Post by Okwes on Feb 28, 2007 11:39:56 GMT -5
Legend of White Buffalo Calf Woman
Legend says that long ago, two young men were out hunting when from
out of nowhere came a beautiful maiden dressed in white buckskin.
One of the hunters looked upon her and recognizing her as a wakan,
or sacred being, lowered his eyes. The second hunter approached her
with lust in his eyes, desiring her for his woman. White Buffalo
Calf Woman beckoned the lustful warrior to her, and as he approached
a cloud of dust arose around them causing them to be hidden from
view. When the dust settled, nothing but a pile of bones lay next to
her. As she walked toward the respectful young hunter, White Buffalo
Calf Woman instructed the young man to go back to the People and
tell them to prepare for her arrival to teach them of the way to
pray. The young hunter obeyed. When White Buffalo Calf woman arrived
with the sacred bundle (the prayer pipe) she taught the People of
the seven sacred ways to pray. These prayers are through ceremonies
that include the Sweat Lodge for purification; the Naming Ceremony
for child naming; the Healing Ceremony to restore health to the
body, mind and spirit; the Adoption ceremony for making of
relatives; the Marriage Ceremony for uniting male and female; the
Vision Quest for communing with the Creator for direction and
answers to one's life; and the Sundance Ceremony to pray for the
well-being of all the People.
When the teaching of the sacred ways was complete, White Buffalo
Calf Woman told the people she would again return for the sacred
bundle that she left with them. Before leaving, she told them that
within her were the four ages, and that she would look back upon the
People in each age, returning at the end of the fourth age, to
restore harmony and spirituality to a troubled land. She walked a
short distance, she looked back towards the people and sat down.
When she arose they were amazed to see she had become a black
buffalo. Walking a little further, the buffalo laid down, this time
arising as a yellow buffalo. The third time the buffalo walked a
little further and this time arose as a red buffalo. Walking a
little further she rolled on the ground and rose one last time as a
white buffalo calf.
The changing of the four colors of the White Buffalo Calf Woman
represents the four colors of man--white, yellow, red and black.
These colors also represent the four directions, north, east, south
and west. The sacred bundle that was left to the Lakota people is
still with the People in a sacred place on the Cheyenne River Indian
reservation in South Dakota. It is kept by a man known as the Keeper
of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe, Arvol Looking Horse.
The legend of the White Buffalo Calf Woman remains ever promising in
this age of spiritual enlightenment and conscious awareness. In
today's world of confusion and war many of us are looking for signs
of peace. "With the return of the White Buffalo it is a sign that
prayers are being heard, that the sacred pipe is being honored, and
that the promises of prophecy are being fulfilled. White Buffalo
signals a time of abundance and plenty."
Legend says that long ago, two young men were out hunting when from
out of nowhere came a beautiful maiden dressed in white buckskin.
One of the hunters looked upon her and recognizing her as a wakan,
or sacred being, lowered his eyes. The second hunter approached her
with lust in his eyes, desiring her for his woman. White Buffalo
Calf Woman beckoned the lustful warrior to her, and as he approached
a cloud of dust arose around them causing them to be hidden from
view. When the dust settled, nothing but a pile of bones lay next to
her. As she walked toward the respectful young hunter, White Buffalo
Calf Woman instructed the young man to go back to the People and
tell them to prepare for her arrival to teach them of the way to
pray. The young hunter obeyed. When White Buffalo Calf woman arrived
with the sacred bundle (the prayer pipe) she taught the People of
the seven sacred ways to pray. These prayers are through ceremonies
that include the Sweat Lodge for purification; the Naming Ceremony
for child naming; the Healing Ceremony to restore health to the
body, mind and spirit; the Adoption ceremony for making of
relatives; the Marriage Ceremony for uniting male and female; the
Vision Quest for communing with the Creator for direction and
answers to one's life; and the Sundance Ceremony to pray for the
well-being of all the People.
When the teaching of the sacred ways was complete, White Buffalo
Calf Woman told the people she would again return for the sacred
bundle that she left with them. Before leaving, she told them that
within her were the four ages, and that she would look back upon the
People in each age, returning at the end of the fourth age, to
restore harmony and spirituality to a troubled land. She walked a
short distance, she looked back towards the people and sat down.
When she arose they were amazed to see she had become a black
buffalo. Walking a little further, the buffalo laid down, this time
arising as a yellow buffalo. The third time the buffalo walked a
little further and this time arose as a red buffalo. Walking a
little further she rolled on the ground and rose one last time as a
white buffalo calf.
The changing of the four colors of the White Buffalo Calf Woman
represents the four colors of man--white, yellow, red and black.
These colors also represent the four directions, north, east, south
and west. The sacred bundle that was left to the Lakota people is
still with the People in a sacred place on the Cheyenne River Indian
reservation in South Dakota. It is kept by a man known as the Keeper
of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe, Arvol Looking Horse.
The legend of the White Buffalo Calf Woman remains ever promising in
this age of spiritual enlightenment and conscious awareness. In
today's world of confusion and war many of us are looking for signs
of peace. "With the return of the White Buffalo it is a sign that
prayers are being heard, that the sacred pipe is being honored, and
that the promises of prophecy are being fulfilled. White Buffalo
signals a time of abundance and plenty."