Kakasana - Crow

Kakasana or Bakasana?

Commonly called by his cousin’s name Bakasana the Crane, the real name of the Crow is Kakasana. The difference? Crane got straight arms whereas crow is more stable with his chaturanga bend arms. It’s a very ancient posture, taught by the God Shiva in the Hatha Ratnavali, an ancient text of Hatha yoga from the 17th century. it’s probably even older as yoga was an oral tradition before being written. 
Crows are very often associated with the magical world. They are the Messenger, they represent the Vision beyond the eyes. If you’ve watched Games of Thrones, you will remember this 3 eyes crow who sees beyond distance and time. They were also seen as a bad omen in ancient Europe, associated with dark witchcraft, spying and scavenging (Walt Disney classics were not tender with them). 
But for Native American, they were a sign of good fortune and an animal of wisdom, a spirit you could consult in times of need. In the legends, the Rainbow Crow was sent to God when cold was recovering the Earth. God give him the fire of the Sun on a stick to warm up the creatures of the Earth. But on his way back, the feathers became as dark as charcoal and smoke made his voice hoarse. Although, you can still see the colours of the rainbow in the reflection of his feathers. 
Some tribes believed that they were so intelligent and wise that they could talk. Their scavenger ability was their contribution to the cycle of life. 
Thus crows are clever purifier, cleansing body and mind. So Remember to look forward when you practice crow. It will bring you the balance you need to elevate yourself to a more spiritual realm. From this higher ground, your mind will be clearer, you will see the bigger picture and fly lightly in the right direction. A single feather can point the way of wisdom.