Let’s talk about the Crow picture on my Website.

Some images stay with you longer than others.

For me, it’s a photograph of a crow in mid-flight, wings stretched wide, mouth open, feathers tattered, and nothing about him perfect. That imperfection is exactly what I love most about this crow. When I first saw this image, and still now, I was drawn to everything about him. His wings aren’t pristine. His feathers aren’t smooth. He looks wild, loud, a little worn, and fully alive. It’s just a crow, common, overlooked, and often misunderstood, yet this image has followed me for almost twenty years, long before I had the language to explain why it mattered so much.

I think I do now.

Crow Symbolism: More Than a “Common” Bird

Crows have carried symbolic meaning across cultures for centuries. They are often associated with transformation, intelligence, intuition, and transition. Unlike birds that rely on pristine environments, crows thrive almost anywhere, in cities, forests, harsh climates, noise, and chaos. They adapt. They survive. They remember.

Crows are known for their intelligence and their ability to recognize patterns, faces, and danger. They form strong social bonds but will not stay where they are mistreated. They are loyal, but never captive. Symbolically, the crow represents discernment, knowing when to stay and knowing when to leave. That distinction matters.

The Meaning of a Crow in Flight

A crow in flight carries a specific meaning: transition already in motion. It is not dreaming about change or wishing for freedom. It is actively moving toward it.

A bird doesn’t wait until conditions are perfect to fly, and it doesn’t pause until every feather is pristine. Sometimes it lifts off while still healing, still adapting, and still figuring things out as it goes. That is what this image has always represented to me: movement, decision, and trust in what comes next.

Flying With a Broken Wing

There’s a story people like to tell about broken wings, that if you’re hurt, you must stay grounded, that healing has to come before movement, and that you need certainty before you leave. That isn’t always how life works.

Sometimes staying causes more damage than leaving. Sometimes, remaining in a place that no longer fits slowly erodes you. Sometimes, flight isn’t graceful. Sometimes, it’s necessary.

When I look at that crow, I don’t see perfection. I see motion. I see courage. I see the moment after fear and before freedom. I see a woman choosing herself.

The Body Knows Before the Mind Does

There was a moment in my life when I said the words out loud, “I want a divorce.” What surprised me wasn’t fear or panic; it was warmth, calm, and relief. The crying stopped, my nervous system settled, and my body knew the truth before my mind had caught up.

That’s how good decisions often feel, not easy, but right. That moment was my liftoff. My crow moment.

Why I’ve Kept This Image for So Long

I’ve carried that crow with me for years, across platforms, chapters, and versions of myself, not because it reminds me of what broke, but because it reminds me of what saved me. The ability to leave without being fully healed, the courage to trust myself, and the understanding that freedom doesn’t require perfection, only readiness.

Crows don’t ask for permission. They assess, decide, and rise.

What the Crow Has Taught Me

The crow taught me that freedom often looks messy at first, survival is a form of intelligence, leaving can be an act of self-respect, healing doesn’t have to be complete to begin again, you can rebuild while moving forward, and you don’t owe anyone your wings.

Some birds aren’t meant to be caged or stay in one place forever. Some women aren’t either.

Why the Crow Lives on My Website

That’s why the crow belongs here, on my website, in my writing, and in this chapter of my life. It isn’t a symbol of darkness or escape. It’s a symbol of discernment, transformation, and choosing freedom over familiarity.

The crow represents the moment you realize there is more for you than the life you’re living, and the courage to act on that knowing. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is spread your wings and fly anyway.Disclaimer: This is personal commentary, reflection, and opinion. I don’t fact-check everything, and this is not professional advice. Please verify anything important independently and seek professional advice if needed.