| William Cassidy's Brief Guide to Crow Augury |
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It is possible to foretell coming events
through careful attention to the cries and
behavior of crows. As we may see, the
practice of divining from bird calls,
properly called auspicy in the English
language, appears to originate in China.
Yet, as narrowly concerned with crows, it
would seem the practice is an Indo-Tibetan
invention with symbiotic relationship to
Chinese methods.
The tradition with which I am most
familiar comes to Tibet from India. The
first written record of which I am aware
is found in the middle sixth century, in
the Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira. In the
early ninth century we find a Sanskrit
text entitled Kakajarita translated by the
pandit Danacila into the Tibetan language
as Bya-rog-gi skad brtag-par bya-ba, or
"Investigating the Cries of Crows."
Through incorporation of this translation
into the Tibetan Tanjur, or Buddhist
canon, crow auspicy became an established
means of divination in Tibet.
Underlying Principles of Crow Augury
Divination through observation of crows in
Tibetan tradition is founded on the
following principles:
- 1. Crows are of varying distinction and
intelligence, therefore notice must be
taken of the varying classes of crows.
- 2. Crows respond to events with
characteristic behavioral patterns,
therefore by noting the character of the
response one may learn the character of
the event.
- 3. Crow behavior and response differs
according to time of day.
- 4. The angle of direction between the
observer and the crow has significance.
The general predictions governing crow
calls are given as follows, categorized by
the time of day and the direction in which
the call is observed.
First Watch
6:00 am - 9:00 am
- East: Wishes will be fulfilled
- Southeast: An enemy will approach
- South: A friend will visit
- Southwest: Unexpected profit will accrue
- West: Great wind will rise
- Northwest: A stranger will appear
- North: Scattered property will be found
- Northeast: A woman will come
- Zenith: A demon will appear
Second Watch
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
- East Near relatives will come
- South Flowers and areca-nuts obtained
- Southwest Numerous offspring
- West You will set out on a distant journey
- Northwest One king replaced by another
- North Good news will be received
- Northeast Disorder breaks out
- Zenith Fulfillment of your wishes
Third Watch
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- East: You will obtain property
- Southeast: A battle will arise
- South: A storm will come
- Southwest: An enemy will come
- West: A woman will come
- Northwest: A relative will come
- North: A good friend will come
- Northeast: A conflagration breaks out
- Zenith: You will gain profit by being taken care of
by the king
Fourth Watch
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
- East: Great fear predicted
- Southeast: Great gain coming
- South: A stranger will come
- Southwest: A storm will rise in seven days
- West: Rain and wind will come
- Northwest: Scattered property found
- North: A king will appear
- Northeast: You will obtain rank
- Zenith: Hunger predicted
Sunset
- East An enemy appears on the road
- Southeast A treasure will come to you
- South You will die of disease
- Southwest The wishes of one's heart fulfilled
- West Relatives will come
- Northwest Obtaining property predicted
- North Homage will be done to the king
- Zenith You will obtain advantage you hoped for
General Observations
- Crow on right: good journey
- Crow behind: you obtain siddhi
- A crow flapping his wings, calls: great accident
- Crow pulls human hair: death
- Crow eats dirty food: food and drink about to come
- Crow on thornbush: enemy
- Crow on milksap tree: milkrice to you
- Crow on withered tree: no food and drink
- Crow on palace: excellent halting place
- Crow on divan: enemy will come
- Crow facing door: peril at frontier
- Crow pulling dress: dress to you
- Crow on skull: death
- Crow with red thread on house: fire
