A Gift from the Other Side
My mom is a crow. Let me explain.
I was raised as an only child by my mom and grandmother. No dad in the picture, just the three of us. My mom made the bold decision to have me at a time when being a single mother was far from accepted.
Our bond was deep and complex. My mom lived for me. Her love was abundant, beautiful and unwavering. When she passed away eight years ago, after a decade-long journey with dementia, I thought I had said goodbye. But in truth, our relationship began to evolve in ways I could never have imagined.
Now, I see her everywhere - in signs, in symbols, in whispers from the other side. And especially, in crows.
She always loved crows. And since her passing, they seem to show up just when I need them most. I often joke that she’s shape-shifted into one, keeping watch and showing up in moments both tender and uncanny. Friends tell me similar stories of how their loved ones appear as a blue heron, a yellow butterfly, a hummingbird. These quiet connections that reach across realms.
One year, I was traveling internationally, and her birthday and Mother’s Day happened to land on the same day. As I sat alone on a hotel balcony overlooking the ocean, a single crow flew across the sky. Was she saying hello? In the middle of a hike through remote canyons in Utah, a crow flew overhead. Was she checking in on us? And just last week in Port Townsend, a crow casually walked beside me for half a block. A half a block! My friend’s mother, visiting from across the country, was with us. Maybe my mom just didn’t want me to feel alone.
Whether you believe in signs, shape-shifting, or simply being open to what can’t be seen, I’ve come to embrace the idea that love doesn’t end. Relationships continue, just in a different form. My connection with my mom feels stronger than ever. She still teaches me. Still reminds me that there is so much more to this world than meets the eye.
And maybe, just maybe, we keep evolving together… from here to there.
Joanie Parsons
Founder/Adventurist of RevelEleven