It was a very hot August afternoon in the calendar year 1942, my years are seven.
The Grandfather and I sat in the shade of the Willow Trees that grew next to the stream running near my Grandmothers house. I had heard my Grandmother and The Grandfather often speak about "Wisdom." About People they said had Wisdom, yet in my eyes they did not look any different, nor speak any different, than most people I had met in my seven years. Many great events and Stories were experienced and relayed to me under those Willow Trees, but that is another Story.
When there was a pause in the Teaching Stories, both honoring the Silence, listening to the Voice of the Stream.
I asked The Grandfather, "What is Wisdom?"
The Grandfather thought for a long time, puffing on his Pipe. He never had a quick responce to my questions, he always thought before speaking. At times, when he thought for a long time, I thought he may not know the answer or that maybe I should not have asked the question.
"Little Brother," The Grandfather began. "People seem to have in their minds, "Wisdom" is something very profound, comes with age and much Life Experience. Let me tell you a Story."
"On a hot day, much like today, visualize, you are walking along and determine you need to rest, to get out of the Sun. You see just ahead a beautiful Oak Tree and its' shade looks cool and inviting. Before you sit down under the Tree, look, if there is Bird droppings on the ground, don't sit there!"
"THAT IS ALSO WISDOM."
I have come to know, 'Wisdom" does not have to be something, in your mind, is considered profound. Nor does many years or many Life experiences equate to "Wisdom". I have met along my Life Path many young People with little Life Experience that have "Wisdom" beyond their years. I have also met People in the middle of their Life Paths and ones near the end of their Life Paths that did not or could not make a decision nor communicate with "Wisdom".
"Wisdom" is not a physical thing. It is not words spoken due to being a great orator; they may be hollow words, yet may influence you or influence a whole People. "Wisdom" is not allocated nor Gifted to a few Human Beings, all who look within themselves have "Wisdom". This is from the Heart, a clear Mind and a strong Spirit. Look from within, question those who say they are passing on "Wisdom", should you not be able to FEEL these words with TRUST in your Heart and Mind, they are but words spoken into the Winds, deceptions.
I have found over my many years, "Wisdom" is not a complicated thing. It is simple Truth, "Wisdom" comes from the Spirit without expectation of reward, to guide, to help, a single Human Being or all of Humanity.
"Wisdom", a reflection, a reaction moving you Spiritually, causes your Mind to ponder and leaves a good feeling in your Heart.
"Wisdom", is it bird dropping on the ground or a profound statement?
"Wisdom", think about it, determine in your own Mind, Heart and Spirit.
WISDOM!
White Crow August 1942 Recorded Febuary 1997
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Time
TIME -
Time, a concept of Man, thus it is not perfect.
Modern society is a slave to Time, some to the point, they worship Time, even in its' imperfect state.
In today's society, if it is twelve noon, you eat lunch. You consume food not because you are hungry, you eat because it is the lunch hour.
What do you think it would be like if you lived in a Timeless Dimension, if Time did not exist and therefore never had to worry about Time?
Time contributes to Memory, the Past and Expections, the Future - Two of the things in Life that can truly make you who you ARE and that also can Blind you, preventing you from being WHO YOU COULD BE.
When we cross over, when the Physical Body dies, you are released from the Grips of Time into the Timeless World of Spirit. In between two events, birth and death of the Physical Being, you live your Life, always limited at any given point in Time to what you are able to perceive from your current frame of reference. Remove the restraint of Time, and there would be no anxiety about Beginnings or about Goals or Outcomes. There would be no Fear of Death, or Endings.
The Grandfathers did not speculate about Life after Death of the Physical Being, nor concern themselves with Time as we know it in the Twenty First Centry.
As a Boy living in the Mountains with my Grandmother, we did not have a Clock nor a Calendar. We woke at first ligth, sometimes earlier, sometimes later. IT WAS NOT A CONCERN, was it six AM, seven AM, or eleven AM. We woke when we were rested. We ate when we were hungry, not because it was mid-day. We slept when we were tired. IT WAS NOT A CONCERN.
As the Seasons came around, we planted when the warn breezes came from the South. Was it by todays' Calendar, April, or was it May. As the Seasons past, the Plants grew, came to fruit, then the Season to Harvest. Was it September by todays' Calendar, or was it October? IT WAS NOT A CONCERN.
We did not Celebrate the New Year in January, January is in the middle of the Cold Season. The Concept of a New Year is when Mother Earth is renewing herself. By todays' Calendar, April or May.
Time as we know it today would have been incomprehensible to the Grandfathers of the past, as it was with my Grandmother.
TIME -
We borrow Time - We budget Time - We buy Time
We donate Time - We find Time - We give Time
We gain Time - We have Time - We Invest Time
We lose Time - We look for Time - We make Time
We manage Time - We plan Time - We save Time
We pray for Time - We spend Time - We Take Time
We search for Time - We use Time - We waste Time
We wait for Time - We watch Time.
When there is nothing more to do, then Time beomes a Burden, in the end,
WE KILL TIME!
Time, what a Concept!
White Crow March 2003
Time, a concept of Man, thus it is not perfect.
Modern society is a slave to Time, some to the point, they worship Time, even in its' imperfect state.
In today's society, if it is twelve noon, you eat lunch. You consume food not because you are hungry, you eat because it is the lunch hour.
What do you think it would be like if you lived in a Timeless Dimension, if Time did not exist and therefore never had to worry about Time?
Time contributes to Memory, the Past and Expections, the Future - Two of the things in Life that can truly make you who you ARE and that also can Blind you, preventing you from being WHO YOU COULD BE.
When we cross over, when the Physical Body dies, you are released from the Grips of Time into the Timeless World of Spirit. In between two events, birth and death of the Physical Being, you live your Life, always limited at any given point in Time to what you are able to perceive from your current frame of reference. Remove the restraint of Time, and there would be no anxiety about Beginnings or about Goals or Outcomes. There would be no Fear of Death, or Endings.
The Grandfathers did not speculate about Life after Death of the Physical Being, nor concern themselves with Time as we know it in the Twenty First Centry.
As a Boy living in the Mountains with my Grandmother, we did not have a Clock nor a Calendar. We woke at first ligth, sometimes earlier, sometimes later. IT WAS NOT A CONCERN, was it six AM, seven AM, or eleven AM. We woke when we were rested. We ate when we were hungry, not because it was mid-day. We slept when we were tired. IT WAS NOT A CONCERN.
As the Seasons came around, we planted when the warn breezes came from the South. Was it by todays' Calendar, April, or was it May. As the Seasons past, the Plants grew, came to fruit, then the Season to Harvest. Was it September by todays' Calendar, or was it October? IT WAS NOT A CONCERN.
We did not Celebrate the New Year in January, January is in the middle of the Cold Season. The Concept of a New Year is when Mother Earth is renewing herself. By todays' Calendar, April or May.
Time as we know it today would have been incomprehensible to the Grandfathers of the past, as it was with my Grandmother.
TIME -
We borrow Time - We budget Time - We buy Time
We donate Time - We find Time - We give Time
We gain Time - We have Time - We Invest Time
We lose Time - We look for Time - We make Time
We manage Time - We plan Time - We save Time
We pray for Time - We spend Time - We Take Time
We search for Time - We use Time - We waste Time
We wait for Time - We watch Time.
When there is nothing more to do, then Time beomes a Burden, in the end,
WE KILL TIME!
Time, what a Concept!
White Crow March 2003
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The Forked Tree
On a very cold night in November 1942, my Grandmother and The Grandfather, speaking to me about Life and the coming Lessons I would require to fulfill my own Life as I matured into manhood.
The Lesson, The Forked Tree
"There is a twin-ness about Man," began The Grandfather. "A twin-ness of his nature. And there have always existed the twin parts of The People. It is always the other Man who does not understand, or the other Man who is the one at fault. The other Man is represented by the Forked Tree. The duality of Man. It is forked, but both parts of this are one thing. The two forks look exactly the same. And each fork branches into many Leaves that look exactly the same. But the question is always, which reflection is which? Which one am I? Or am I both? It is a great Teaching, and this is why it Symbolizes the building of Your Life Circle."
"This twin part of myself is quite evident," The Grandfather continued. "I have found myself moved many times to do things that have become entangled in the Lives of others and have been misunderstood by them. I have never set out to hurt someone else intentionally, but I have sometimes brought pain to People anyway."
"Yes," my Grandmother agreed. "This is part of the Teaching. One half of you Loves, and the other half of you at times Hates. This is the Forked Medicine Tree of Man. The clever thing the Medicine has taught us here is this. One half of you must understand the other half or you will tear yourself apart. It is the same with the other half of any People who live together. One must understand the other, or they will destoy each other. But remember! Both halves must try to understand. Even within yourself, at times, it is hard to know which of the Forks is which. 'Now why did I do that?' One half of you asks the other half. You may do things quite often which you do not mean to do or say, sometimes to yourself and sometimes to others. But you would not kill yourself for these mistakes, would you? I am quite certain that you would not. Yet there are those who have done this, who have killed either themselves or others. These are Men who have not learned. An entire People can be like this. These People and Men are not Full, they are not Whole."
There was a long pause as the winter Fire crackled and flickered, each of us Honoring the Silence.
"These People had been taught by the Euro-Americans," The Grandfather went on to say. "Taught that Good and Evil existed as separate things. We have talked about these things, Evil was a new concept to our People. These People that are not Whole have these two concepts set apart. But they are not separate. These things are found in the same Forked Tree. If one half tries to split itself from the other half, the Tree will become crippled or die. These People try to split this Tree within their Law. But you can not split these things with Law. Rather than taking this Lacking Way, we must tie together the Paradoxes of the Twin Nature with the things of ONE UNIVERSE."
"There are many Forked Trees," my Grandmother said. "let us pretent for a moment they alternated, The first one will be called Good and the next Evil. But the question will still be the same as before. Which is which? They are perfect twins and look exactly the same. They are all twins."
"But haven't I seen and experienced Evil?" I commented, unsure of myself, not knowing who would reply to my question.
"No, Little Brother," The Grandfather said with concern in his voice. "There is no such thing as Good and Evil. This is only a tool used by the Euro-Americans to create fear among themselves. It is only the Man who searches for what he perceives as Good who will also discover things that he will perceive as Evil. If this Man then tries to dictate his own perception of what is Good to others, he will ultimately become an Evil Man himself. And now here is the next Paradox, which is the other Twin? The Man who dictates his own perception of what is Evil to others is also Evil. One is Mirrored into the other. Because in Truth they are one of the same Forked Tree, and are alway perceiving the Mirrored Image of themselves."
"The answer to this conflict is the Giving Way," my Grandmother added. "Whenever one Gives from his Heart, he also receives. Every Man has his Separate Way. And every Man IS a separate Way. But we all Dance within Brotherhood and in Giving. We, all of us, ARE the great Forked Tree. We must bind together all things of the Universe by the Give Away. The Medicine Power is within all People, and all of the Universe. The Creator has been generous in his Giving and has Taught us Understanding, so that we might also Give."
The Grandfather continues. "Now as you begin your Life Journey, your Quest, the Lessons within the Forked Tree, the Twin-ness, you will discover the Understanding within Your Life Circle. As you seek to discover WHO YOU ARE, you will also discover who you Brothers are, the Twin-ness, and what your position is within the Harmony of this World. When a Man seeks the Forked Tree, he ultimately seeks both of his own Identites."
"You will Learn from the Forked Tree, and your Teachings, that we are all one, the two sides of the Twin-ness, within the Circle of Life. You will also Learn of your Personal Medicine. And through this, you will learn much about yourself. Look at BOTH SIDES of the Medicine, ONE BALANCES THE OTHER."
YOU ARE THE FORKED TREE
White Crow November 1942
The Lesson, The Forked Tree
"There is a twin-ness about Man," began The Grandfather. "A twin-ness of his nature. And there have always existed the twin parts of The People. It is always the other Man who does not understand, or the other Man who is the one at fault. The other Man is represented by the Forked Tree. The duality of Man. It is forked, but both parts of this are one thing. The two forks look exactly the same. And each fork branches into many Leaves that look exactly the same. But the question is always, which reflection is which? Which one am I? Or am I both? It is a great Teaching, and this is why it Symbolizes the building of Your Life Circle."
"This twin part of myself is quite evident," The Grandfather continued. "I have found myself moved many times to do things that have become entangled in the Lives of others and have been misunderstood by them. I have never set out to hurt someone else intentionally, but I have sometimes brought pain to People anyway."
"Yes," my Grandmother agreed. "This is part of the Teaching. One half of you Loves, and the other half of you at times Hates. This is the Forked Medicine Tree of Man. The clever thing the Medicine has taught us here is this. One half of you must understand the other half or you will tear yourself apart. It is the same with the other half of any People who live together. One must understand the other, or they will destoy each other. But remember! Both halves must try to understand. Even within yourself, at times, it is hard to know which of the Forks is which. 'Now why did I do that?' One half of you asks the other half. You may do things quite often which you do not mean to do or say, sometimes to yourself and sometimes to others. But you would not kill yourself for these mistakes, would you? I am quite certain that you would not. Yet there are those who have done this, who have killed either themselves or others. These are Men who have not learned. An entire People can be like this. These People and Men are not Full, they are not Whole."
There was a long pause as the winter Fire crackled and flickered, each of us Honoring the Silence.
"These People had been taught by the Euro-Americans," The Grandfather went on to say. "Taught that Good and Evil existed as separate things. We have talked about these things, Evil was a new concept to our People. These People that are not Whole have these two concepts set apart. But they are not separate. These things are found in the same Forked Tree. If one half tries to split itself from the other half, the Tree will become crippled or die. These People try to split this Tree within their Law. But you can not split these things with Law. Rather than taking this Lacking Way, we must tie together the Paradoxes of the Twin Nature with the things of ONE UNIVERSE."
"There are many Forked Trees," my Grandmother said. "let us pretent for a moment they alternated, The first one will be called Good and the next Evil. But the question will still be the same as before. Which is which? They are perfect twins and look exactly the same. They are all twins."
"But haven't I seen and experienced Evil?" I commented, unsure of myself, not knowing who would reply to my question.
"No, Little Brother," The Grandfather said with concern in his voice. "There is no such thing as Good and Evil. This is only a tool used by the Euro-Americans to create fear among themselves. It is only the Man who searches for what he perceives as Good who will also discover things that he will perceive as Evil. If this Man then tries to dictate his own perception of what is Good to others, he will ultimately become an Evil Man himself. And now here is the next Paradox, which is the other Twin? The Man who dictates his own perception of what is Evil to others is also Evil. One is Mirrored into the other. Because in Truth they are one of the same Forked Tree, and are alway perceiving the Mirrored Image of themselves."
"The answer to this conflict is the Giving Way," my Grandmother added. "Whenever one Gives from his Heart, he also receives. Every Man has his Separate Way. And every Man IS a separate Way. But we all Dance within Brotherhood and in Giving. We, all of us, ARE the great Forked Tree. We must bind together all things of the Universe by the Give Away. The Medicine Power is within all People, and all of the Universe. The Creator has been generous in his Giving and has Taught us Understanding, so that we might also Give."
The Grandfather continues. "Now as you begin your Life Journey, your Quest, the Lessons within the Forked Tree, the Twin-ness, you will discover the Understanding within Your Life Circle. As you seek to discover WHO YOU ARE, you will also discover who you Brothers are, the Twin-ness, and what your position is within the Harmony of this World. When a Man seeks the Forked Tree, he ultimately seeks both of his own Identites."
"You will Learn from the Forked Tree, and your Teachings, that we are all one, the two sides of the Twin-ness, within the Circle of Life. You will also Learn of your Personal Medicine. And through this, you will learn much about yourself. Look at BOTH SIDES of the Medicine, ONE BALANCES THE OTHER."
YOU ARE THE FORKED TREE
White Crow November 1942
Friday, October 17, 2008
White Crow Speaks 2001
Universal Spirit - Interdependence
In the Time of the Grandfathers the perception was that the Spirit of the Universe resided in the Earth and all things of this Earth, including Human Beings. With this perception the Grandfathers remained equally open to all possibilities that might manfest itself through the Natural World.
The Cycles of Nature and Life, Human behavior, Animal behavior, Plant growth, Morals and Religious expression. In this inclisive view, Universal Spirit, Human Beings are related and interdepentent with Animals, Plants and everything that exists. Thus, it becomes in evey sense abnormal to view the World as dead matter, private property or commercial resources.
The roots of this Native Sense ran much deeper than the modern American in that all of Nature, not only Human Beings, HAVE RIGHTS. This is essential for the foundations of Native Culture AND those of modern society.
Twenty first century Society believe they have removed themselves from Nature, believing they are above it or superior to it. Yet, Universal Truths, we are not above Natures Laws.
MANKIND IS NATURE!
In the Time of the Grandfathers the perception was that the Spirit of the Universe resided in the Earth and all things of this Earth, including Human Beings. With this perception the Grandfathers remained equally open to all possibilities that might manfest itself through the Natural World.
The Cycles of Nature and Life, Human behavior, Animal behavior, Plant growth, Morals and Religious expression. In this inclisive view, Universal Spirit, Human Beings are related and interdepentent with Animals, Plants and everything that exists. Thus, it becomes in evey sense abnormal to view the World as dead matter, private property or commercial resources.
The roots of this Native Sense ran much deeper than the modern American in that all of Nature, not only Human Beings, HAVE RIGHTS. This is essential for the foundations of Native Culture AND those of modern society.
Twenty first century Society believe they have removed themselves from Nature, believing they are above it or superior to it. Yet, Universal Truths, we are not above Natures Laws.
MANKIND IS NATURE!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Doing and Being
The words of my Grandmother - In the moon of the Hard Cold (January) 1942
"You will find your toughest job is simply, TO BE."
Like the Sun and the Breeze
The Earth and the Trees
A Raccoon's toughest job
Is simply TO BE.
There are Stories from the time of the Grandfathers, they are Lessons in "Doing" and "Being".
The Stories are about Raccoon and Beaver -
In Human terms, Raccoon is a happy-go-lucky fellow with alot of mischife mixed in. Raccoon is not a "Do'er", he is a "Be'er".
Raccoon, he will make his home in a hollow of a tree, under a rock or even down your chimney, it is not a concerned.
Where as Beaver, he builds his dam and home, forever working to maintain this dam to protect his home in the pond created by the dam.
As an adult, you become as Beaver, he is a "Do'er". You learn of all the responsibilities required of you to live in the "Real World". You seek to develop a "True Purpose" in Life, setting aside the carefree wonder that Raccoon has for the World in order to construct your personal "Dams", wherein you seek purpose.
You may accept somewhere along the way the idea that you are only as worthwhile as the things you accomplish: the larger the Dam, the better the person; the more work that has been done, the greater the reward, be it security, status, power, wealth, love or anything you set your mind to.
Still, one simple truth remains:
WE ARE NOT HUMAN DOINGS
WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS
There is the unspoken danger in sacrifing your BEING for the sake of DOING.
Sometimes, "Doing" gives you a reason to avoid "Being", to avoid your own inner experience. Your challenge is to decide what is best for you and where you can strike a Balance between the two by relating what you are "Doing" to your inner experience, your "Being", and vice versa.
How often have your heard either yourself or someone else saying, "I wish I had the Time....?" and yet you do not MAKE the Time. You do not take the time to Honor the relationship between "Being" and "Doing", and to actively Learn from it.
Unfortunately, assuming that Being and Doing are one and the same, often proves harmful. Focusing on only one, in the belief that there is no distinction between the two, can lead to disharmony and a feeling of emptiness or disconnectedness.
There is a Euro-American saying - "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again."
The Grandfathers saying - "If at first you don't think, and think again, don't bother trying".
BEING SAYS - It is enough just TO BE; our pourpose in Life is to develop the INNER SELF.
DOING SAYS - Be active; work hard, apply yourself fully and your efforts MAY be rewarded.
WALKING IN HARMONY AND BALANCE MEANS EXPERIENCING BOTH, EQUALLY!
Be'er or Do'er????
Find your Balance within each.
White Crow April 1958
"You will find your toughest job is simply, TO BE."
Like the Sun and the Breeze
The Earth and the Trees
A Raccoon's toughest job
Is simply TO BE.
There are Stories from the time of the Grandfathers, they are Lessons in "Doing" and "Being".
The Stories are about Raccoon and Beaver -
In Human terms, Raccoon is a happy-go-lucky fellow with alot of mischife mixed in. Raccoon is not a "Do'er", he is a "Be'er".
Raccoon, he will make his home in a hollow of a tree, under a rock or even down your chimney, it is not a concerned.
Where as Beaver, he builds his dam and home, forever working to maintain this dam to protect his home in the pond created by the dam.
As an adult, you become as Beaver, he is a "Do'er". You learn of all the responsibilities required of you to live in the "Real World". You seek to develop a "True Purpose" in Life, setting aside the carefree wonder that Raccoon has for the World in order to construct your personal "Dams", wherein you seek purpose.
You may accept somewhere along the way the idea that you are only as worthwhile as the things you accomplish: the larger the Dam, the better the person; the more work that has been done, the greater the reward, be it security, status, power, wealth, love or anything you set your mind to.
Still, one simple truth remains:
WE ARE NOT HUMAN DOINGS
WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS
There is the unspoken danger in sacrifing your BEING for the sake of DOING.
Sometimes, "Doing" gives you a reason to avoid "Being", to avoid your own inner experience. Your challenge is to decide what is best for you and where you can strike a Balance between the two by relating what you are "Doing" to your inner experience, your "Being", and vice versa.
How often have your heard either yourself or someone else saying, "I wish I had the Time....?" and yet you do not MAKE the Time. You do not take the time to Honor the relationship between "Being" and "Doing", and to actively Learn from it.
Unfortunately, assuming that Being and Doing are one and the same, often proves harmful. Focusing on only one, in the belief that there is no distinction between the two, can lead to disharmony and a feeling of emptiness or disconnectedness.
There is a Euro-American saying - "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again."
The Grandfathers saying - "If at first you don't think, and think again, don't bother trying".
BEING SAYS - It is enough just TO BE; our pourpose in Life is to develop the INNER SELF.
DOING SAYS - Be active; work hard, apply yourself fully and your efforts MAY be rewarded.
WALKING IN HARMONY AND BALANCE MEANS EXPERIENCING BOTH, EQUALLY!
Be'er or Do'er????
Find your Balance within each.
White Crow April 1958
Monday, October 6, 2008
The Day of the Bear
In the Summer of the year 1941, begins the Story of the Day of the Bear, my years are six.
In the Summer of the year 1989, completes this Story, my years are fifty four.
The pink Skies at the Dawning, before Grandfather Sun gives his warmth to the Earth.
The air, frest and cool.
The Aroma of damp decaying Leaves and Pine, mingle.
Birds awaken with song to clain territory and preclaim the dawning of a new Day.
The Night spent.
I had slept on a bed of Pine branches, my cover, dry Leaves to ward off the damp night air of the Mountains.
The cold Water of a Mountain Stream my bath, awakening and stimulating.
Wild Blackberries and balls of Corn meal with Maple Sugar and Honey, my breakfast.
A Day to wander and explore high in the Mountains, free from all of the hate and rejections people cause because of differences.
Upward I climb, following Animal Trails.
Mid-morning, the Sun warm on my naked back.
The freedom, the pleasure, the excitement, new sights to see, vistas across Valleys man has not seen from the time of the coming of the Europeans.
The Trail grows steep and curves around a giant Granite Bolder.
As I reach the bend in the Trail, Black Bear approaches on the same Trail.
We pause, Black Bear stands on his hind legs, a head and shoulder taller than me.
We look at each other.
At that moment, I feel no fear, only see the beauty of this magnificent great Animal, my Brother.
Time seems to have stood still, yet it must have been only moments.
Bear lowers himself, walkes slowly off the Trail and down the Mountain.
Only then, fear comes to me in a rush.
My mind racing, knowing what could have happened.
One swipe with his mighty Paw may have caused much damage, even to my death.
I felt weak and sat with my back to the giant Granite Bolder.
As if giant arms surrounded me, the Energy of the Great Rock gave to me strength.
Calming myself and contemplating the encounter.
In time I came to know the joy and excitement of the overwhelming encounter.
Bear had no reason to fear me, I posed no threat as a Boy of six years.
Many Seasons have past, my Hair no longer dark and long.
Now it is as the Winter Snow.
I seek a Vision, on a Vision Quest.
No longer in the cool green Eastern Mountains of my youth, now in the hot arid Desert Mountains of the West.
Fasting, Praying, Dreaming, in search of a Vision.
The Vision comes.
Once again I am the naked Boy in the green Mountains of my youth.
Once again I see, I smell, I feel, I hear, the Vision has taken me back, back to the Day of the Bear.
Once again, the encounter.
Bear stands, we look at each other, he speakes.
"Have no fear Little Brother, pass, I search for Blackberries in the Valley below.
I feel in my Heart and Spirit, My Brother Black Bear, would have spoken such, if the Creator had given him the Power to Speak.
White Crow October 1989
In the Summer of the year 1989, completes this Story, my years are fifty four.
The pink Skies at the Dawning, before Grandfather Sun gives his warmth to the Earth.
The air, frest and cool.
The Aroma of damp decaying Leaves and Pine, mingle.
Birds awaken with song to clain territory and preclaim the dawning of a new Day.
The Night spent.
I had slept on a bed of Pine branches, my cover, dry Leaves to ward off the damp night air of the Mountains.
The cold Water of a Mountain Stream my bath, awakening and stimulating.
Wild Blackberries and balls of Corn meal with Maple Sugar and Honey, my breakfast.
A Day to wander and explore high in the Mountains, free from all of the hate and rejections people cause because of differences.
Upward I climb, following Animal Trails.
Mid-morning, the Sun warm on my naked back.
The freedom, the pleasure, the excitement, new sights to see, vistas across Valleys man has not seen from the time of the coming of the Europeans.
The Trail grows steep and curves around a giant Granite Bolder.
As I reach the bend in the Trail, Black Bear approaches on the same Trail.
We pause, Black Bear stands on his hind legs, a head and shoulder taller than me.
We look at each other.
At that moment, I feel no fear, only see the beauty of this magnificent great Animal, my Brother.
Time seems to have stood still, yet it must have been only moments.
Bear lowers himself, walkes slowly off the Trail and down the Mountain.
Only then, fear comes to me in a rush.
My mind racing, knowing what could have happened.
One swipe with his mighty Paw may have caused much damage, even to my death.
I felt weak and sat with my back to the giant Granite Bolder.
As if giant arms surrounded me, the Energy of the Great Rock gave to me strength.
Calming myself and contemplating the encounter.
In time I came to know the joy and excitement of the overwhelming encounter.
Bear had no reason to fear me, I posed no threat as a Boy of six years.
Many Seasons have past, my Hair no longer dark and long.
Now it is as the Winter Snow.
I seek a Vision, on a Vision Quest.
No longer in the cool green Eastern Mountains of my youth, now in the hot arid Desert Mountains of the West.
Fasting, Praying, Dreaming, in search of a Vision.
The Vision comes.
Once again I am the naked Boy in the green Mountains of my youth.
Once again I see, I smell, I feel, I hear, the Vision has taken me back, back to the Day of the Bear.
Once again, the encounter.
Bear stands, we look at each other, he speakes.
"Have no fear Little Brother, pass, I search for Blackberries in the Valley below.
I feel in my Heart and Spirit, My Brother Black Bear, would have spoken such, if the Creator had given him the Power to Speak.
White Crow October 1989
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
