Gift to the Hummingbird - A Mayan Legend

Tzunuum, the hummingbird, was created by the Great Spirit as a tiny, delicate bird with extraordinary flying ability. She was the only bird in the
kingdom who could fly backwards and who could hover in one spot for several seconds. The hummingbird was very plain. Her feathers had no
bright colors, yet she didn't mind. Tzunuum took pride in her flying skill and was happy with her life despite her looks.

When it came time to be married, Tzunuum found that she had neither a wedding gown nor a necklace. She was so disappointed and sad that some of
her best friends decided to create a wedding dress and jewelry as a surprise.

Ya, the vermilion-crowned flycatcher wore a gay crimson ring of feathers around his throat in those days. He decided to use it as his gift. So he
tucked a few red plumes in his crown and gave the rest to the hummingbird for her necklace. Uchilchil, the bluebird, generously donated several blue
feathers for her gown. The vain motmot, not to be outdone, offered more turquoise blue and emerald green. The cardinal, likewise, gave some red
ones.

Then, Yuyum, the oriole, who was an excellent tailor as well as an engineer, sewed up all the plumage into an exquisite wedding gown for the little
hummingbird. Ah-leum, the spider, crept up with a fragile web woven of shiny gossamer threads for her veil. She helped Mrs. Yuyum weave intricate
designs into the dress. Canac, the honeybee, heard about the wedding and told all his friends who knew and liked the hummingbird. They brought
much honey and nectar for the reception and hundreds of blossoms that were Tzunuum's favorites.

Then the Azar tree dropped a carpet of petals over the ground where the ceremony would take place. She offered to let Tzunuum and her groom spend
their honeymoon in her branches. Pakal, the orange tree, put out sweet-smelling blossoms, as did Nicte, the plumeria vine. Haaz (the banana bush),
Op, (the custard apple tree) and Pichi and Put (the guava and papaya bushes) made certain that their fruits were ripe so the wedding guests would
find delicious refreshments. And, finally, a large band of butterflies in all colors arrived to dance and flutter gaily around the hummingbird's
wedding site.

When the wedding day arrived, Tzunuum was so surprised, happy and grateful that she could barely twitter her vows. The Great Spirit so admired
her humble, honest soul that he sent word down with his messenger, Cozumel, the swallow, that the hummingbird could wear her wedding gown for
the rest of her life. And, to this day, she has. How did the humility of one long-ago hummingbird cause its descendants to sport brilliant colors?

Symbolism of the Eagle Feather - A Lumbee Legend

In the beginning, the Great Spirit above gave to the animals and birds wisdom and knowledge and the power to talk to men. He sent these creatures
to tell man that he showed himself through them. They would teach a chosen man sacred songs and dance, as well as much ritual and lore.

The creature most loved by the Great Spirit was the eagle, for he tells the story of life. The Eagle, as you know, has only two eggs, and all living things
in the world are divided into two. Here is man and woman, male and female and this is true with animals, bird, trees, flowers and so on. All things
have children of two kinds so that life may continue. Man has two eyes, two hands, two feet and he has a body and soul, substance and shadow.

Through his eyes, he sees pleasant and unpleasant scenes, through his nostrils he smells good and bad odors, and with his ears he hears joyful news
and words that make him sad. His mind is divided between good and evil. His right hand he may often use for evil, such as war or striking a person
in anger. But his left hand, which is near his heart, is always full of kindness. His right foot may lead him in the wrong path, but his left foot always
leads him the right way, and so it goes; he has daylight and darkness, summer and winter, peace and war, and life and death.

In order to remember this lesson of life, look to the great eagle, the favorite bird of the Great Spirit. The eagle feather is divided into two parts, part
light, and part dark. This represents daylight and darkness, summer and winter, peace and war, and life and death. So that you may remember
what I have told you, look well on the eagle, for his feathers, too, tell the story of life.

Look at the feathers I wear upon my hand, the one on the right is large and perfect and decorated; this represents man. The one on my left is small
and plain; this represents woman. The eagle feather is divided into two parts, dark and white. This represents daylight and darkness, summer and
winter. For the white tells of summer, when all is bright and the dark represents the dark days of winter.

My children, remember what I tell you. For it is YOU who will choose the path in life you will follow -- the good way, or the wrong way.

Arrow Boy Triumphs Over His Mockers - A Cochiti Legend

In Cochiti the cacique had an only boy ("grandson probably"). He never went out. He didn't know the country, nor how to hunt. He only knew how
to sing. The other young men were jealous because he had so many lovers, because he always stayed in the pueblo and wore good clothes and sang to
the girls. At last the young men who were huntersdecided to put it before Masewa. They said, "Let us hunt deer and put the cacique's boy in charge
and see where he will lead us." Masewa listened to them and agreed to their plan. They were to put the boy in command of the party to find out how he
would manage, and where he would take them. They sent for Arrow Boy to go to Masewa, and when he came, Masewa told him that he had chosen
him to, take charge of the deer hunt and he must choose the direction in which they should go; he was the one to decide.

Arrow Boy accepted gladly; he did not know they were mocking him. He said, "All right, Masewa. Tell the boys to make all their preparations and
have bows and arrows ready. In four days I will decide which direction we shall take. I will ask our Mother to choose the place and arrange the hunt."

For four days he asked our Mother that the hunt should be successful; that there should be no trouble with the men and no trouble with the game; that
he should manage his party well. For four nights the other young men met together and laughed about how Arrow Boy would manage his hunting
party. They said, "He will get over singing to the girls around the village; he'll see he has to be a man."

The day came when they were to go. Arrow Boy dressed himself for the hunt. He came out and made proclamation (in three places) to notify the
hunters that it was time to start for the hunt. He told them to go to the north. He would be waiting for them there. He went to Masewa to ask for his
guard. Masewa gave him his guard and they went ahead of the others to the north. When they got to the meeting place he had appointed, they waited
for the hunters. In a little while the others arrived and he led them farther to the north. He selected the mouth of a canyon in which to pitch their camp
for the night. Early in the morning Arrow Boy rose and told the rest to pack up their loads and go farther into the canyon. There he would assign
their stations for the hunt.

When they came to the place he had appointed he stood before them all and said, "Masewa has given authority into my hands for these days.
Everybody shall carry out every direction. If we work together, our Mother will help us for I have asked her that she should give much game during
these days to feed her people." When he had finished he separated the hunters into two parties. He put leaders in charge of each party and assigned to
the men their positions. The two parties followed opposite sides of the canyon and when they came together, they drove game directly toward Arrow
Boy and his guard who stood waiting at the starting place. When everything was ready Arrow Boy said to his guard, "Deer are coming and whether
they want to or not, they must come through this pass. Shoot as many as you can; some will fall right here, others you will wound and will have to
follow until they fall." Those of his guard who were against him said, "He thinks he knows, and he has never hunted before!" Those who were for him
said, "He has supernatural power."

When the two parties came together, they started toward the boy and his guard. At first they started mountain goats, but farther on, herds of deer. At
every trail out of the canyon they had stationed men so that no game could escape. The animals tried to get out but these men who were guarding the
trails turned them back, killing a few. All kinds of game were running together now and they drew close to where Arrow Boy and his guard were.
Near an opening of the canyon they started wild turkeys and quails (in olden times quails flew only once). The game went straight to where Arrow
Boy and the old hunters (his guard) were standing. Ahead came the turkeys; the deer and the mountain goats hugged the sides of the canyon. They
had a good day and they got much game; very few escaped. The hunters from up the canyon pressed close upon the game and made them go through
the narrow pass of the canyon. The mountain goats went first. The guard killed them. All the deer followed and they killed those. Where there were
trails out of the canyon there the hunters had killed, too. They had plenty of game.

The hunters who had mocked the boy got nothing, the old hunters who had had faith in him killed many, and Arrow Boy killed most of all. When they
had gathered together all the game those who had mocked him hid away and went home by another direction. The rest of the hunters came into the
pueblo with their game and divided it according to custom.

The people of the pueblo talked about the hunt. They mocked those who had mocked Arrow Boy. People said it was not right to make fun of him. They
praised him and he was set aside by his grandfather to be initiated into the Flint Society. From that time on he always brought good counsels to his
people and he grew continually in power. When his grandfather died, he became a cacique. This is what the mockers planned against Arrow Boy.

“With prayer and good intentions, we make our lives sacred and come into balance.” –Don Jose Matsua, HUICHOL SIERRA MADRE MEXICO

Only through prayer can we make spiritual changes that are permanent. You have told us that all life is sacred. Today I intend to serve you, my Creator. Allow me to overcome temptation, and if one comes along, let me see the lessons that will give balance. You have told us that all life is sacred. Let me see today with a sacred eye. Let me see beauty in all things.

My Creator, let me know what You would have me be today. Let my intentions be honest, respectful, humble, and loving.

By: Don Coyhis