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 The Pipe our Teachers, and by them to us. The Medicine
Wheel is everything of the People.
The Medicine Wheel is the Living Flame at
the Lodges; and the Great Shield of Truth
written in the Sign of the Water. It is the Heart
and Mind. It is the Song of the Earth. It is the
Star-Fire and the Painted Drum seen only in the
Eyes of Children. It is the Red Pipe of the
Buffalo Gift smoked in the Sacred Mountains,
and it is the Four Arrows of the People's Lodge.
It is our Sun Dance.

~
The Medicine Wheel Way begins with the
Touching of our Brothers and Sisters. Next it
speaks to us of the Touching of the world

~
around us, the animals, trees, grasses and all
other living things. Finally itTeaches us to Sing
the Song of the World, and in this Way to
become Whole People.
Come sit with me, and let us smoke the Pipe
of Peace in Understanding. l.et us Touch. Let
~ us, each to the other, be a·Gift as is the Buffalo.

~OXOXl

Let us be Meat to Nourish each other, that we

all may Grow. Sit here with me, each of you as
you are in your own Perceiving of yourself, as
~~ Mouse, Wolf, Coyote, weasel. Fox, or Prairie
r===­ Bird. Let me See through your Eyes. Let us
;s Teach each other here in this Great Lodge of the
You are about to begin an adventure of the People, this Sun Dance, of each of the Ways on
People, the Plains lndian People. You probably this Great Medicine Wheel, our Earth.
have known of these People only by their
whiteman names, as the Cheyenne, the Crow c---:>
and the Sioux. Here you will learn to know of -~
~~/~
them as they were truly known among the
People, as the Painted Arrow, the Little Black
Eagle, and the Brother People. »« ~ »( c »« @ »~
The story of these People has at its center and
all around it the story of the Medicine Wheel.
The Medicine Wheel is the very Way of Life of
. s=­
the People. It is an Understanding of the Uni­
verse. It is the Way given to the Peace Chiefs,

The Circle ferences would influence our perceptions of the

objects.
There ~ levels upon levels of perspectives
we must consider when we try to under­
stand our individual perceptions of things, or
when we try to relate our own perceptions to
those of our brothers and sisters. Every single
one of our previous experiences in life will af­
fect in some way the mental perspective from
which we see the world around us.
Because of this, a particular object or event
may appear fearful to you at the same time
that it gives pleasure to me, or appears com­
pletely uninteresting to a third person. All
things that we perceive stimulate our individ­
ual imaginations in different ways, which in
tum causes us to create our own unique in­
terpretations of them. Love, hate, fear, con­

-
c,_/'
fusion, happiness, envy, and all the other
emotions we feel, act upon us to paint our
perceptions of things in different colors.
=Y?§'Yc¥c¥c¥=~C'§i'~§""m If the thing I were to place within our circle

@~1@cfp~~O

should be an abstraction, such as an idea, a feel­

ing, or a philosophy, our perceptions of it
would then be even more complicated than if
=:::::::[=?k=7A~~eA0'J6'~~ the object had been a tangible thing. And fur­
ther, the number of different perceptions of it
If you and I were sitting in a circle of people would become greater and greater as more and
on the prairie, and if I were then to place a more people were added to our circle. The per­
painted drum or an eagle feather in the middle ception of any object, either tangible or ab­
of this circle, each of us would perceive these stract, is ultimately made a thousand times
objects differently. Our vision of them would more complicated whenever it is viewed within
vary according to our individual positions in the circle of all ell/ire PI!Op/1! as a iohcle, The un­
the circle, each of which would be unique. derstanding of this truth is the first lesson of
Our personal perceptions of these objects the Medicine Wheel, and it is a vital part of Sun
would also depend upon much more than just Dance Teaching.
the different positions from which we looked
upon them. For example, one or more of us The "'jed/cine Whl!e/
might suffer from color blindness, or from weak In many ways this Circle, the Medicine Wheel,
eyesight. Either of these two physical dif­ can best be understood if you think of it as a
 s

mirror in which everything is reflected, "The

• •

Universe is the Mirror of the People," the old

Teachers tell us, "and each person is a Mirror to
every other person."
Any idea, person or object can be a Medicine • •
• •
Wheel, a Mirror, for man. The tiniest flower can
be such a Mirror, as can a wolf a story, a touch.
a religion or a mountain top. For example, one
•
•
••
person alone on a mountain top at night might
fed fear. Another might feel calm and peaceful.
•
••••• • ••••
Still another might feel lonely, and a fourth
••
person might feel nothing at all. In each case the
mountain top would be the same, but it would
be perceived differently <'IS it reflected the feel­ • •
•
•
ings of the different people who experienced it.
This book, Seven Arrows, is such a Mirror. It is a
Medicine Wheel, just as you are.
• • • •

Here is <'I drawing of a simple Medicine

Wheel. Among the People, the Teachers usually
constructed it from small stones or pebbles,
which they would place like this before them
upon the ground.
Each one of these tiny stones within the Med­ great Harmony.
icine Wheel represents one of the many things All the things of the Universe Wheel have
of the Universe. One of them represents you, spirit and life, including Ihe rivers, rocks, earth,
and another represents me, Others hold within sky, plants and animals. But it is only man, of
them our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, all the Beings on the Wheel, who is a de­
and our friends. Still others symbolize hawks, terminer. Our determining spirit can be made
buffalo, elks and wolves, There are also stones whole only through the learning of our har­
which represent religions, governments, philo­ mony with all our brothers and sisters, and
sophies, and even entire nations. All things are with aU the other spirits of the Universe. To do
contained within the Medicine Wheel, and all this we must learn to seek and to perceive. We
things are equal within it The Medicine Wheel must do this to 'find our place within the Medi­
is the Total Universe. cine VVheel. To determine this place we must
Our Teachers tell us that all things learn to Give-Away.
within this Universe Wheel know of their Har­ The Vision Quest, or perceiving quest, is the
mony with every other thing, and know how to way we must begin this search. We must all
Give-Away one to the other, except man. Of all follow our Vision Quest to discover ourselves,
the Universe's creatures, it is we alone who to learn how we perceive of ourselves, and to
do not begin our lives with knowledge of this find our relationship with the world around us,

Beginning Place within these Four Great Direc­

tions on the Medicine Wheel. This Starting
Place gives us our first way at perceiving
things, which will then be our easiest and most
North natural way throughout our lives.
WlSDOM

. .
But any person who perceives from only one
BUFFALO
WHITE
of these Four Great Directions will remain just a
~ partial man. For example, a man who possesses
West
INTROSPECTION
BEAR
BLACK
.•.-.....•
•
•••
••
• ••• •
•
East
ILLUMINATION
EAGLE
YEUOW
only the Gift of the North will be wise. But he
will be a cold man, a man without feeling. And
the man who lives only in the East will have the
•
dear, far sighted vision of the Eagle, but he will
never be close to things. This man will feel sep­
South
INNOCENCE arated, high above life, and will never under­
MOUSE stand or believe that he can be touched by any­
GREEN
thing.
A man or woman who perceives only from
the West will go over the same thought again
and again in their mind, and will always be un­
decided. And if a person has only the Gift of the
South, he will see everything with the eyes of
a Mouse. He will be too close to the ground and
The Powers too near sighted to see anything except what­
Among the People, a child's first Teaching is ever is right in front of him, touching his
of the Four Great Powers of the Medicine whiskers.
WheeL There are many people who have two or three
To the North on the Medicine Wheel is found of these Gifts, but these people still are not
Wisdom. The Color of the Wisdom of the North Whole. A man might be a Bear person from the
is White, and its Medicine Animal is the Buf­ East, or an Eagle person of the South. The first
falo. The South is represented by the Sign of the of these men would have the Gift of seeing In­
Mouse, and its Medicine Color is Green. The trospectively within Illumination, but he would
South is the place of Innocence and Trust, and lack the Gifts of Touching and Wisdom. The
for perceiving closely our nature of heart. In the second would be able to see clearly and far, like
West is the Sign of the Bear. The West is the the Eagle, within Trust and Innocence. But he
Looks-Within Place, which speaks of the Intro­ would still not know of the things of the North,
spective nature of man. The Color of this Place nor of the Looks-Within Place.
is Black. The East is marked by the Sign of the In this same way, a person might also be a
Eagle. It is the Place of Illumination, where we Golden Bearof the North, or a Black Eagle of the
can see things clearly far and wide. Its Color is South. But none of these people would yet be
the Gold of the Morning Star. Whole. Alter each of us has learned of our
At birth, each of us is given a particular Beginning Gift, our First Place on the Medicine
 7

wheel. we then must Grow by Seeking Under­ Love. hate, greed and generosity are all rooted
standing in each of the Four Great Ways. Only within our loneliness, within our desire to be
in this way can we become Full, capable needed and loved. ---..-----­
of Balance and Decision in what we do. -tf\e-only~hatwe can overcome our lone­
5rven Arrows speaks of this Growing and j liness is through Touching. It is only in this
Seeking. way that we can learn to be Total Beings. God is
a--.Eresenceof this Total. He amauihio, the Breath­
of Wisdom, and Miaheyyun, Total Under­
The Touching standing, are but two of the words in
To Touch and Feel is to Experience. Many peo­ the Cheyenne language which express this
ple live out their entire lives without ever really Wholeness.
Touching or being Touched by anything. These
people live within a world of mind and imagi­
nation that may move them sometimes to joy,
tears, happiness or sorrow. But these people Medicines
never really Touch. They do not live and be­ This brings us back again to the Medicines.
come one with life. Each of us has as his personal Medicine a par­
The Sun Dancer believes thai each person is a ticular animal reflection. The characteristics of
unique Living Medicine Wheel, powerful this reflection are determined by the nature of
e beyond imagination, that has been limited and the animal itself, and also by the location of our
f placed upon this earth to Touch, Experience individual Beginning Place on the Medicine
I and Learn. The Six Grandfathers Taught me Wheel. These two things, our Medicine Animal
that each man, woman, and child at one time and our Beginning Place on the Medicine
,
was a Living Power that existed somewhere in Wheel, together are the Beginning Gift to each
time and space. These Powers were without of us from Miaheyyun.
e form, but they were aware. They were alive. For example, there are Eagle People, Elk Peo­
••
Each Power possessed boundless energy and
beauty. These living Medicine Wheels were
pie, Bear People, Wolf People, Pheasant People..
Otter People, Buffalo People, Mice People, Rock
.1 capable of nearly anything. They were beautiful People, Cloud People, atl4 as many other kinds
and perfect in all ways except one. They had no of People as there are kinds of living beings on
d understanding of limitation, no experience of this earth. And within each of these different
e substance. These Beings were total energy of kinds of People, there are the other differences
e the Mind, without Body or Heart. They were of the Four Great Directions. Thus an Elk
e placed upon this earth that they might Learn Person might be born a White Elk of the North,
i. the things of the Heart through Touching. a Green Elk of the South, a Black Elk of the
According to the Teachers. there is only one West, or a Yellow Elk of the East, depending
th}~g that all peopl~~_s.~~~gy_ally. T.biLis... upon the Direction of their Beginning Gift.
• i their loneliness. No two people on the face of
e I It would be impossible for me to tell you here
e . this ea-rtIl.-are-aIlke in anyone thing except for of all the different Medicines, but I will speak to
rr their loneliness. This is the cause of our you of one of them, the Mouse. Mice live all
e Growing, but it is also the cause of our wars. their lives next to the ground, building their
 6

Beginning Place within these Four Great Direc­

tions on the Medicine Wheel. This Starting
Place gives us our first way of perceiving
things, which will then be our easiest and most
North natural way throughout our lives.

. .

WISDOM
BUFFALO
WHITE
But any person who perceives from only one
of these Four Great Directions will remain just a
~ partial man. For example, a man who possesses
West
INTROSPECTION
• •••• •
••••••••
East
ILLUMINATION
only the Gift of the North will be wise. But he
will be a cold man, a man without feeling. And

i BEAR
BLACK
• • •••• • • EAGLE
YEllOW the man who lives only in the East will have the
• clear, far sighted vision of the Eagle, but he will
never be close to things. This man will feelsep­
South
INNOCENCE
arated, high above lite, and will never under­
MOUSE

GREEN
stand or believe that he can be touched byany­
thing.
A man or woman who perceives only from
the West will go over the same thought again
and again in their rnind.tand will always be un­
decided. And if a person has only the Gift of the
South, he will see everything with the eyes or
a Mouse. He will be too close to the ground and
•
The Powers
Among the People, a child's first Teaching is
too near sighted 10 see anything except what­
ever is right in Front of him, touching his
of the Four Great Powers of the Medicine whiskers.
Wheel. There are many people who have two or three
To the North on the Medicine Wheel is found of these Gifts, but these people still are not
Wisdom. The Color of the Wisdom of the North Whole. A man might be a Bear person from the
is White, and its Medicine Animal is the Buf­ East, or an Eagle person of the South. The first
falo. The South is represented by the Sign of the of these men would have the Gift of seeing In­
Mouse, and its Medicine Color is Green. The trospectively within Illumination, but he would
South is the place of Innocence and Trust, and lack the Gifts of Touching and Wisdom. The
for perceiving closely our nature of heart. In the second would be able to see dearly and far, like
, West is the Sign of the Bear. The West is the
Looks-Within Place, which speaks of the Intro­
the Eagle, within Trust and Innocence. But he
would still not know of the things of the North,
spective nature of man. The Color of this Place nor of the Looks-Within Place.
is Black. The East is marked by the Sign of the In this same way, a person might also be a ~
Eagle. It is the Place of lllurrti nation, where we Golden Bear of the North, or a Black Eagle of the
can see things clearly far and wide. Its Color is South. But none of these people would yet be
the Gold of the Morning Star. Whole. After each of us has learned of our
At birth, each of us is given a particular Beginning Gift, our First Place on the Medicine

.~.--,
8

nests and gathering their food among the roots live out his entire life without ever finding
of the tall grass and bushes of the prairie. more than what was already within him as his
Because of this, Mice never see things at a dis­ Beginning Gift, but if he wishes to Grow he
tance. Everything they can see is right in front must become a Seeker and Seek for himself the
of them, where they can sniff at it with their other Ways.
noses and Touch it with their whiskers. Their When you have done this yourself, and when
lives are spent in Touching things in this way, you have reached a full Understanding of the
and in gathering seeds and berries to eat. different Medicines of men, you will never feel
But since it is really people that we are talking surprised or threatened by the actions or deci­
about, the Medicines must be understood sions of your Brothers and Sisters. This Under­
within the ways of people. A Mouse Person standing is held within the meaning of the
would be one who saw everything dose up, Shields carried by the People, which were
and whose vision would be limited to the Mirrors of their Medicines.
immediate world around him. He would be a
gatherer of things. He might gather facts, infor­
mation, material objects, or even ideas. But TIle Shields
because he could not see far enough to connect To Understand the Sun Dance, we must first
his world with that of the great prairie of the gain an Understanding of the Shields. My
world around him, he would never be able to Father, whose Name was Hyemeyohsrs and
use or understand all that he saw and gathered. who gave his Name to me, was a Shield Maker
If a Mouse Person were to be born into the and my Teacher. Hyemeyohsts taught me the
North, his Beginning Gift would be the Gift of construction of many Personal Shields. He also
the Mind. His Name might be White Mouse. taught me the construction, Painting and Medi­
He would be a wise Mouse Person, but he cine Ways of the other Shields: the Men's
would not yet be Whole. To become Whole, he Shields, Women's Shields, Children's Shields,
would first have to seek: the South, the place of Peace Shields, and the Sacred Shields. This was
Heart, and find the Marriage of this Gift with Hyemeyohst's Gift to me, as it was his Gift from
his Beginning Gift. Then he would have to visit his Fa tbers and from the Medicine Power, the
and have Intercourse with the things of the Great Spirit. It is Miahe~l:lfun's Gift to all of us, in
East, Illumination, and travel to the Looks­ Order that we might learn and become Sun
Within place of the West. He would be able to Dancers together.
Grow and become a Full Person only by doing There were originally Twelve Sacred Shields.
aU of these things, which would give him an At the time of the annual Renewal these Twelve
understanding of his own Nature. Sacred Shields were brought together, and
In this way he would become able to make placed inside the Twelve Forked Poles which
his decisions within the Balance of the Four formed the outer circle of the Sun Dance Lodge,
Directions. A person with the Beginning Gift of the People's Lodge. But these Sacred Shields
the Mind must always try to include his Heart were never together except at Renewal time.
in his decisions. When he does this, he begins They were never kept by anyone Tribe, but
to tum upon the Medicine Wheel. A man can were passed on from one People to another.
 9

If a man or woman in their lifetime aspired to Medicines and Clan Signs of the men who
Ig
high honor, they might seek to be the Keeper of carried them. These Signs told who the man
Is was, what he sought to be, and what his loves,
one of these Sacred Shields. At anyone time
,e there could only be Twelve of these Keepers of fears and dreams were. Almost everything
,e the Shields of Light. These people were the about him was written there, reflected in the
most powerful and respected among all the Mirror of his Shield.
en
People. They were Healers, Diviners, and The Personal Shields of Men were first con­
,e
Teachers. It was they who carried the Sacred structed and given to them after their Vision
",I
Shields from camp to camp, and from Tribe to Quest. On their return from the Quest, they
:1­
Tribe. J once asked my Father, Hyemeyohsts. would tell four chosen Spiritual Fathers of their
0­
,e about these Shields. He answered, "Over the
Earth there are Twelve Great Tribes. Two of
eepenences. Sometimes these experiences
might actually have included true visions, but
re these Peoples are the Indian People. The Other more often the Seeker would simply have had
Ten are the Other Peoples of the Earth. These normal experiences and thoughts. His Fathers
Twelve Peoples are the Sacred Shields." would then interpret these experiences, what­
The Chief's Shields are tied to the Sacred ever they might have been, in terms of what
Shields, in that they each tell a part of the Story they reflected of the Seeker's character and
rst of the Sacred Shields. There are Forty-Four of Medicines. They would then give him a Name
~y these Chief's Shields. Because the Chiefs were which symbolically represented these things,
nd Peace Chiefs, and because their Shields were and would construct for him a Shield that vi­
ser used for Teaching about the Sacred Shields and sually reflected the same symbolic meanings.
he the Sun Dance Way, their Shields were also These Shields were carried by the men
Iso known as Peace Shields or Teaching Shields. among the People in order that anyone they
di­ Among the People, every person possessed a met might know them. Even when they rested
n's Shield of one kind or another. One of the most in their lodges, their Shields were always kept
ds important things to understand about these outside where all could see them. They might
, as Shields is that they were never intended to give be hung up by the lodge door, or up by the
>m physical protection in battle. They were not smoke hole, or on a tripod near the lodge, ac­
the made to tum away arrows or bullets, or for peo­ cording to each person'S own Medicine Way.
,m ple to hide behind. Usually they were much too But they were always kept outside, where the
iun thin and fragile for this. Sometimes they were People might see and learn from them.
made from the tough hides of bears or buffalo The women also carried their Medicine Signs
ds bulls, but more often they were covered only in ways to be seen, usually as symbolic designs
Ive with the soft skins of deer, antelope, coyole, woven with porcupine quills or beads on their
md otter, weasel. or even mice. They were then dresses or belts. The Woman's Belt was usually
jch the most important of her Shields. Many times
hung with eagle plumes, cedar pouches, tassels
lge. of animal fur, and many other things. They were it was her only Shield, since not all of the dif­
ads also painted with various symbolic figures. ferent Peoples had both Dress and Belt Shields.
me. In the case of the Personal Shields, all of these These Belts were totally symbolic in design.
but different things represented the individual Usually they contained the symbols of the
jer.
10

Brotherhood Societies the women lived among, was the ability to perceive clearly and broadly
such as the Kit Fox. Rattling Hoof. Crazy Dog, ~he things of the Mind, the Heart and of the
Coyote, or Painted Spear Societies. Added to Way of the People, the Sun Dance Way. Red
these Signs were those of the woman's Spiritual Hawk wa! this man's Color. Red symbolizes
Family, her blood family, and those of her per­ Fire. Fire represents the liVing Spirit of the
sonal Medicines, or Name. People, and it also tells us that Hawk Perceives
The woman's Spiritual Clan relatives were with the Illumination of the Golden East.
called her Clan Fathers, Clan Mothers, Clan Within the Story of ~even Arrows, Night
Uncles, and Clan Brothers and Sisters. It was to Bear's Name and his Way of Perceiving are also
these people that she had her closest ties and explained. As you learn of these things, you
responsibilities. Her Clan fathers, Mothers arid may also find your own Name.
Uncles reciprocated these responsibilities 10
their Spiritual Children. Because of this, inter­ The Stories
marriages between different Peoples caused the
tradition of the Shields to spread widely. The There are many old Stories told within Seven
Brotherhood of the Shields grew and became Arrows. These Stories. were used among the
very powerful among the People. It was a time People Lo Teach the meaning of the Sun Dance
of great peace and Spiritual Renewal. It was the Way. They were themselves a Way of Under­
time.of the Medicine Wheel, the Sun Dance. standing among the People, and also between
different Peoples. Because the People did not
have a written language, these Stories were
memorized and passed down in one- way
Names through countless generations.
You have learned that Names always had sym­ The Stories are about both animals and peo­
bolic meaning among the People, and were the ple. You will find Stories about Mice, Wolves,
Reflections of the People's individual Medi­ Raccoons, Otters and Buffalo. These Stories are
cines. Within Seven Arrows you will meet many almost entirely allegorical in form, and everything \
different People. Their Names will ten you in them should be read symbolically. Every story
much about them. They will tell you of their can be symbolically unfolded for you through
Medicines, and of their Ways of Perceiving your own Medicines, Reflections and Seekings.
One of these Reflections you will meet will be As you do this. you will learn to See through
Day Woman. Translated within the People's the eyes of your Brothers and Sisters, and to
tongue, Day Woman means Woman of the Sun, share their Perceptions.
or Truth. This Name is also the Sign of Sun Questioning is one of the most vital paths to
Dancing, or the Seeking of Harmony. understanding these Stories, which will Teach
You will also meet a person called Hawk. The you of the Sun Dance Way. When you question,
Hawk is the Little Brother of the Eagle. This the Medicine Wheel is turned for you. These
person's Medicine Sign means that he was bam Stories are magical Teachers in this way. They
with the Gift of Seeing both at a Distance and are Flowers of Truth whose petals can be un­
Closely. Of course, this should be interpreted folded by the Seeker without end.
symbolically rather than literally. Hawk's Gift These Stories were meant to be told, not
 11

Dy written. In this way the Teachers, whether your own Way. This Turning and Growing is
he speaking verbally or in sign language, were called the Building of the Thunder Bow.
ed able to give inflections to particular words to Seven Arrows itself, from beginning to end, is
reflect their symbolic content. For example, the a Teaching ~tory. It is a Story of the Sun Dance
""
th. word "year" holds many different meanings. Way, constructed in the same manner in which
,es It reflects the concept of a cycle, which is I was taught by my Fathers to tell Stories. It is a
symbolically represented by a circle, which in complete Medicine Wheel all by itself. Read the
!ht tum symbolizes the Medicine Wheel and the book with a friend, wife, or loved one, or best of
Iso Universe. Similarly, the word "way" can all,-.~Ih shildren. _.You -'kK,-are--a--Medicine-"
"'u mean simply a path or direction, but it can Wheel, and the magic of your Perceiving will be
also mean an entire philosophy of life, a re­ unfolded.
ligion, or a Way of Perceiving.
Hyemeyohsts
Within Seven Arrows, and particularly within
the old Stories, the words to which the Teller So
«n would have given inflections are capitalized.

@~@c{?o~@

the These words are symbolic Teachers. and it is very

nee important that you approach them symbolically
fer­ rather than literally. These capitalized words =A=A"0;~A=''''='''=L.=A=A=A=A=A=A=-e:=s=
een may sometimes seem inconsistent, but do not
not be confused by this. The Coyote is known ~

rere among the People as a gentle trickster, and his

way Way is a part of Sun Dance Learning.
I want you, my Brothers and Sisters, to know
sec­ thai I too am still learning about the Way of the
ves, People. The Understanding of this Way is not
: are found just through the memorization of Stories
hing and Symbols. It is a Living, Growing Thing that
tory
cgh
\ comes from Touching and Experiencing within
each of the Four Great Directions.
ngs. The Sun Dance Way Itself is a Living Thing. It
ergh is always Growing and Turning within the Peo­
d to ple. It is not to be learned by studying archaic
rituals or traditions, but by Seeking Under­
!\s to standing and then allowing it to Grow within
each your own Heart and Mind. Within Seven
don, Arrows there are many ancient Stories taught to
h... me by my Fathers and Grandfathers. But there
Ibey are also new Stories that I have written from
, un­ within my own Understanding and Experience.
They are there as Teachings from which you
not can learn, and which you can Build upon in

,;)
 The Flowering Tree Reflection of a Woman, and within every
woman there is the Reflection of a Man. Within
J
every man and woman there is also the Reflec­
tion of aa Old Man, an Old Woman, a Little
Day, and a Little Girl.
From my C,rand£athers I learned an old Stury
about the Coyote which speaks to us of these
Reflections. r will now tell you this old story.
which is also a new Story.
It seems thilf at One fime the People were Living
Scattered Out all Over the World, and Each of
them had Heard about a very Powerful Person
who Lived in the River. n was Said lhat this
Person could Settle any Problem, no matter what
it was.

• IDf(J:0illfl!lli(1 !:(rer fJ1:illJ1J:i:[(;

oooooooooooooooooooooo~
Becallse no one really Wa~ltcd to Admit to
Anyone Else that they Possessed Problems,

~millP~~
Everybody had to Sneak Down to the River AlarIe
when they Wished to HeQr this Powerful Person
Speak. And "El erybody did Sneak Down to the
1

River to Hear the Powerful Person, but No One

The Medicine Wheel Circle is the Universe. It ever Spoke to Any{lne Else About it.
is change, life, death, birth and learning. This Then One Day a Little Boy and a Little Girl
Great Circle is the lodge of our bodies, our Returned from the River. The Little Boy and the
minds, and out hearts. It is the cycle of all Little Gir! began to Talk to Everyone About their
things that exist. The Circle is our Way of Journey.
Touching, and of experiencing Harmony with "11 uias a very Strange Ihing:' the Children
every other thing around us. And for those who said.
seek Understanding, the Circle is their Mirror. "What was it that was 50 very Strange?" the
This Circle is the Flowering Tree. People asked a.~ thf'y Cothered Around the
When we experience the Flowering Tree, we Children, Pretending the:oJ did »ot Know.
hear the lightning flash within our darkness. "Have you not Seen what is at the Rh'er?" the
Then we see the thunder within this illumina­ Children asked.
tion. The one speaks quietly to us, and the other "No," fhe Peoplf' All answered. "Whafuo(.ls it
sings to us of our learning. Together they be­ that you Saw there?"
come one song. This song they sing is the Song "Have All of you 1Iot Sneaked Down to the
of the Coyote, the gentle trickster of learning; River, jU51 as we Did?" the Childrnl asked in
As the Coyote sings, his song is echoed by Surprise.
many other Coyotes. These songs, the Teachers "Who ever Said such a silly thing?" the People
tell us, are the songs of the many Reflections asked Angrily.
that live within all of us. "We did," the Children answered, Becoming
For example, within every man there is the Frightened.
 15

'e<)' \
thin I
Bee-
ittle
j "Never say such an Awful thing again," the
People told them Accllsingly.
Did," the Old Woman began.
"And they AJI Saw Only tnemsetoes. just as you
The Children Became even more FrighteT/ed, Did." The Old Man Finished the words.
They Perceived that they were Strangers even to "How very Strange," the Little Girl said.
tory
their Own Mothers and Fathers. "] do not Understand," the Little Boy said.
hese
This Caused All the People to Move Away, "They too Thought it Strange," the Old Man
lory,
Leaving the Little Boy and the Little Girl A/one ansmere d.
Upon the Prairie. That Night they were all Alone "And they too did not tlndereiand" the Old
nTlg
and Frightened. TIley Cried, because EverythiTlg WomaT/ answered.
seemed to be so Terrible. "Were you also their Reflections, as you were
"Calm yourselves, my Children," a Gentle ours?" the Little Girl asked Excitedly.
., Voice suddenly said to them. The Children Looked
to See who had Spoken.
"And they did not Trust their Eyes," the Little
Boy said with Excitement.
"Who are you?" the Children asked. "Yes," the Old Mlln said, "you are Right. Now
"It is me, Old Man Coyote," the Voice said. As you must Find the People LInd Offer them these
he Spoke, Old Man Coyote Entered the Children's Gifts."
one
Lodge and Set Down a Bundle of Firewood Beside "What are these Gifts?" the Little Girl asked.
'n them: "They are these Two Coyote Robes," the Old
"And it is me, Old Woman Coyote," another Woman answered. "Tell them to Put them On and
" Voice said to them Softly. She Sat Down and they will not be Hungry any more."
Began to Turn an Arrow Within her Bow to Make And so the Children Did this. They Found the
them a Fire. People the Next Day and Offered them the Two
"ri' Soon there was a Wann Fire and there was
Light Wilhintheir Lodge. Sitting Across the Fire
Coyote Robes.
"What are these for?" the People asked. "There
(rom them were an Old Man and an Old are Thousands upon Thousands of these Coyote
Jt\!oman. Robes to be had," they laughed. "What we Need to
"Who are you? the Children asked. They were SatisfY our Hunger are Buffalo, not these silly
" now Feeling better. Robes."
"We are your Grandfather and your "Put them On," the Two Children Coaxed the
the "dmother," the Old Woman answered, People. And as they Coaxed the People to Put On
07!ering the Children some Buffalo Meat. the Coyote Robes, they Spoke to them of their
~ it
"And we are Also the Powerful Person at the Vision. But this only made the People Laugh even
River," the Old Man added, Offering the Children Harder.
some Sweet Foods. Within this Camp there Lived Two Kind People.
"But we Saw Only ourselves when we Visited One was a Man and the Other was a Woman.
the River," the Little Boy and the Little Girl said They were Living Together in tke Same Lodge.
op/e Together. These Two Kind People Loved the Little Girl and
"Yes, that is True," the Old Woman and the the Little Boy, and Wished to Care for them. They
,g Old Man answered Together. Both Stepped Into the Circle of People and Put tk~ir
"I do not Understand this," the Little Girl said. Anns Around the Two Children, Adopting them.
"How !Jery Strange," the Little Boy said. "] will Wear One of the Robes," the Man said 10
"The People JW!Je All Visited the River as you the Little Girl.

t:
,~
 [6

"And 1 too u.'ilJ Wear One of the Robes," the The People were so Angry they Struck at the
Woman said 10 the Little Boy. Flowering bue.
The Children Gave their Robes to the Man and "Let us Follow the Two Lions and Kill them."
the Woman who had Adopted them, and the Mun the People then Decided Together. They Foilau-ed
and Woman Put them On. the Tracks to the North to Find them. They Ran
"There are Buffalo to the North and to the and Ran, until Suddenly the Tracks of the Two
Soulh," the Man said to Ihe People, because now Lions Became the Tracks of Four Lions. These Led
he could See them. the People in a Great Circle Back to the Flowering
"And there are Buffalo to the West and to the Tree.
East," the Woman said, because now she too could The People Sat Doum Together Around the Tree
See them. because they were so Tired, and they Began to
TI,e People All Became Excited, because Talk to One Another.
Suddenly they too could See the Buffalo. "Why are we Doing this?" Some of them asked
"Let us Hunt them in the North," some of the the Others.
People said. "We do not really Wish to Hurt or Kill
"No," Others Quickly Shouted. "The Buffalo Anything," said some Others,
are much Fatter in the South:' "Then why were you Running?" asked Still
"No! No!" still Others argued. "They are Others,
Bigger in the West," "We were Only Following you," those Spoken
"No.' No.''' the Rest of the People said Angrily. To said in Amazement. And they All Began to
"The Best Ones of All are to the East." Laugh:
"Please! Please,' Do not Fight Among Then the People Ail Heard Singing, and they
yourselves," the I\fan, Woman, Little Boy and Looked LIT" There, Silting in the North, fhey Saw
Little Girl Pleaded, "You are Only Tricking a White Coyote and he was Singing. They Also
yourselves. Put On the Coyote Robes and you will Looked to the South, and Sitting there was a Green
Understand. ',' Coyote. She too was Singing. Then they Looked to
But the People were very Angry, and they the West, and Sitting there was a Black Coyote
Would not Come Together in a Circle to and he uwe Singing. Finally fhey Looked to the
Counsel. East, and Sitting there was a Gold Coyote and she
"Kill these Trouble Makers," the People was Singing. •
shouted. And they Rushed in AI1 Together Upon TIlt' People Sat there Quietly All Together and
these Four who were Sitting in the Middle of the Learned these Four Beautiful Songs, TIley were
Camp Circle. But ushen they Reached the Center the Songs of Four Lions. Then the People Looked
of the Camp Circle, they Discovered that tilt' Little All Around and Saw that Each of them was
Boy and the Little Girl had Become a Flowering Wearing a Coyote Robe. They put their Arms
Forked Tree. The.1f Quickly Lookedfor the Man Around Each Other and Began to Dance Toward
and the Woman who had Adopted the Two the Flowering Tree Together in a Great Circle, TI,e
Children, but All they Found of them were their People were Happy.
Tracks. The.1f were the Tracks of Two Mountain This Story we have just heard has now be­
Lions. These Tracks were Leading to the come a portion of our awareness, or understand­
North. ing. Stories are like paths, or Ways. Whenever

'.,
 17

we hear a Story, it is as if we were physically

walking down a particular path that it has
created for us. Everything we perceive upon
this path or around it becomes part of our expe­
,J rience, both individually and collectively.
This particular story has within it many
Mirrors which Reflect certain realities that exist
,J in all of us. Each one of these little Mirrors,
'S when we look into it as a whole thing, or
Wheel, can be a Teacher for us. So that you may
ree understand this more fully, let us now experi­
ence the Story once more in a new way. Let us
open OUf eyes wide as we walk down its path a
,J second time, so that we may look into some of
its Mirrors and see the many images thai are
Reflected there for us.
This is a Story that has been told to us about
the Trickster of Learning. It seems there are
times in each of our lives when we are not in
-n balance with our brothers and sisters. We are
unable to communicate with ourselves or with what they are talking about.
the world we live in. And yet each one of us Bu t of cOUJ'3e the children within us speak
knows of the powerful person who lives within again, asking us, "Have you never seen what is
iu­ us, and who can settle any problem, no matter at the river?"
what it is. This powerful person is our spirit. And we reply, "No."
'ern But we never really want to admit to anyone, or And even though we know, we ask, "What
Ito even to ourselves, that we actually have a was it that you saw?"
problem. So every one of us sneaks down many We do this because we do not want anyone
times to the river inside ourselves. This river is else to know that we have often sneaked down
;he the spirit of the power of the universe. But to the river, like the children ..
w"'n
" we go there to hear the powerful person, Of course these children within us are sur­
,J we usually are afraid to speak about it. prised, and they ask us again, "Have all of you
That is, until one day the little boy and the not sneaked down to the river, just as we did?"
,J little girl within each of us speaks to us about it. "Who ever said such a silly thing?" we
This little boy and this little girl begin to make answer ourselves angrily.
themselves known in our minds. "Ourselves," the children say inside us. They
,J "It is a very strange thing," these children say are now becoming frightened.
Tnt' inside our own hearts and minds. "Never say such an awful thing again," we
"What is it that is so very strange?" we ask, say to ourselves accusingly.
• be­ not wanting to admit to anyone else, or even to And, as you remember from the Story, this
and- the two children inside ourselves, that we know makes the little girl and the little boy inside us
lever
 very afraid. But it also teaches us something. It around you. There are six of us grandfathers.
teaches us that we cannot trust ourselves, be­ We are the Power of the North, the Growing of
cause the mother and father that are within us the South," the Changing of the West, the Re­
are not able to communicate with the little boy birth of the East, the Law of the Universe and
and the little girl that are also within us. They its Mirror, the Law of the Earth. And there also
are strangers to each other. are six of us grandmothers. We are the Mar­
And so we move away, putting those things riages of these Teaching Ways. We twelve
out of our mind. We leave the little boy and the Dance together in One Lodge. We are also the
little girl within us there alone upon the prairie, powerful person at the river inside you."
which symbolizes everyday life. Then we hear the children say, "But we saw
Within our time of night. which here symbol­ only ourselves when we visited the river which
izes introspection, fear, and blindness. we flows inside us."
know the children within us are crying, and "That is true," the old Marriage of Teaching
that they are alone and frightened. During one and the old Teacher of Marriage answer
of these nights, while we are feeling lonely and together.
afraid and wondering why everything seems so "I do not understand this," the little boy says
terrible, we hear a voice speaking inside us. inside us.
The voice tells us to calm ourselves. We hear "How very strange," the little girl says inside
the voice say to the children inside us, "Calm us.
yourselves, my children." And we, like the And we hear the old woman and the old man
children, look to see who it is that has spoken. say, "All of the people come to the river, and
"Who are you?" we hear the children ask. they too perceive only themselves, as you do."
"It is me, Old Man Coyote," we hear the "How very strange," we hear the little boy
voice answer the children. say.
"And it is me, Old Woman Coyote," we hear "I do not understand," we hear the little girl
a softer voice inside us say. say.
Then we fuel her turn an arrow in us, a "They too perceive only themselves, and they
teaching arrow within the bow that is our ten­ too think it strange," we hear the old man
sion, to make the fire. within us answer.
Soon inside us there 1S a bright tire. This fire "Are you then the reflection of what the.
represents the living spirit, either of a person or are?" we hear the little girl ask excitedly.
of a whole people. It is warm within us, and "And they do not believe in themselves," we
this fire illuminates the darkness that is in the hear the little boy s"y inside us.
lodges of our minds. Sitting within our illumi­ "You must find the People and offer them
nation, this warm and living spirit of the peo­ these Gifts of Understanding that you now see
ple, are the old man and the old woman. And inside yourself," we hear the old man say.
these ancient ways speak to us, offering some "But what are these Gifts?" we hear the little
food of the spirit to the two children inside us. girl say,
"Every man and every woman is the Sun "They are the Understandings which you
Dance Lodge and the Living Circle of the now perceive inside yourself, and which you
Flowering Tree. We, the grandparents, Dance must Give-Away to the People so that they

,
 19

n .-:, perceive. Then they will no longer "There are bigger Gifts of Introspection to the
.01 ~g for these Ways of Learning," the West."
to­ "-orn.Ml sard.
<
"No! No!" the rest of the People reply angrily.
nd w.tun their new Illumination, the children 'The best GHts of all are to be found to the East,
1>0 d'It People and offer them these Coyote within Illumination."
ar­ of Understanding. "Please! Please! Do not fight among your­
Ive '·"llIIiNt are these things for?" the people ask. selves," the man, woman, little boy and little
~e L..-- : - Me- thousands upon thousands of these girl plead. These four represent the Circle of the
~ Coyotes. Their robes are everywhere, People. "You are only tricking yourselves.
,~.
~. are much too flimsy to wear. Just Make this Teaching part of yourselves, and you
ich ~ g the howling of all those tricksters is will see that you are all out of Balance."
..-.g.h," and they laugh. But the People are very angry, and they will
ing 1"tw two children coax the people to put the not come together in a Circle to talk with one
ver ~ on, telling them of their beautiful Vision, another.
.... the People laugh even harder. But within "Kill the troublemakers," the People all
,Y5 ... camp of people there is a man and a woman shout. Then they all rush together. But when
..no were living together in one body. These they reach the center of their Circle they dis­
ide hro people love the little boy and the little girl cover onJy the Twin Reflections of themselves,
I:h.at are inside them, and wish to care for them. the Flowering Forked Tree. The People are so
ran Theo:o- show all the people around them that they angry with themselves that they strike at this
md CArE' for the two children within them. The Flowering Tree.
10 .. woman asks the little boy for his robe, and the Then they quickly begin to pursue the man
ooy man within that woman then asks the little girl and woman who are the symbols of the Teach­
ior her robe. ers among the people. They discover for the
girl The children inside this Medicine Woman first time the spirit and meaning of what these
give the man and woman their robes to Teachers represent. The Signs of these Teachers
hey put on. are the tracks of the Lion, the symbol of Bal­
nan 'These are our Gifts in Wisdom, and in Trust ance. These signs Teach of the North, the place
and Innocence," the man says to the People of Wisdom.
hi because now he can perceive them.
,.And they are also our Gifts within Intro­
"Let us follow the Signs of these Two Bal­
ances and kill them," the People decide
we spection and Illumination," the woman says, together in their blind anger. Not realizing that
because now she has Given Birth to them and they have been Tricked into doing something
rem can perceive them. together as a Whole People, they all run off
see The People become excited by this Illurnina­ together in the direction of Wisdom.
non. They run and run until they perceive the
ittle "Let us hunt these Gifts of Wisdom," some of signs of Four Balances, and discover that they
the People say. have run in a Great Circle and have come back
you "No," others quickly shout. "These Gifts of to themselves. Even though the People are
you Trust and Innocence are more healing." angry, they have been Tricked into coming
they "No! No!" still others of the People argue. together as a Whole People. And because they
 20

are now a Whole People, they are able to dis­ •As we learn we always change, and so does
cover their Balance within the Ways of the Four our perceiving. This changed perception then
,"
;I Directions.
All the People then sit down around the
becomes a new Teacher inside each of us.
Often our first Teacher is our own heart. This
i
Flowering Tree because they are so tired, and as Teaching Voice is spoken of by the old Sun
soon as they have done this they begin to com­ Dance Teachers as the Chief. Within the
municate with each other. Stories, or Mirrors, this Teacher may be sym­
"Why are we doing this?" one asks the other. bolized by the OLd Man, the Old Woman, the
"We do not want to hurt or kill anything:' Little Boy, the Little Girl, the Contrary, the
others say. Spirit. or by Vihio, the Knowledgeable Fool.
"Then why were you running?" ask still These Seven Symbols, or Teaching Arrows, are
others. a tiny portion of the Great Mirror. When you
"We were only following you," those who have learned to place these Seven pieces of
now are communicating say in amazement. Mirror together within yourself, you will dis­
All the People begin to laugh. cover that there are Seven more. Their Reflec­
Then they hear sounds of Harmony, and they tions will go on and on forever.
look up, wanting to perceive it. Four of these same Seven Arrows are sym­
There, sitting within Wisdom, is a Wise bolized by the Four Directions. They are the
Coyote-Teacher, He is singing, and he is in North, South, West and the East. As you re­
Harmony with the People. Next the People member, these symbolize Wisdom, Trust and
perceive within Trust and Innocence, and sit­ Innocence, Introspection and Illumination.
ting there is a Trusting Coyote-Teacher. She too These are known as the Four Ways. The Mother
is within Harmony. Then they perceive within Earth is the Fifth Mirror. The Sky, with its
Introspection, and sitting there is an Introspec­ Moon, Sun and Stars, is the Sixth Mirror. The
tive Coyote-Teacher. He also is within Har­ Seventh of these Arrows is the Spirit. Among
mony. Finally they perceive within Illumi­ the People, this Spirit is spoken of as the Uni­
nation, and there they see an lIluminated versal Harmony which holds all things
Coyote-Teacher sitting within Harmony. together. All of us, as Perceivers of the Mirrors,
The People all sit there quietly together, and are the Eighth Arrow. •
learn these Four H3rmonies of Balance. Now what we shall do, all of us together, is to
Each of the People can now perceive each Look into another one of these Teaching
other, and they realize that they are all Teach­ Mirrors. The Name of this Mirror is the Singing
ers. Stone.
They put their arms around each other and The young man you will see in this Mirror is
care for each other, and they adopt each other. yourself. If you are a woman, then you should
Then they begin to Dance toward the Flowering change the symbol of the young man to that of
Tree together in 3 Great Circle. Now they are a young woman.
Sun Dancing together for the first time as a "Sand blows rndlrssly ittto the riners, yet thry
Whole People. But still more important, they never lUI up," Fire Dog said quietly.
now are able to Sun Dance with their own The young man who sal across from him
selves 3S well. Each person's Way of Perceiving watched their tiny fire and moved uncomfortably.
has been changed. "Whirlwinds great and small bring the sand.

~\.
 21

The small ones dance for our eyes, but the great "And the"whirlwind?" Black Elk asked. "Is this
s exes are so vast that we can only feel a parf of the Teaching Voice? If it is, I have found it silent,
n them. We experience them as the prairie wind," for it has taugh1 me nothing."
fire Dog went on without looking up. "And so it is "The wind is the Spirit of these things," fire
rs with our understanding." Dog answered, looking up. "The force of the
n "But why has the Power chosen. to Teach us in. natural things of this world are brought together
te this Way?" the young man asked. "If the Power is within the whirlwind. Each tiny grain of sand is

.,­

,e
so aUknowing, why then does he not just speak to
us in a simple way that we can all understand?"
Tne tire illuminated Fire Dog's white braids. The
separate from the next, but they are all one thing
within the whirlwind. Some people bite their own
lips in anger when the whirlwind blows sand into
,I old man sal quietly and unmoving. The young man their eyes. Others stand in awe or fear of these
re watched him intently. tiny swirls of wind and sand. Children run among
'u "There is a smile within your eyes, little them, and a few learn from them. We too are of
of brother," Fife Dog said softly, "because you think this earth, and we too are brought together within
s­ my silence is Trickery from fhe South." these whirlwinds, these turning wheels. These
<­ "You understood my question, did you naP" teachers speak loudly to those of us who listen."
the young man asked. "I did not wish my question "Your Teaching is painted over my eyes," Black
m­ to stake you down, but I have wondered for a long Elk said as he added more wood to the fire. "But I
he time about this. How is it that we are Taught by am tom with confusion. If these voices speak so
re­ the Power in this manner?" loudly, how is it that I cannot hear them?"
nd "Place your hand over the fire, Black Elk, and "A Shield speaks softly, yet it can reflect for you
'"

,e'
feel of its heat," the old man answered.
The young man placed his hand over the fire. He
many of the ways within these whirlwinds that
you may hear them sing. Would you have a Shield
its [ctt the heat grow within it, until he was forced to painted for you 7 " asked Fire Dog.
ne pull his hand away again. Then Fire Dog spoke "Yes," answered the Youngman. "What is this
'ng once more. Story?"
ni­ "All that you feel and see, and the flowers these ''It is the Story of the Sit:ging Stone," Fire Dog
ags things open in your mind, are your answers," Fire began.
,<5, Dog said, raising his voice. "The fire is life. It is One Day a Youngman of the People Approached
warm, glowing with color, surrounded by the his Grandfather and Sat with him.
'\0 night, yef speaking of the day. It is promising, "Grandiother," the Youngman said, "1 Hear
jog painful, dangerous, harmonious, visible at this that somewhere there Exists a Singing Stone, and
ing moment, then mooing into invisibility, alive, that when it is Found, it will Hold great Medicine
consuming, changing and finally disappearing into for its Finder. Is this True?"
Ifis death. We ourselves are another fire upon this "It is True," answered the Grandfather. "Go to
luld earth. We are part fire, and part dream. We are the the North and you will Find it."
It of physical mirroring of Miaheyyun, the Total At the Next Sunrise the Youngman Began his
Universe, upon this earth, our Mother. We are Journey to the North. It was his First Day. He had
,v here to experience. We are a movement of a hand not Gone Far Before he Saw what Appeared to be
within millions of seasons, a wink of touching Smoke in the Distance.
within millions and millions of sun fires. And we "It is a Fire!" the Youngman thought. "I will be
~bly. speak with the Mirroring of the Sun." Burned!" He was very Afraid.
 22

• •
But he was Determinedic Co On. That Evening The YoungPl'wn Returned to his Camp and he
he Saw fhat the Smoke was the Rainbow Mist of Rested. This was the End of his Frrsf Day. The
the Sacred Mountains. That Night he Rested. Next Morning he Began his joumey South.
His Second Day lie Walked Among the Pines of His First Day he Met a Mother Fox and her Kit
:1\
the SacredMountains until he Camp fnto a Broad FOJ.es. They Played with the Youngman and
Circle that was Green and Bright with the 511'1. Walked wifh Him.
The Pines completely Circled this uioruieriul Place "Where are you Going?" the Kit Foxes asked
except to the East. which was Left Open. The him.
Yuungman Walked with the Sun all that Day to "I am Going to Find the Singing Stone," the
Cross this Place. That Night he Slept. Youngman answered. "Can you Help me?"
His Third Day Ihe Youngmarl Came loa very "Yes!" thl' Kit Foxes answered. "Follow the
beautiful Lake. Eut:rythingof the World was Riwr ilnd you u-fl! Find the Singing Stone."
Mirrored in this Lake. The Flowers, Tree.c" Beings That Nighl the Youngman Sfept.
of the Prairie, Lodges of the People, the His Second Dall the Youngman Mef a Turtle.
Mountains, tile Day and Night Sky umi the Si/n The Turtle Walked with him All that Day and
were AU Refiected therf. This was the Medicine Sang him Four Songs.
Lake. He Drank the Sweet Water from the Lake That Night he Rested.
and Refreshed himself. Then he Rested. His Third Uay tite Youngman was Walking
His Fourth Day the Youngman Saw his Along the River and .~uddenry Found that he could
Grandfather Sitting Upon a Stone Waiting for him. Go no Further.
"Welcome, Grandson," his Grandfather said, "Now what will I Dut" the Youngman asked
The Uld Man's Hair was White, and his Braids Himself.
Touched Ow Ground. The Old M.m Fed his "1 will Help you," answered Coyote. "Just
Grandson Buffalo Meat, Roots and Berries of the Follow me ."
Prairie, ami Cnner wonderful Tasting Food. After Now the Youngman could See Coyote, and he
the Youngman had Finished his i\feal, his Followed him Onto the Prairie. But soon the Trails
Grandfather Offereri him a Gift. Coyote Led the Youngman Upon Crossed and
"Here are my Braids," the Grandfather said, Recrossed and Ran Off in Every Direction.
Cutting his Braids and Offering Them to the "YOI-! haoe Tricked me!" the Youngman
Youngman. exclaimed,
But the Youngman could not Keep the Braids "No." answered Coyote, "I have not Tricked
Upon his Own Head, even when he Tried 10 Tie you. The Riner is right Coer There:" TIle
Them tilerI'. ¥olgl.gman Looked, and he Saw that it was. That
"Your Braids will not StaV Upon my Head," the Nigh' I/Jl~ Youngman Slept.
Youngman said, His Fourth Dal{ the Youngman Set Out ogain.
"Then TIe Them to your Waist," the He soon Became Confused and Discouraged.
Grandjather answered. "Nowhere can l See the Singing Stone!" the
The )'ou.ngman did this. Then he said, "1 have Youngman said, "All that 1 can See Here are the
Come for the Singing St(me" Mountains, Prairie, Sky, Sun, Trees aM Beings of
"The Singing Stone is not to the North," the this Ptece." He Became very Angry.
Grandfather answered. "It i» to the South." Then the Youngman Heard a Voice $llying,

\-,,~
 23

"Look at Me!" It was a beautiful Many Colored "1 am Seeking the Singing Stone," the
Dragonfly. It was Balanced Above the Moving Youngman answered.
Waters of the River. "This is a Mouse Cave," the Mouse said to the
Ana the Youngman Leaned Far Out Over the Youngman, "The Singing Stone is not to the West,
River to See his beautiful Brother mOTC Closely. it is to the East."
"See how beautiful I am," said the Dragonfly, This was the End ofthe Youngman's Third Day
His Wings Reflected the Sun from Abol'(, end also and he Went Back to the Camp and Rested, The
All that was Upon the Face of the Water. Next Morning was the Beginning of his Journey
The Youngman was Held within Wonder at the East.
beauty he Saw Reflected there. Then he Lost his His First Day he had not Walked very Far
Balance and Fell into the River. He became Afraid before he Saw a beautifull..odge in the Distance.
and thought he would Drown. An Old Woman met him at that Lodge and Fed him
"You have Tricked me!" he cried Angrily. a great Meal which they Ate Together,
"No, little Brother," answered Dragonfly. "[ "What is this wonderful Lodge, Grandmother?"
have not Tricked you. You have only Fallen into the Youngman asked.
the River. The Singing Stone is not to the South, it "This is the Lodge of Gambling, Grandson,"
is to the West." answered the Old Woman, He Rested that Night
The Youngman RefL/med to the Camp and with the Old Woman.
Res/ed. This was Ihe End of his Second Day. The His Second Day after he Left that Lodge he Saw
Next Day he Began his Journey West. Another Lodge in the Distance.lt was even more
Hi~ First Day Walking West the Youngman Met beautiful than the First, and it was Glowing
a She Dog and her Puppies. They Walked with Brightly. It was Painted with All the Colors.
him All that Day. The Youngman Played with the Mahko, the Grandfather-Little Boy, Came Out
Puppies and Found Comfort with Them. That and Greeted the Youngman.
Night he Rested. "Welcome my Grandson," Mahko said, Taking
s His Second Day he Found a Place of Sweet the Youngman into his Lodge. "1 have been
Grass. It Took him One Full Day to Cross it. and Expecting you. Here, Come Sit with me and Eat
that Night he Slept. this fine Buffalo Meat, It is my Gift to you."
His Third Day he Met a Great Elk with After they had Eaten, the Youngman asked
Lightning Painted on his Shoulders and in his MaHo about the Painted Lodge.
Horns. He Walked with the Youngman All that "This is the Lodge of the Painted Arrows, the
Day, and Sang him Four Songs. That Night the Sacred Arrows," Mahko answered.
Youngman Rested. The Youngman Slept there that Night.
His Fourth Day the Youngman Saw a Mouse, His Third Day, the Youngman Came to a very
and the Mouse Saw the Youngman. The Mouse Wide River. He Looked Up and Down its Banks for
Began to Run and the Youngman Chased him All a Place to Cross. but he could Find None. Then he
Day. He Chased the Mouse into a Cave. The Cave Listened Closely to his Own Heartbeat, lind he Felt
Became Smaller and Smaller until it was only Big his Heart say, "There is Always II Place for
'f Enough for the Mouse. The Mouse Stopped, Children to Cross the River." So he Crossed, and
Turned Around and Spoke to the Youngman. as he Did So the Water never Came Above his
"Why are you Chasing me?" asked the Mouse. Knees. That Night he Rested.
 His Fourth Day, the Youngman Sat Upon a HilL the West.
He Saw in the Distance a Strange Camp, He Got Rainbows and rainbow mist symbolize the
to his Feet and Walked Toward the Camp. He Be­ myths that we create here upon the earth.
came very Afraid because the Paintings and Sign~ On the young woman's Second Day, she
of the Lodges were Strange 10 him. and he could walks across the place of the pines. This place of
not Recognize them. The Closer he Came to tfte the pines, and the broad circle within it, are
Lodges, the more he Felt the Bow of Tension Pulled symbolic of that special place within each of us
within him: Buf he was Determined fa Go On, that is the lodge of all of OUT feelings, thoughts,
He Stepped into the Circle of Lodges. Then his fantasies and dreams.
Sisters, Mothers, Brot hers, Fathers, On her Third Day, the woman comes to a
Grandmothers, Grandiotners. Uncles, A/mis, and very beautiful lake. This lake is a symbol of the
all his Relatives Came Out to Greet him, saving. Mirror of Totality, or Wholeness. Some people
"Wdcome to our Counsel Fire, Singing Stone." perceive this Totality to be God, but this is only
"And Ihat cuts it off," Fire Dog said as he one of many Reflections within this Mirror.
reached {or his Pipe. On the woman's Fourth Day, she meets her
Everything you have just read within this own Reflection, the grandmother, again. The
Story, the Singing Stone, is a portion of the meal the young woman eats with her Teacher is
Teaching of the Flowering Tree. Now let us the food of learning, or information.
listen together, and we shall unfold some of the The grandmother's braids are symbols of
petals of this Flower. experience. The fact that her braids touch the
The young woman in the Story you have just ground means that her experience touches the
read goes to one of her grandmothers and asks Natural Law of the Mother Earth. Her white
her about the Singing Stone. This grandmother braids represent experience within Wisdom.
is a symbol of one of the Six Directions, the This is the end of the young woman's first
North, South, West, East, and the Sky and the day. Within this day there have been four sym­
Earth. And she is, of course, also a symbol of bolic days representing the Four Great Direc­
the Teacher inside the young woman. The tions, or the Medicine wheel. The young
young woman begins to speak with this woman in this Story has now visited each of
Teacher, which is herself. these four directions within Wisdom, in order
"Go to the north," the grandmother tells the to find Balance within the Way of the North.

~.

young woman in the Story. The Teaching here This understanding can be shown with a
is that we must first look tor those things that simple drawing.
we seek within Wisdom. As you can See, above the greater Wheel
The Story then speaks of the young woman's there is a smaller Wheel to the North, in the
sunrise and her First Day. Both of these Place of Wisdom. This Place of Wisdom is also
I symbols represent mean new Illumination, new
beginning, or new questioning.
Balanced within the Four Great Directions.
The young woman in the Story enters the
The fire in the story represents the Spirit of Lodge of Wisdom by first experiencing the
the People. It is also a symbol of the East. Place of the South within Wisdom. That is her
Evening means the time of rest and dreams. It First Day, her First Illumination. On her Second
is also the entrance to the Introspective Way of Day she visits the West, and on her Third Day

1iL...,,1 I'"
 25

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• she visits the North. On her Fourth and Final
Day within Wisdom she visits the East, the
everyday life, and the river is a symbol of the
Spirit of Life.
st Place of Illumination. The Coyote, as you have learned, is symbolic
,­ She has had full Intercourse with the North of the Gentle Trickster. He represents aU those
,­ and is Illuminated by visiting all of its Four things that trick us into learning.
'g Directions, and experiencing their Balance. On the young woman's Fourth Day she meets
of The next morning in the Story is the young the Dragonfly. The Dragonfly is symbolic of the
er woman's Second Day within the Sun Dance many things in our life that hypnotize us, or
h. Way. The Mother Fox and her Kit Foxes in the cause us to fixate upon something.
a Story are symbolic of her peer group. Even as we unfold some of the Teachings
The Turtle she meets on her Second Day is within this Story, you may possibly become
,.1 symbolic at the Traditions of the Earth. The Four fixated upon one particular understanding of a
h'
Harmonies, or Songs, the Turtle sings to her symbol that Reflects many meanings. It is for
Iso Reflect the Four Directions, and also Four of the
you to move these symbols within your own
many Harmonies that exist within Tradition. experience so that you may learn.
;" One of these Harmonies is the reality that a This is the end of the woman's Second Day.
,h, man and a woman must come into intercourse As you can see, her Second Circle upon the
aer with each other in order to have children. Medicine Mirror Wheel is in the South. The
.nd On her Third Day, a Coyote leads her .from South, her Place of Trust and Innocence, is also
lay the river to the prairie. The prairie is a symbol of Balanced now within the four Great Directions.
 26

, Now, as you can see, the young woman has

wEB, visited the Third Circle of her Vision Quest.

This Circle'is within the West, and it is also Bal­
anced within the Four Directions.
The East is the young woman's Fourth and
s
, Final Way. It is the Place of New Questioning,
, /~ or Illumination. Whenever we experience the

WEB, wi..
Illumination of the East, we will always have

I ~\, new questions.

The Lodge of Gambling represents the many
gambles within the realities of our daily lives.
s
"- f
, /
The Lodge of the Sacred Arrows is the Lodge
of the Great Mirrors. It is the Heart of the Peo­
ple, and the Song of the Sundance Way Itself.

w$' ~
The Lodge of the Sacred Arrows is also the
Lodge of the Common Fire of the People.
Within each of our own Separate Lodges,
deep within ourselves, there is also part of this
same Great Medicine Fire of the People. The
question we are always asking ourselves is,
"who am 1," or "who is this living spirit, this
On her Third Day the young woman meets a fire?" The questioning of this mystery is the
He Dog and his Puppies. This He Dog and his beginning of our search far Understanding of
Puppies are tile symbol of Philosophy. The Dog our Fire of Self, and it is a Circle that always
also represents the servants among the People. leads us back to the Great Medicine Fire, the
Sweet Grass is burned for incense. It is the Lodge of the Sacred Arrows.
Earth symbol or Mother symbol. Within the This Great Fire and this Lodge are Songs thal
Story the Sweet Grass is braided, meaning that are Reflected within the Sound of the Drum in­
these things of the Earth are within our experi­ side the many Colored Rainbows that have
ence. been Painted on the Sacred Arrows. These
The Lightning Elk is the symbol of Illumina­ Rainbows are the Myths within the Sacred
tion within Introspection, and also of death and Mountains, and they are Mirrored for you in
the power of rebirth. The Horns of the Elk sym­ Seven Arrows. As we experience Seven Arrows.
,"..
bolize lightning. we will come into Understanding of the Fire
The Mouse, as you remember, perceives only within us through the Balance of the Four Great
whatever is very close to it. The Teaching here Directions.
is that when we look too closely within our In­ And we now hear this Drum clearly within
trospection, we may sit too much within the us. It speaks of our crossing the Great River.
circle of ourselves to perceive anything clearly. And we too now sit upon the hill in our Vision
To perceive the Circle of the West, we must first Quest, like the young woman in the Story of
move outside of it. Singing Stone. Both she and we are beginning
 27

os OUf Vision Quest, the Quest to Perceive Our­

"I­ ­
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s­
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selves within the Harmony of the Four Bal­
ances.
And will we not also Perceive our own
Camps to be Strange, as this Young woman
does? Why will this be so? And why will we be
unable to Recognize our People? Why will the
---6­
• •• •
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Symbols and Signs that are Painted upon the

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Lodges of the People appear so Strange to us? •••
oy
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Will it be because they have suddenly changed,
or will it be because it is our own Perception
that has changed?
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•• •
"'­ell. Seven Arrows is a Mirror of this Teaching
Way. It will Reflect your Learning within the • •• •
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Great Medicine Wheel.

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