The practice of Crow Augury has been around for centuries. It is about predicting the future by counting the number of crows present at significant times. Sometimes the direction of their flight is significant, or the time of day at which they are seen. Complex rules have been drawn up by some augurists, while simple rhymes are used by others.

The basic rhyme, which goes something like "One for Sorrow, Two for Joy..." has been a popular children's chant off and on through the years. It has recently been made popular again by the band Counting Crows, which has put the rhyme to music.

While 'Counting Crows' is a catchy phrase, crow augury may have started off as Magpie augury. The oldest rhymes, including at least one dating to the 1600's, deal with counting magpies rather than crows. The magpie rhyme seems to have been left on European shores, though. In North America, most people who know the rhyme use it in reference to crows.

Various versions of the rhyme exist (click here for a few), but the basics are as follows:

One: Sorrow. An unhappy event. A change for the worse. Maybe loss or a death.

Two: Joy. A surprise. A change for the better. Sometimes the finding of something.

Three: Marriage. A celebration. Sometimes the birth of a female child. Othertimes some significant event around a daughter.

Four: Birth. Usually the birth of a male child. Sometimes a significant event surrounding a son.

Five: Silver. Something costly. Usually a positive transaction.

Six: Gold. Wealth. Sometimes money. Maybe greed. Occasionally a negative transaction.

Seven: Something of spiritual significance. Often a secret. In some cases witchcraft, or the performing of sacred rites.

Eight: Something profound. Death, dying, or a glimpse of Heaven. A life-altering journey or experience.

Nine: Something sensual. Passion, or forbidden delight. In some versions this is corruption, in others it is closer to temptation.

Ten: Something extreme. An overwhelming sensation. Something paid in full.

Eleven: Uncertainty. Waiting. Wanting. May be in relation to a spiritual matter.

Twelve: Fulfillment. Riches (though not always of a material sort). A fruitful labor. Something completed. An end to a problem, or the answer to a question.

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