Gary, Avinn, and Shanai
were getting close to the campgrounds. They could see the large
spread of land at the bottom of Canyon de Chelly
from the edge of the trail. There was a hogan and a corral with
sheep
fast asleep. The chirp-chirp of the crickets, the buzz of the
insects,
the rustling leaves of the shrubs, the rushing water of the nearby
creek, and the whistle of the wind made a great welcoming serenade for
the three.
Finally at the campgrounds, Gary took a look around. Although it was dark, the moon gave them light to see the landscape. He told the children that his father had taken him to the same spot year after year when he was their age. In a society where change is constant-education, economy, politics, media-it was comforting for Gary to see that his favorite place in the world was ageless, not influenced by the busyness of the outside world.
Gary breathed in the cool night air and began building the campfire. Avinn and Shanai gathered some twigs to help their grandfather. Once the fire was lit, the three laid out their sleeping bags. Gary unpacked the dinner his wife made them. The smell of frybread and mutton made all their mouths salivate. They scarfed the sandwiches and started roasting marshmellows.
"Grandpa, you don't have another story for us?" Shanai asked. Gary laughed. He looked to his left and right. Both of his grandchildren were waiting for him to share one last story before they fell asleep.
"Okay. I'll tell you one last story, then we'll go to sleep. This is probably my favorite story," Gary said.
"So, grandkids, if you every find that you are lost or that you are in trouble, just look to the sky and pray to the Holy Spirit. The bird people will carry your prayers so that you are always heard," Gary said.
There was a moment of silence. Avinn and Shanai were dozing off, but managed to murmur, "Okay, Grandpa."
Author's Note:
Navajos and many other Native American tribes use bird feathers to make a traditional fan. The fans are used in ceremonies, such as the Peyote ceremony, in which a teepee is set up and people stay up all night to pray, sing, and take medicine to cleanse themselves. They can also be used as ornaments for people who dance in powwows. My grandfather is a medicine man, so my siblings and I grew up going to these ceremonies. He told us that the feathers of the birds are used to bless our bodies with the cedar from the fire, to feed the fire air so the smoke will carry our prayers to the Holy Spirit, and to protect us. I thought it would be perfect to change the original story a little to fit this belief.
In the original story, Orion chases the women for years until Zeus intervenes and turns them into doves. The doves fly into the sky and become the constellation Pleiades. The variation between the original and my story are seemingly quite different. I changed Zeus into the Holy Spirit so that it would fit the Navajo culture. I kept the dove in my story, but changed the role to a messenger. Also, the major difference is that I kept the women as humans instead of changing them into stars. I thought this would be better for my story because the message I wanted the grandchildren to gather was that no matter where they are, they can look to the sky, pray, and be heard.
Finally at the campgrounds, Gary took a look around. Although it was dark, the moon gave them light to see the landscape. He told the children that his father had taken him to the same spot year after year when he was their age. In a society where change is constant-education, economy, politics, media-it was comforting for Gary to see that his favorite place in the world was ageless, not influenced by the busyness of the outside world.
Gary breathed in the cool night air and began building the campfire. Avinn and Shanai gathered some twigs to help their grandfather. Once the fire was lit, the three laid out their sleeping bags. Gary unpacked the dinner his wife made them. The smell of frybread and mutton made all their mouths salivate. They scarfed the sandwiches and started roasting marshmellows.
"Grandpa, you don't have another story for us?" Shanai asked. Gary laughed. He looked to his left and right. Both of his grandchildren were waiting for him to share one last story before they fell asleep.
"Okay. I'll tell you one last story, then we'll go to sleep. This is probably my favorite story," Gary said.
Do
you ever wonder why people look up to the sky when they pray? A
long
time ago there was a mother who had seven daughters. They were
beautiful with honey brown skin and long flowing hair that they let
down at night but kept in a Navajo bun during the day. The mother
and
her daughters would travel all over, singing, speaking to the animals,
and gathering food. One day, a hunter named Orion saw the women
traveling near the trees at the heart of this canyon where the creek
became shallow. The family had stopped at the mouth of the creek
to
get some fresh water near the grazing sheep. Surprisingly, the
sheep
were not scared of the mother and her daughters because they had such a
peaceful disposition about them.
Anyway, Orion saw the women from afar and wondered to himself why the sheep did not scurry away like they did when he came near. Inch by inch, so as not to be seen, Orion eased closer and closer to get a glimpse of their faces. Finally, he got behind a tree that was close enough to see the women playing in the water and with the sheep, not worrying about any looming danger. Ah, Orion's heart skipped two beats and he had to consciously force himself to breathe. Their faces were incomparable! They were even more beautiful than the sun setting over the edge of the canyon, the blooming of spring flowers, or the glistening stars in the sky. He was immediately in love and had to have the women for himself.
Orion tried to get closer but stepped on a twig. The sheep lifted their ears and stared in the direction of the noise. It wasn't even two seconds before all the sheep and the eight women were running as fast as they could. The mother and her daughters ran as fast and as far as they could. Orion was relentless; he continued after them for weeks. The women were growing tired. Finally, they dropped to their knees and began to sing the prayer song. A dove heard their pleas and flew to the exhausted women. The women explained to the dove their situation and the dove told them that he would carry their message to the Holy Spirit. Up and up the dove flew until he was out of sight in the dark blue sky.
Some time passed and the women were getting antsy. Orion would catch up to them soon if they did not continue on. Before the mother and her seven daughters could leave, the dove returned. He told them that they no longer had to run. Their prayers had been answered, and Orion would never be able to find them.
Anyway, Orion saw the women from afar and wondered to himself why the sheep did not scurry away like they did when he came near. Inch by inch, so as not to be seen, Orion eased closer and closer to get a glimpse of their faces. Finally, he got behind a tree that was close enough to see the women playing in the water and with the sheep, not worrying about any looming danger. Ah, Orion's heart skipped two beats and he had to consciously force himself to breathe. Their faces were incomparable! They were even more beautiful than the sun setting over the edge of the canyon, the blooming of spring flowers, or the glistening stars in the sky. He was immediately in love and had to have the women for himself.
Orion tried to get closer but stepped on a twig. The sheep lifted their ears and stared in the direction of the noise. It wasn't even two seconds before all the sheep and the eight women were running as fast as they could. The mother and her daughters ran as fast and as far as they could. Orion was relentless; he continued after them for weeks. The women were growing tired. Finally, they dropped to their knees and began to sing the prayer song. A dove heard their pleas and flew to the exhausted women. The women explained to the dove their situation and the dove told them that he would carry their message to the Holy Spirit. Up and up the dove flew until he was out of sight in the dark blue sky.
Some time passed and the women were getting antsy. Orion would catch up to them soon if they did not continue on. Before the mother and her seven daughters could leave, the dove returned. He told them that they no longer had to run. Their prayers had been answered, and Orion would never be able to find them.
"So, grandkids, if you every find that you are lost or that you are in trouble, just look to the sky and pray to the Holy Spirit. The bird people will carry your prayers so that you are always heard," Gary said.
There was a moment of silence. Avinn and Shanai were dozing off, but managed to murmur, "Okay, Grandpa."
Author's Note:
Navajos and many other Native American tribes use bird feathers to make a traditional fan. The fans are used in ceremonies, such as the Peyote ceremony, in which a teepee is set up and people stay up all night to pray, sing, and take medicine to cleanse themselves. They can also be used as ornaments for people who dance in powwows. My grandfather is a medicine man, so my siblings and I grew up going to these ceremonies. He told us that the feathers of the birds are used to bless our bodies with the cedar from the fire, to feed the fire air so the smoke will carry our prayers to the Holy Spirit, and to protect us. I thought it would be perfect to change the original story a little to fit this belief.
In the original story, Orion chases the women for years until Zeus intervenes and turns them into doves. The doves fly into the sky and become the constellation Pleiades. The variation between the original and my story are seemingly quite different. I changed Zeus into the Holy Spirit so that it would fit the Navajo culture. I kept the dove in my story, but changed the role to a messenger. Also, the major difference is that I kept the women as humans instead of changing them into stars. I thought this would be better for my story because the message I wanted the grandchildren to gather was that no matter where they are, they can look to the sky, pray, and be heard.
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Introduction
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Source:
Myths About the Sky, Constellations, Stars (2000)
Windows to the Universe
"Greek: Pleiades"
Image Information:
"Sky and Dove"
Websource: AllPosters
Myths About the Sky, Constellations, Stars (2000)
Windows to the Universe
"Greek: Pleiades"
Image Information:
"Sky and Dove"
Websource: AllPosters