Quillayute story of THUNDERBIRD

How Thunderbird Helped The People - Quillayute 

Long ago, there was a sad time in the land of the Quillayute. For days and days, great storms blew. Rain and hail and then sleet and snow came down upon the land. The hailstones were so large that many of the people were killed. The other Quillayute were driven from their coast villages to the great prairie, which was the highest part of their land. 

There the people grew thin and weak from hunger. The hailstones had beaten down the ferns, the camas and the berries. Ice locked the rivers so the men could not fish. Storms rocked the ocean so the fishermen could not go out in their canoes for deep-sea fishing. Soon, the people had eaten all the grass and roots on the prairie; there was no food left. As children died without food, even the strongest and bravest of their fathers could do nothing. They called upon the Great Spirit for help, but no help came. 

At last the Great Chief of the Quillayute called a meeting of his people. He was old and wise. "Take comfort, my people," the Chief said. "We will call again upon the Great Spirit for help. If no help comes, then we will know it is His will that we die. If it is not His will that we live, then we will die bravely, as brave Quillayute have always died. Let us talk with the Great Spirit." 

So the weak and hungry people sat in silence while the Chief talked with the Great Spirit who had looked kindly upon the Quillayute for hundreds of years. 

When his prayer had ended, the Chief turned again to his people. "Now we will wait for the will of the One who is wise and all-powerful." 

The people waited. No-one spoke. There was nothing but silence and darkness. Suddenly, there came a great noise, and flashes of lightning cut the darkness. A deep whirring sound, like giant wings beating, came from the place of the setting sun. All of the people turned to gaze toward the sky above the ocean as a huge, bird-shaped creature flew toward them. This bird was larger than any they had ever seen. Its wings, from tip to tip, were twice as long as a war canoe. It had a huge, curving beak, and its eyes glowed like fire. The people saw that its great claws held a living, giant whale. 

In silence, they watched while Thunderbird - for so the bird was named by everyone - carefully lowered the whale to the ground before them. Thunderbird then flew high in the sky, and went back to the thunder and lightning it had come from. Perhaps it flew back to its perch in the hunting grounds of the Great Spirit. 

Thunderbird and Whale saved the Quillayute from dying. The people knew that the Great Spirit had heard their prayer. Even today they never forget that visit from Thunderbird, never forget that it ended long days of hunger and death. For on the prairie near their village are big, round stones that the grandfathers say are the hardened hailstones of that storm long ago. 

Thunderbird is a very large bird, with feathers as long as a canoe paddle. When he flaps his wings, he makes thunder and the great winds. When he opens and shuts his eyes, he makes lightning. In stormy weather, he flies through the skies, flapping his wings and opening and closing his eyes. 

Thunderbird's home is a cave in the Olympic Mountains, and he wants no one to come near it. If hunters get close enough so he can smell them, he makes thunder noise, and he rolls ice out of his cave. The ice rolls down the mountainside, and when it reaches a rocky place, it breaks into many pieces. The pieces rattle as they roll farther down into the valley. 

All the hunters are so afraid of Thunderbird and his noise and rolling ice that they never stay long near his home. No one ever sleeps near his cave. Thunderbird keeps his food in a dark hole at the edge of a big field of ice and snow. His food is the whale. Thunderbird flies out of the ocean, catches a whale and hurries back to the mountains to eat it. One time Whale fought Thunderbird so hard that during the battle, trees were torn up by their roots. To this day there are no trees in Beaver Prairie because of the fight Whale and Thunderbird had that day. 

At the time of the Great Flood, Thunderbird fought a long, long battle with Killer Whale. He would catch Killer Whale in his claws and start with him to the cave in the mountains. Killer Whale would escape and return to the water. Thunderbird would catch him again, all the time flashing lightning from his eyes and flapping his wings to create thunder. Mountains were shaken by the noise, and trees were uprooted in their struggle. 

Again and again Killer Whale escaped. Again and again Thunderbird seized him. Many times they fought, in different places in the mountains. At last Killer Whale escaped to the middle of the ocean, and Thunderbird gave up the fight. 

That is why Killer Whales live in the deep oceans today, and that is why There are many prairies in the midst of the forests on the Olympic Peninsula. 

Adapted from Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest by Ella E. Clark, University of California Press, 1953.

I DREAM CLOSE TO LIGHT

Art is beauty

June 2, 2013

I just came out of a dream of endless and creative obstacles and traps. Some were like this, beautiful in one respect, deadly in another. . . Gregory

by Art is Beauty
June 3, 2013

Thunder Bird is a presence throughout my life, and travel from here to there. . .
Dawn Wolf, May 31, 2013

ELDER SAGE

There is always something beautiful when we look for it, and always something wrong when we expect it. Even though experience takes us through territory we would not have chosen, we can always learn something. This is one of those times when rainfall is light and gardens need extra attention, but along the fences the sunflowers are perfect. They show us how to thrive when circumstances are not ideal. Straight and tall and exceedingly strong, these summer flowers prove they can take the heat. Look for the beauty and expect things to take a turn for the better. They will—just as difficult times in the past have given way to better times. This time of trial, like others before it, will be forgotten. As a present, anything we have you can take with you ... but the land.

CHIEF BLACKFOOT, CROW

Sun Dance Wheel - Arapaho

At one time the whole world was covered with water.  It was everywhere, no
matter where one looked.

The water did not stop a man carrying Flat Pipe, his companion and
counselor, from walking across the waters for four days and nights. The man
wanted to treat his pipe in the best way, so he gave much thought to this
subject. He thought for six days and finally decided that in order to
provide a good home for Flat Pipe there should be land and the good company
of creatures.

So on the seventh day the man set out to find land among all the water,
calling to the four directions as he went. From the four directions came
many animal helpers, and with their help man found a land home. He put the
Four Old Men in each of the four directions to control the winds. Now, the
land would also provide a place for a Sun Dance of ceremony and thanksgiving
every year.

A garter snake came to the man, and the man said "Oh, you will be a great
comfort to the people and have a great place in the Sun Dance as the Sacred
Wheel to represent the waters that surround this earth."

He then looked again to all around him for help and many offered.
Long Stick, a bush with flexible limbs and dark bark, came and said "I offer
myself for the wheel for the good of all." All approved so Long Stick was
made into the ring of the Sacred Wheel, representing the circle that is the
Sun.

The eagle soared by and said "My strength is great enough to carry me above
the earth and water as I fly on the winds of the four directions. Please
take my feathers to represent the Four Old Men."

The man was pleased, and told all that four bunches of eagle feathers would
forever be tied to the wheel to honor the desire of the eagle and anyone who
would ever offer an eagle feather as a gift.

Once the man shaped the Sacred Wheel he painted it in the image of garter
snake and placed the feathers in the position of the Four Old Men -
northwest, northeast, southeast and southwest - who rule the directions and
control the winds and to represent the Thunderbird who brings the rain. To
further enhance the wheel, the man added groups of stars, painting special
images of the Sun, the Moon and the Milky Way. Blue beads tied on
represented the sky.

When finished, the man thanked garter snake for serving his people in this
way with the creation of the wheel that symbolizes all creation.

From the Archives of Blue Panther

Eagle calls to Thunderbird & Dragon Leaders as we return to the Sacred Fire

Septembre 20-24, 2012 Davalon Stables, Richmond, Ontario, Canada

This call is for All Leaders/Elders from all direction N, NE, E, ES, S, SW, W, WN, and N to come to the Sacred Fire

When Forrest Liggett called to tell me the Eagle called and flew northeast. I pondered not realizing that we would be focus on the happenings in the Northeast. This is another time a small group of human beings disrespecting other human beings, Earth Mother and All her Relatives. (the location for this gathering has been changed to Canada due to the trying circumstances in Poigan. Davalon Sta

bles carries strong Horse energy and a good mid point for our american friends. Minutes from the #416 south of Ottawa )

It has been interesting watching human make changes in their perception and new vision. What have been going on with the Algonquin Nation can be seem around the world in some form or fashion. Many of us see a new vision as individuals and within the collective. As Leaders/Elders with come with different tools and gifts that offers an abundance opportunity to share our visions

The group of leaders/elders that met in Saltsburg, PA in February walked into process and made it happens, now we are looking forward to continuing the process with others.

Please suggest way to help some of the Elder/Leaders with travel so we are looking for at donations and/ or sponsors.

The goals are to come together within the Oneness and to recognize each other’s tools and gifts with great honor and respect

This event is for All Leaders/ Elders of the many cultures and people (Red, Yellow, White, Black, and Brown). It is about getting together, with our gifts, tools and honoring the Oneness between us, sharing the needs of our communities, villages, the people, society, neighborhood and Earth Mother. There is no right or wrong way to serve it is a cooperative spirit, similarity, unity that will steering the process.
I remember being told as a child in church there is only one way and all other ways are wrong. What I know is there are many ways to the center and that each of us has a piece of the “Whole pie”.
I cannot thank Patricia Selinger, clan mother the Thunder Mountain Lenapee Nation for their hosting and support of the First gathering in February.

It is therefore difficult to create an agenda that will illuminate a pathway to be undertaken. A tentative questionnaire (Q) a suggested response (R) to elaborate an agenda for the next gathering of the elders,

The questions are derived from teachings and sharing circles that formulates the suggestive portray of the agenda. Individual may contribute topics and themes (time period needs to be considered in order to present an agenda)
Jacob Wawatie formulated these questions

1. Q. Where do we come from?
R. Creator, Mother Earth, Conciseness, ...
2. Q. Where are we?
R. Cosmos, Planet, environment, ...
3. Q. What are we?
R. Spirits. Creature, Homo Sapient, ...
4. Q. What guides us?
R. Conscience, Belief, Ethics, ...
5. Q. What do we need to exist with?
R. Environment, Resource, Basic needs (shelter, food, medicine, clothing), ...
6. Q. What skills do we possess?
R. Intellectual, Emotional, Physical, ...
7. Q. How do we share the knowledge for generation to come?
R. Ceremonies, Practice, Scholastic material, ...
8. Q. What vision do we perceive?
R. Intellectual, Spiritual, Physical

Yes there are many more questions that will come and go. Topics and themes are welcome with short explanation.

In Good Spirit

Jake
Mowegan

My goal is to maintain the connection and stay in the flow of what Creator/the Source of All has planned for us at this next gathering.

The Essence of Oneness in the Spirit of Love, Truth and Peace
Grandmother Marian Dawn SkyWeaver

http://davalonstables.weebly.com/

Thunderbird from Kat Adisson

Storm in the Key of Life

I was at Wolf Run this weekend past with Pam, Naazima Ali, and Gail Dickert. Gail, is the director of Frog Pond. Her spiritual insights and intuition are sharp, clear and refreshing. I could go on and on about that young woman but I won't. Naazima Ali is a Black Cherokee woman Pam and I have know a few years. Together the three of us have done strong spiritual work together. Bear came to us in those very mountains and taught us one night a good story. The four of us were in the mountains for one reason: to build a new sweat lodge. The storm that wracked the Washington DC area was a magical light and drum show. It was a display of power I've never seen before. I've seen wind blow, and water fall, but I've never seen a Thunderbird fly through the trees stirring the wind making a sound from its vocabulary. The air was full. It was strong and warm. It embraced me as I felt around gathering my story stones and crystals I'd earlier formed into Medicine Wheels here and there where the ceremonies occur. Very little light from the tea light lantern split through the growing darkness but I managed to 'save' the stones.

Pam and I had made four bedrolls around the fire circle and wrapped them in large tarps. "Do we leave them? What do we do?" We decided to retrieve them as the rain pelted us with humor. I buried mine under the tarp covering the woodpile that stands behind where I like to sleep around the fire. The women dragged one into the small Prayer House nestled in the trees leaving me with one large bundle in hand and stones in another. Somebody laughed out loud. We all did. It was a joy being outside in the turbulences of rain, wind, thunder, and force.

Earlier gathering the stones I didn't realize how close Bear was to me until the force of the Thunderbird stirred urgency within Bear to seek cover, and whatever play he had in mind with me went away as he broke small trees running away and up to the place he lives not too far up the mountain from our lodge site. On the opposite side of the lodge space Deer broke for cover. Now with the four of us giddy with the joy and excitement of Wind's Power we got drenched walking the path through the woods to the Hunter's Lodge. Inside we laughed, and talked about things, ate a good meal and eventually settled down and slept with the sounds of rain playing and drumming.

Much later in the night I awoke startled by the thoughts of love for Songs. As silent as I could on sleepy feet I walked outside in the dark barefoot down a stony path and stood still listening to the murmur of Moon’s light and the current of feeling good in the darkness. Not everything heard can be spoken, and not everything spoken should be translated or uttered. In the dark I saw the light of Moon, and the stillness was movement and songs came from my heart of hearts and lifted towards the Songs that have always stirred my creativity and love for Songs into a lifeway.

© Gregory E. Woods

A Giant and the cause of Thunder

This story is about a forest giant, about him and a man called, A-Man-among-Men. A story, a story. Let it go, let it come.

There was a certain man by name, A-Man-among-Men, always when he came from the bush he used to lift up a tree (and) come, (and) throw (it down), and say, 'I am A-Man-among-Men.' His wife said, 'Come now, leave off saying you are a-man-among-men; if you saw a-man-among-men you would run.' But he said, 'It is a lie.'

Now it was always so, if he has brought in wood, then he would throw it down with force, (and) say, 'I am A-Man-among-Men.' The wife said, 'Come now, leave off saying so; if you have seen a man-among-men, you would run.' But he said, I It is a lie.'

Now one day his wife went to the stream. She came to a certain well; the well bucket, ten men were (necessary to) draw it up. She came, (but) had to do without the water, so she turned back. She was going home, when she met another woman (who) said, 'Where are you going with a calabash, with no water?' She said, 'I have come and seen a bucket there. I could not draw it; that is what caused me to turn back home.' And this (second) woman, who had this (a) son, said, 'Let us return that you may find (water).' She said, 'All right.'

So they returned together to the well. This woman, who had the son, told the boy to lift the bucket and draw water. Now the boy was small, not past the age when he was carried on his mother's back. Then he lifted the bucket then and there, and put it in the well, (and) drew up the water. They filled their large water-pots, they bathed, they washed their clothes, they lifted up the water to go home. This one was astonished.

Then she saw that one who had the boy has turned off the path and was entering the bush. Then the wife of (him called) A-Man-among-Men said, 'Where are you going?' She said to her, 'I am going home, where else?' She said, 'Is that the way to your home?' She said, 'Yes.' She said, 'Whose home is it?' She said, 'The home of A-Man-among-Men.'

Then she was silent; she did not say anything till she got home. She told her husband. He said that to-morrow she must take him (there). Next morning he was the first to get up from sleep. He took the weapons of the chase and slung them over his shoulder. He put his axe on his shoulder and wakened her (his wife) from sleep. He said, 'Get up, let us go. Take me that I may see, that I may see the (one called) A-Man-among-Men.'

She got up, lifted her large water-pot, and passed on in front. He was following her until they got to the edge of the well. Now they found what they sought indeed. (As) they were coming, the wife of A-Man-among-Men came up, both she and her son. They greeted her, and the wife of this one showed him the bucket (and) said, 'Lift it and draw water for me.'

So he went and lifted the bucket in a rage and let it down the well; but the bucket pulled him, (and) he would have fallen into the well, when the little boy seized him, both him and the bucket, and drew (out) and threw them on one side. Then the boy lifted up the bucket, put it in the well, drew water, and filled their water-pots.

His wife said, 'You have said you are going to see him called A-Man-among-Men. You have seen this is his wife and son. If you still want to go you can go together. As for me, I am not going.' The boy's mother said, 'Oh, what is the matter? You had better not come.' (But) he said he would come; and she said, 'Let us be off.' They set out.

When they arrived (at the house) then she showed him a place for storing meat, (and) he got inside. Now he, the master of the house, was not at home; he has gone to the bush. She (his wife) said, 'You have seen he has gone to the bush; but you must not stir if he has come.' He sat inside till evening came.

The master of the house came. He keeps saying, 'I smell the smell of a man.' His wife said, 'Is there another person here? It is not is not I.' Thus, if he said he smelled the smell of a man, then she would say, 'Is there another person here. Is it not I? If you want to eat me up, well and good, for there is no one else but I.'

Now he was a huge man, his words like a tornado; ten elephants he would eat. When dawn came, he made his morning meal of one; then he went to the bush, and if he should see a person there he would kill him.

Now he (A Man-among-Men) was in the store-house, hidden. The man's wife told him, saying, 'You must not move till he is asleep. If you have seen the place dark, he is not asleep; if you have seen the place light, that is a sign he is asleep; come out and fly.' Shortly after he saw the place has become light like day, so he came out.

He was running, he was running, until dawn, he was running, till the sun rose he was running, he did not stand. Then that man woke up from sleep and he said, 'I smell the smell of a man, I smell the smell of a man.' He rose up, he followed where the man had gone. He was running. He also, the other one, was running till he met some people who were clearing the ground for a farm, (and) they asked what had happened. And he said, 'Some one chased (is chasing) me.' They said, 'Stand here till he comes.'

A short time passed, and the wind caused by him came; it lifted them (and) cast them down. And he said, 'Yes, that is it, the wind he makes (running); he himself has not yet come. If you are able (to withstand him) tell me. If you are not able, say so.' And they said, 'Pass on.'

So he ran off, and came and met some people hoeing. They said, 'What chased (is chasing) you?' He replied, 'Some one pursued (is pursuing) me.' They said, 'What kind of a man chased (is chasing) (one) such as you.' He said, 'Some one who says he is A-Man-among-Men. They said, 'Not a man-among-men, a man-among-women. Stand till he comes.'

He stood. Here he was when the wind of him came, it was pushing about the men who were hoeing. So he said, 'You have seen, that is the wind he makes; he has not yet come himself If you are a match for him tell me; if not say so.' And they said, 'Pass on'; and off he ran. He was running. He came across some people sowing; they said, 'What are you running for?' He said, 'Some one chased (is chasing) me.' And they said, 'What kind of a man is it who chased (is chasing) the like of you?' He said, 'His name is A-Man-among-Men.' They said, 'Sit here till he comes.' He sat down.

In a short time the wind he made came (and) it lifted them and cast them down. And they said, 'What kind of wind is that?' He, the man who was being pursued, said, 'It is his wind.' And they said, 'Pass on.' They threw away the sowing implements, (and) went into the bush (and) hid, but that one was running on.

He came (and) met a certain huge man; he was sitting alone at the foot of a baobab tree. He had killed elephants and was roasting them, as for him, twenty elephants he could eat; in the morning he broke his fast with five. His name was 'The Giant of the Forest.'

Then he questioned him and said, 'Where are you going in all this haste?' And he said, 'A-Man-among-Men chased (is chasing) me.' And the Giant of the Forest said, 'Come here, sit down till he comes.' He sat down. They waited a little while. Then a wind made by A-Man-among-Men came, and lifted him, (and) was about to carry him off, when the Giant of the Forest shouted to him to come back. And he said, 'It is not I myself who am going off, the wind caused by the man is taking me away.' At that the Giant of the Forest got in a rage, he got up and caught his hand, and placed it under his thigh.

He was sitting until A-Man-among-Men came up and said, 'You sitting there, are you of the living, or of the dead?' And the Giant of the Forest said, 'You are interfering.' And A-Man-among-Men said, 'If you want to find health give up to me what you are keeping there.' And the Giant of the Forest said, 'Come and take (him).' And at that he flew into a rage and sprang and seized him. They were struggling together.

When they had twisted their legs round one another they leaped up into the heavens. Till this day they are wrestling there; when they are tired out they sit down and rest; and if they rise up to struggle that is the thunder you are wont to hear in the sky; it is they struggling.

He also, that other one, found himself (escaped), and went home, and told the tale. And his wife said, 'That is why I was always telling you whatever you do, make little of it. Whether it be you excel in strength, or in power, or riches, or poverty, and are puffed up with pride, it is all the same; some one is better than you. You said, it was a lie. Behold, your own eyes have seen.'

Off with the rat's head.

Hausa Folk-Lore Maalam Shaihua, translated by R. Sutherland Rattray Reposted with Permission from Dream's Archives
 

LET ME FALL - a poem

Let me fall

Let me climb
There's a moment when fear
And dreams must collide


Someone I am
Is waiting for courage
The one I want
The one I will become
Will catch me
I will dance so freely
Holding on to no one
You can hold me only
If you too will fall
Away from all these
Useless fears and chains


Someone I am
Is waiting for my courage
The one I want
The one I will become

-Patricia M. Baker

Patricia M. Baker' classic beauty

The Thunder-Bird carried off the wife of the Raven and refused to release her upon the Raven's demand. Then the Raven made medicine. He caused winter with a great snowfall. It was so cold that the only way in which the Thunderbird could keep from freezing was by constantly flashing his lightning. Yet the power of the Raven was so great that the Thunderbird could barely keep a hole melted out large enough for his body to rest in. At last he was forced to give up Raven's wife. Now, when there is much snow or a cold wave, the people go out and call to the Raven to take pity on the people.