spines. Most are a foot long but some do grow up to two feet. They are voracious feeders and are said to eat bait as well as whatever invertebrates it finds on the bottom, such as mollusks, various crustaceans, sea urchins, and worms.

Superstition of the Week - Crossroads

2010-08-27T04:46:00.000-07:00

Crossroads

According to one of our favorite Supernatural episodes, this is where you can go to conjure up demons to bargain your soul with the devil for fame, fortune, love or to protect your younger sibling from going to hell, as it tends to happen.

The reason crossroads make such a good story line is their history goes back thousands of years to Greek and Roman mythology. Artemis, a Greek goddess, and Diana, a Roman goddess, were associated with the moon, but often they were mistaken for Hecate, goddess of the night and protector of witches and Hades, who was associated with sorcery and witchcraft.

Hecate was regularly used in invoking magical rites and statues of her and Artemis were placed at crossroads. Some of these statues had 3 faces, Artemis, Demeter, and Hecate, depicting the three stages of the Triple Goddess, maiden, mother, and crone. Also because of the three heads, they could look in 3 directions simultaneously, which was thought to be handy when at a crossroads. Because of this, it was believed that witches and the dead would gathered there. Of course on the other hand, Christians considered crossroads to be evil places and avoided them if at all possible.

After time though, the original reasons for this belief were gradually forgotten and new superstitions surfaced. An interesting one was that people felt the crossroads would confuse the soul of anyone buried there, making it impossible for the spirit to find its way back home. Thus if folks did not wanted to be haunted by the individual they would bury them at the crossroads. To further prevent the soul from wandering back home, a stake would be driven through their hearts to ensure no part of them could ever leave the crossroads.

Hmmm, a little Robert Johnson’s Cross Road Blues anyone?

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Textile Designer

2010-08-25T04:29:00.000-07:00

Okay technically not a Raven, but we love crows too and cool wallpaper.
Black Crow Studios.

Superstition of the Week - Silverware

2010-08-20T05:24:00.000-07:00

Silverware

If two teaspoons are accidentally put in the same cup it is believed that a forth coming marriage is in the making.
If two knives get crossed it is a sign there will be an argument and some even see it as an omen of death. To avoid this, the bottom knife should be removed before the top one.
Finally, if you don’t want company be careful not to drop your silverware. A dropped knife indicates a man will soon be visiting, a drop fork means a women and a spoon means a baby will soon be arriving.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Posters

2010-08-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

It gets even better because all posters are 40% off through this Friday at the

All Us All the Time Zazzle Store,

Code: BTSRULEPRINT.

Superstition of the Week - Friday the 13th

2010-08-13T04:50:00.000-07:00

TGIF!!! Oh no wait a minute, it is Friday the 13th. Well darn, now I am torn. Should I be elated the weekend is almost here, or paralyzed in infinite fear of the dark sinister forces lurking around every corner seeking out prey (perhaps me, okay, probably me) to wreck their devious havoc on? How does one of the most looked forward to days of the week turn to doomsday when if falls on that particular number?

It turns out that both Friday and the number 13 have gotten a bad wrap throughout history. Unfortunately for 13, it is partly due to the fact that we humans tend to tire after 12. In school they tend to stop at 12 in their multiplication tables, there are 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, and 12 apostles of Jesus. Adding 1 to 12, please, scary stuff.

There is also a Norse myth attached to the superstition of the number 13. Twelve gods were invited to a banquet at Valhalla, their heaven. The god of mischief, Loki, was excluded from the guest list, but came anyway, bringing the dinner party to a total of 13. Loki then proceeded to provoke Hoder, the blind god of winter, to shoot Balder, god of joy and gladness. Balder died instantly cloaking the earth in darkness. Don’t you hate it when that happens at your dinner parties? The Hindus also believed the gathering of 13 people in one place was unlucky and in ancient Rome it was said that witches gathered in groups of 12 with the devil. Then later in history the superstition associated itself with the Last Supper of Jesus and the 12 disciples.

Now interestingly, in ancient goddess-worshipping cultures 13 was considered a lucky number because it corresponded to the number of lunar cycles in a year. However, according to some historians, 13 got a bad rep among early Christian patriarchs because it represented femininity. Hmmm....

Friday also ended up on the wrong side of Christianity, mainly because it is believed that Jesus was crucified on that day. But some historians have dated the superstition back to yet again Norse mythology and the sacrifices made to the goddess Frigg, goddess of marriage and fertility, or Freya, goddess of sex and fertility. Their emblem was the fish, which was associated with worship of love that was offered by the Scandinavians to their goddess on the sixth day of the week, Friday. With Christianity this act was considered indecent and Freya was recast as a witch in folklore. During the Middle Ages, Friday was known as the Witches’ Sabbath.

Then it appeared that early Christians started attributing about everything bad to Friday such as Eve offering Adam the apple, Abel killing Cain, the stoning of St. Stephen and the Great Flood. Oh, another little interesting tidbit, it is said that in Britain Friday was the conventional day for public hangings, and how many steps supposedly led up to the noose, yep, 13.

Thus when you put the two together, Friday the 13th, you can see why it is not exactly seen as your sunshiny day. The Knights of Templar found this out on Friday, October 13, 1307, when King Philip IV of France ordered their torture and execution.

But really, I am sure there is nothing to worry about today, it is just a superstition, right? Now did I just see something peaking around the corner...?

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Hood Ornament

2010-08-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

Hood Ornament from A & L Home

Retro Superstition of the Week - Bees

2010-08-06T08:20:00.000-07:00

BEES

If a bee enters your home, it's a sign that you will soon have a visitor. If you kill the bee, you will have bad luck, or the visitor will be unpleasant.

A swarm of bees settling on a roof is an omen that the house will burn down.

Previously posted 3/20/09

Cool Stuff We Found Ravens On - Photoshop Brushes

2010-08-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

PHOTOSHOP BRUSHES

Crow and Raven Brushes by dollieflesh-stock from Deviant Art

Raven Brushes by flodelys-stock from Brush Pattern

Superstition of the Week - Cradles

2010-07-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

CRADLES

There is an old superstition that says if you rock an empty cradle it will be occupied within a year, though in some parts of Europe it is believed that rocking an empty cradle puts in danger the life of the child who last slept in it.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Web Banner

2010-07-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

The Magical Omaha web banner....not only a cool banner, but also a very cool store.

Superstition of the Week - Cows

2010-07-23T08:44:00.000-07:00

Cows

There was a time that it was believed that cows knew the way to heaven. Because of this, it was not uncommon in older times for cows to be included in funeral processions in Scandinavia and Germany.

However, on the other hand, it was also thought that if a cow licked the forehead of another cow it meant their owner is about to die. Also if a cow entered upon your property a death will soon follow in your family. Three cows means three deaths.

On a lighter note, it was said that you should wash your hands immediately after milking a cow or you will receive no milk on the following day.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Bulletin Board

2010-07-21T04:50:00.000-07:00

A notice posted to the bulletin board at the Barking Dog Cafe in Lyons, CO.

Superstition of the Week - Corn

2010-07-16T05:10:00.000-07:00

If you find an ear of red corn it is considered to be good luck and should be kept in your pocket until next harvest.

Happy Bastille Day!

2010-07-14T12:46:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BASTILLE DAY!

Superstition of The Week - Circles

2010-07-09T04:16:00.000-07:00

The circle is considered a symbol of good fortune, signifying completeness, wholeness and perfection. This may have originated from the sun's apparent circle around the earth. It was also believed that evil spirits could not cross a circle and as a result, rings, wreaths, and other circular decorations and adornments were created. Believe it or not, accordingly lipstick was invented because of the circle. People thought evil spirits could enter the body through the mouth, thus started painted a red circle around the mouth so evil spirits could not pass through into the body.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Pendant

2010-07-07T15:51:00.000-07:00

Raven Star Pendant at Isis Bookstore

Superstition of the Week - Fireworks

2010-07-02T08:51:00.000-07:00

Fireworks were originally invented in ancient China in the 12th century to scare away evil spirits.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Meditations

2010-06-30T07:38:00.000-07:00

Shamanic Meditations CD at Isis Bookstore

Superstion of the Week - Chairs

2010-06-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

CHAIRS

It is a sign of bad luck for a chair to fall over.

If the chair was knocked over by a single girl, it will delay her finding a mate by several months.

If the chair is tipped over while someone is getting up from the table, it is a sign they have been lying.

It is said that gamblers can change their luck by either walking around or turning the chair around three times; however, this should only be done if they are losing.

It is bad luck to have an empty chair at a formal dinner. The chair should be removed to avert the bad luck.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Music

2010-06-23T04:31:00.000-07:00

Mary Youngblood's music cd, Beneath the Raven Moon, stumbled upon at Isis Bookstore.

Superstition of the Week - Dragonflies

2010-06-18T11:04:00.000-07:00

We know this is a repeat from an earlier post on 5/29/09, but this past Tuesday, we spotted this little guy at our favorite coffee shop, Amazing Origins, at our favorite bookstore, Isis. We are sure that it means baristas, roasters, writers, artists and dreamers that have a good heart, will soon be shown the way...

Dragonflies

If a fisherman has a good heart, a dragonfly will show them where all the fish are.
If a fisherman’s heart is filled with ill will, then the dragonfly will hover over empty waters.
Dreaming about a dragonfly landing on you means you will hear exciting news from someone far away.
Finding a dead dragonfly means there will be sad tidings in the future.
In England, the wings of a blue dragonfly placed in a missal or a book of gospels is believed to bring good luck; however, it is also considered bad luck to kill such a dragonfly.
Anyone who catches a dragonfly will marry in a year.
The dragonfly was also thought to be the love goddess Freya's symbol.

Yet, despite their association with love, folklore also associates them with the supernatural and the Devil.

A long time ago people in Sweden believed dragonflies were the twisting tools of hobgoblins. They were called hobgoblin files.
In England, the dragonfly was given the name of “Devil’s Darning Needle” because of a folklore belief that a dragonfly would sew the mouths shut of lying children, scold women and curse men as they slept.
Italians believed that Satan sent dragonflies up from hell to cause mischief in the world.
In Germany, dragonflies were sometimes called Devil’s horse, Devil’s needle, snake killer, and water witch. They were also known as Devil’s horse in Spain and Devil’s needle in France.
Another Swedish folklore says when a dragonfly flew around someone’s head it was weighing it for the Devil.

Now, the Encyclopedia Britannica states that in reality, dragonflies present no danger to humans. So we are sure you have nothing to worry about. No really, one flies around your head, we are sure that does not mean anything.

Cool Stuff We Have Found With Ravens On It

2010-06-16T12:14:00.000-07:00

This lovely black bird accommodated us with a striking pose at the Raven Creek Golf Course in Silverthorne.

MagCloud Sale - 25% Off

2010-06-14T09:52:00.000-07:00

MagCloud is having a 25% off sale through 6/30 on all magazines, which just so happens to include the Edible Raven ;).

Superstition of the Week

2010-06-11T13:36:00.000-07:00

This week's superstition was interrupted by Breckenridge CO. We had an AWESOME trip, the creative juices are overflowing! Superstitions will continue on next Friday.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It

2010-06-09T20:02:00.000-07:00

A sign at the Raven Creek Golf Course in Silverthorne CO that we spotted on our way to Breckenridge for a 3-day creative escape to the mountain. And yes, that is an alien head...with a Raven on top of it.

Zazzle Mug Sale

2010-06-04T15:06:00.000-07:00

Boy, Zazzle is on a roll this week with the sales. Today it is $3 off all mugs, Use Code: DADDYMUGDEAL. Like with the T-shirts, the All Us All the Time Zazzle Store has lots of Edible Raven designs for mugs as well as other curious whimsy artwork.

Hmmm, wonder what the sale tomorrow will be?

Superstition of the Week - Candles

2010-06-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

CANDLES

Egyptians used candles to encourage precognitive dreams.
Farmers in medieval times would protect their flocks from witches by surrounding them with candles that had been blessed by priests.
If you blow out all your candles on your birthday cake with one puff, your wish will come true.
If a candle was hard to light it was thought to be a sign a storm was coming.
It was believed if a candle flame develops a bluish hue, there would soon be a death in the family.
At one time it was common to bury a candle with the decease to help light their way to the other side.

Happy National Doughnut Day!

2010-06-04T04:50:00.000-07:00

Edible Raven T-Shirt Sale

2010-06-03T14:56:00.000-07:00

Zazzle is having a sale today $4 off all t-shirts, TODAY ONLY, Use Code: DADDYTEEDEAL. The All Us All the Time Zazzle Store has several Edible Raven Designs from Issue #1 available including Finn the Cat, Curious Curse, The Hearse, What Did You Dream, and many more. Please come take a look if you would like a cool Edible Raven T-shirt...and $4 off.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Amazing Origins Coffee Cart

2010-06-02T07:22:00.000-07:00

On the Amazing Origins Coffee Cart at Isis Bookstore. If you haven't been, please check both of them out...they're amazing!

And the winner is...

2010-06-01T15:18:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our Facebook Fan, Holly Kelsey, the winner of our Ravens vs. Owls contest! Despite the fact she prefers owls, we hope she will thoroughly enjoy her free copy of The Edible Raven Magazine.

A BIG Thanks to all who participated!!!

Still Time to Win Free Copy of Edible Raven Magazine

2010-05-31T14:40:00.000-07:00

Still time to enter to win a free copy of Issue 1 of the Edible Raven Magazine. All you have to do is post a comment here or on our Facebook page on which you prefer, Ravens or Owls. So far the Ravens are running away with it, so if we have some more owl fans, let your comments be heard.

All Us All the Time Zazzle Store Memorial Day Sale

2010-05-31T10:30:00.000-07:00

We haven't made an official announcement yet, but All Us All The Time now has a store on Zazzle. We are waiting until we get our Halloween goodies uploaded before making the big announcement, but Zazzle is having a sale that ends today that we wanted to pass along. Today only you can get 30% off all aprons and 50% off all posters, use code: MEMORIALSALE.

Oh yes, there are Edible Raven Aprons and Posters available.

We would love for you to take a look and we will have more news and announcements coming soon on the new All Us All the Time Zazzle store.

Meanwhile, HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

Superstition of the Week - Buttons

2010-05-28T06:05:00.000-07:00

BUTTONS

It is bad luck to button up your garment incorrectly. You can avoid the bad luck by taking the garment off, and putting it back on and button it up properly.

It is good luck to button up an odd number of buttons, but not even.

It is good luck to receive buttons as gifts.

If you find a button while doing work it is a sign that you will make a new friend.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Raven Rendant

2010-05-26T04:38:00.000-07:00

Thomas Sabo Raven Pendant

Another find by our favorite headstone hunter, Jean Trend-Hill.

Enter to Win Free Copy of Edible Raven Magazine

2010-05-24T09:43:00.000-07:00

We are giving away a free copy of the Edible Raven Magazine, Issue #1, A Curious Debut. All you have to do is leave a comment to this post on which you prefer, Ravens or Owls, and your name will be entered into a drawing to win a free copy of the Edible Raven Magazine, Issue #1. Winner will be announced Tuesday, June 1st.

Supserstion of the Week - Blackberries

2010-05-21T05:47:00.000-07:00

BLACKBERRIES

It was said that one should not eat blackberries after September 30th, for it would bring bad luck. The thought behind this superstition was that apparently the devil had become tangled in a blackberry plant when he was cast out of heaven and cursed the plant. Ever since the blackberry has been associated with evil.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens In It - Padlock

2010-05-19T05:41:00.000-07:00

RAVEN PADLOCK

A 1906 antique padlock shown on the Hypothetical Library Blog, as part of the book cover for the imaginary book by Neil Gaiman, If You Read This Book The World Will End.

Supserstion of the Week - Birch Trees

2010-05-14T05:14:00.000-07:00

Birch Trees

The birch tree is sacred to the Norse god Thor. Folks used to wear a sprig of it to provide protection and to keep them safe from harm. Even livestock were adorned with birch twigs to protect them from witches. People would place boughs of birch over their doorways to prevent evil spirits from entering the home.

It was said that one should plant a birch tree near their front door because any witch wanting to enter your home would have to count every leaf on the tree first. However, the tree branches must not touch or overhang the house, as this will bring misfortune to those who dwell inside.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens In It - Music

2010-05-12T06:45:00.000-07:00

Train: Save me, San Francisco

Supserstion of the Week - Aprons

2010-05-07T05:40:00.000-07:00

APRONS

It is a sign of good luck to accidentally put an apron on back to front.
It is bad luck if an apron fall off unless it is a young married woman, which is a sign she will have a baby within a year (which we suppose in some cases could be considered bad luck).
Fishermen believe that seeing a woman wearing a white apron while on the way to their boat is a sign of bad luck. The bad luck can be avoided if they delay their trip until the next tide.

Cool Stuff We Found With The Name Ravens In It

2010-05-05T05:25:00.000-07:00

We found out about RavensBlight from our favorite Tombstone Hunter, Jeane Trend-Hill.

At RavensBlight you will find dark goodies such as free music, games and paper toys including instructions on how to assemble your own Hidden Cemetery. How cool is that?!?

MagCloud Sale - 25% Off

2010-05-04T05:37:00.000-07:00

The Curious Curse debuting in Issue #1 of the Edible Raven want to pass on the message that MagCloud is having a sale now through 5/9 where you can get 25% off the full price of magazines, which includes the Edible Raven. Promo Code: MOM.

If you haven't already, now is a good time to go and explore their site, warning though, it can be addictive!

Supserstion of the Week - Coffins

2010-04-30T03:55:00.000-07:00

COFFINS

It is said to be bad luck to lie in one when still alive.
The decease should not be buried in clothes of someone living as it is thought as the clothes deteriorate, so will the health of the owner of the clothes.
One should not keep miniature coffins in the house as ornaments or decorations as it is believed to bring negative energy to the household. (Oops!!! As she looks over at the 4 on her shelf.)
It is also believed to be bad luck for the person’s family if their coffin is carried along a newly made road on the way to the graveyard.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens In It - A Poem

2010-04-28T05:09:00.000-07:00

In honor of National Poetry Month...

Supserstion of the Week - Fairy Rings

2010-04-23T04:49:00.000-07:00

A fairy ring is a circle of mushrooms or grass. Some folks believe these are magical places where fairies dance and socialize together. It is thought that if you run clockwise around the circle nine times, you will be able to see the fairies inside the ring. However, you must not dance with the fairies as they will enchant you. Another belief is if you sit in the middle of the circle on a night with a full moon and make a wish, it will come true.

Other myths have also been associated with fairy rings. In the 17th century in Devon, if horses were tired in the morning the fairies were to blame for riding them around and around at night making circles in the grass. There was also a superstition that said a maiden should never wash her face in dew collected from a fairy ring or she would transform into an ugly hag.

In the Lake District of the UK, some rings are thought to be about six hundred years old. In France, they call them witches’ rings and one is seven hundred years old and half a mile across. However, in Holland it was thought the rings were made by the Devil. This would happen when the Devil stole milk from cows and would put down his huge churn making a circle in the grass. In Denmark they believed the rings were burnt into the earth by dancing elves.

Of course there is also a far-fetched theory that the rings are actually caused by a fungus that lives on dead organic matter. The fungi grows out from the middle of the ring and expands until the food supply is used up or soil too damp, then dies off leaving only the outer ring behind, barren in the middle. I mean really, who came up with that?!?

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It - Poetry Book

2010-04-21T04:52:00.000-07:00

The poetry book, Raven's Paradise by Red Hawk.

The Edible Raven Has Launched!

2010-04-20T08:08:00.000-07:00

Houston, we have lift off!!!

The Edible Raven Magazine is now available at MagCloud.

The Edible Raven is a new magazine from All Us All the Time Publishing filled with a vortex of bright and shiny objects featuring unique short stories floating on the fringe with mystifying imagery.

This issue, A Curious Debut, includes stories from Icats Nitram and Iris T. Catman with illustrations by Pamela McCarville. Other segments include, What Did You Dream?, a Superstitious Contest, a Puzzle, and a Savory Recipe.

We would love for you to come and take a look at our new magazine at MagCloud.

Supserstion of the Week - Socks

2010-04-16T04:45:00.000-07:00

SOCKS

There is a superstition that says you should not toss out old socks without washing them first. Some believe that socks are saturated with your personal energy and you don't want to throw it away.

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It

2010-04-14T04:55:00.000-07:00

Perched on a shelf at the Ernest Humphrey Frederick Witherspoon IV Memorial Library

Happy National Licorice Day

2010-04-12T10:23:00.000-07:00

Today is National Licorice Day! Shockingly, my sister's favorite licorice is purple, flavor and type is unimportant, just make it purple. Mine is cherry-flavored Twizzlers Nibs.

What is your favorite licorice?

Supserstion of the Week - Coffee

2010-04-09T07:53:00.000-07:00

COFFEE

Bubbles appearing in a cup of coffee are a sign of good luck. If you can capture the bubbles on a spoon and sip them down, a surprise windfall is suppose to come your way. Also if the bubbles move toward you, it can be interpreted that riches may be in your future; however, if they float away from you it may mean so will your money.