If you’ve ever heard of William Shakespeare you may have heard the phrase, “Beware the Ides of March.” This old saying is used to warn us of bad luck around March 15th, the date of Julius Caesar’s assassination. Don’t fret, for that is not your fate—I am here to tell you about nature’s warnings of bad fortune. So during this ominous mid-March, be cautious if you see any of these following signs.
Many classic prophecies come from corvid birds like ravens. In stories around the world, ravens are seen as bridges between the living and the dead, often perceived as messengers of death and the stealers of souls. Ravens can be interpreted as messages of great change and transformation too.
A lone raven sitting up high, keeping a watchful eye on everything passing by.
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Ravens are not alone in their ominous reputation; crows and magpies, also corvid birds, carry their own warnings. In Appalachia, stories say a low-flying group of crows means illness, a crow calling three times as it flies over your home means death in the family, and if they call in the morning before any other bird that means it will rain. Note their numbers too, because it may change your luck. The saying goes that one crow is bad luck, but two crows is good luck, three crows means health, and four crows wealth. Then again, five crows means sickness, and six—you may just want to go inside and pretend you didn’t see anything (it means death). As far as magpies go, you never want to see just one; two is good and one is bad. Three or more means they are just having a meeting.
Birds are only the beginning. Across the globe, nearly every corner of nature has a message attached to it. If you stand on an ant hill, it will rain (and the ants will probably be mad at you). A bat flying straight for you is a sign that someone is trying to put a curse on you or betray you. Squishing a beetle in your home causes a death in that home, and not just the beetle’s. Locusts are symbols of misfortune and destruction. Omens can come from plants as well. Chrysanthemums are said to carry negative energy and are often paired with death, perhaps explaining why they are often found at funerals. A vase of lilies in your home wilting quickly signals illness and bad tidings, and has nothing to do with the fact that you forgot to give them water. And bringing dandelions into your home is a way to ensure that you will wet your bed.
In the winter, crows will roost in groups of thousands every night to help keep them warm and safe.
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These stories and omens come from all over the world from different cultures, so take all these warnings with a grain of salt. What seems like a message of death in one folklore story may be a sign of life in another. But thankfully, if you want to veer on the safe side, nature also provides us with protection. Hanging a broom made of natural materials like twigs and straw above your door helps “sweep” out any bad energy. Pouring salt in the four corners of your home and across windowsills and doorways creates a protective barrier from bad energy. And cinnamon can be used as protection by blowing it into your home through your front door on the first of the month.
Science tells us that you don’t need to scatter salt at every doorway or count every crow overhead; nature is not out to get you. But I think we can all agree that the birds know something we don’t. Watch closely and decide for yourself, are the portents true?
Maya Curlej is a naturalist at Walking Mountains. She is a woman of science but still says “good morning” to the crows every day to stay on their good side.
