We just returned from another Creator's Talking Circle kids club. The school kids here are on spring break, and because of several birthday parties and other activities only half of the kids attended.
We usually meet in the early afternoon and start with a meal. Today we made the ever popular Sloppy Joes. They came back for seconds and thirds :).
We were all seated in the circle when Howard stood up to tell the story of Stands Alone and His Vision Quest. We were amazed at how quietly everyone sat and listened to the story. You could have heard a pin drop. Believe me, it is not always like that during our kids clubs.
The story was crafted in a Native context and deals with the issue of hearing from God. In average Native mythology, these spirit beings are venerated and the end of the story. In this one, the animal spirit manifestations reveal that they have no real power, and the hearer is directed to seek God (T’kwalt Kukpi) directly.
You will recognize some symbols of other Biblical stories interwoven in this story. God puts Abraham into a deep sleep and God appears as a light. Jesus said that He was the Light of the World. It ends with a contextualized version of Micah 6:8.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXvGxo5nR58A long time ago, a young man, Stands Alone, wanted to become a Healer. He asked the Elders how to get the power to be a Healer. They told him that he would have to seek the power in a vision quest, alone, high up the mountain.
Stands Alone was an average member of his tribe. He had been sickly as a baby and little boy, and he didn’t grow as fast as the other boys his age. Because he spent so much time alone, too weak to play the active games that the other boys could play, he learned to amuse himself by studying everything about him. He studied the stars, the insects, plants, stones, animals, and people. Everything he saw, he looked at carefully.
Now, he was a young man. He was strong, strong enough to try a vision quest. He took only his small tool bag which had two antler tines, a couple of stone knives, and some string. Stands Alone began the walk up the mountain. Higher and higher he went. By noon, he was quite hungry, but he would not eat for days. He ignored his hunger and kept walking.
He found a place that he never had seen before. It was a flat place with short grass. He recognized a plant that looked like a small sun flower. He knew it was a medicine plant. He saw other medicine plants and thought, “This is a special place. I will wait here and ask T’Kwalt Kukpi for power to be a healer.
He built a small shelter, and a fire, and then began to pray. He prayed for one day; then two days, and then three days. After three days of eating no food, he was weak but his spirit was quiet and alert. As the sun went down over the mountain, and the long shadows faded into shades of gray, he heard a sound to his left. He looked to see what made the noise, and he saw an enormous buffalo walking towards him. Stands Alone stood up to face the buffalo. He wasn’t afraid because he had been praying for three days and believed that the buffalo might bring an answer to his prayer.
The great buffalo shook his huge hairy head and stopped before Stands Alone. The small fire was reflected in the large dark eyes of the buffalo. Stands Alone spoke, “I want to be a healer, can you help me?”
The buffalo slowly shook his great head and answered, “Only the Creator of all can give that power. Keep praying and pay attention.” Then, the buffalo walked away and disappeared into the darkness.
Stands Alone sat by the fire, put another stick on it, and thought about the strange and wonderful meeting with the buffalo. Suddenly, Stands Alone heard a coyote howl nearby. He turned his head in that direction and watched.
Out of the darkness came Coyote. He came directly towards the fire, and stopped a short distance away. Stands Alone stood up out of respect for his next visitor and said, “I want to be a healer, can you help me?”
Coyote’s large yellow eyes glowed with the fire light and then narrowed a little before he spoke. “I don’t have such power; only The Creator can grant that request. Keep praying, and watch for His answer.” With that, Coyote dipped his head a little, turned and went into the night.
Stands Alone sat down and put a stick on the fire. He remembered the words of the Buffalo
The Eagle landed near the fire and its large yellow eyes looked right at Stands Alone. Stands Alone found his voice and asked, “I want to be a healer. Can you help me?”
The Eagle blinked three times and spoke, “Only Creator God can give that power; I can not. If you keep praying, I think you will get an answer.” For such a fierce bird, there was a softness in it eyes as it spoke. Stands Alone took hope and thanked Eagle for coming, and watched it fly away into the night.
Stands Alone sat again by the fire, and began to pray again. While he prayed, a great feeling of sleep came over him. His eyes closed and his head sank to his chest, as he fell into a deep, deep sleep. As he slept, he dreamt that he saw a light as small as a star in the sky, come closer and closer. As it came closer, it grew larger and brighter. The light stopped before him, shimmering and dazzling in its brilliance. The Light was beautiful to see, it made Stands Alone feel strong and alive as he looked at it.
Stands Alone heard a voice speak from the Light. It said, “I am T’kwalt Kukpi, the Creator of all. What are you doing here, Stands Alone?”
In his dream, Stands Alone bowed low before the Light, to show respect, and then finding his voice again, he spoke, “I want to be a healer.”
The Light spoke, “Do rightly to others, show kindness to all, and walk humbly before Me, and you will be a healer.”
Suddenly, Stands Alone woke up. He was wide awake! The dream was gone, and so was the Light. But the memory of the vision was strong. While staring into the fire, he repeated, “Do rightly to others, show kindness to all, and walk humbly before Me…and you will be a healer.”
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