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After nearly 10 years in quasi-limbo, the www.storytellingmonk.org site is finally getting a major update!
We have also invited various professional storytellers to contribute their own retelling of metaphorical tales. Every month is now associated with a particular value, thereby reflecting the methodology used in our Ark of Love centers and the Friends of Humanity trainings.
We begin with our dear friend and long-time devotee of Baba Hariharananda, Luis "Keshava" Lievano, who submitted "Wings of Love", a marvellous tale from the Sioux tradition.
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| Wings of Love |
One day Brave Bull, the most valiant and most honorable young warrior of the tribe, and Blue Cloud, the daughter of the chief and one of the most beautiful women of the tribe, went hand in hand to the teepee of the old medicine man
“We love each other…” began the young man, “And we are going to get married” she added. “We love each other so much that we are scared. We want a magic formula, a spell, or a talisman… something that will protect us, that will guarantee that we are always together… that assures us that we are with one each other until death. Please,” they repeated, “Is there is something we could do?” |
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The old man looked at them and was touched, seeing them so young, so much in love, and awaiting his counsel with bated breath…
“There is something…” said the old man, “but I don’t know whether… You see, it is a very difficult task, demanding a great sacrifice.”
“Blue Cloud,” the medicine man continued, “Do you see the mountain at the north of our village? You will have to climb it alone and without any weapons other than a net and your hands. You will have to hunt the most beautiful and most vigorous hawk of the mountain. If you catch if it, you will have to bring it here alive on the third day after the full moon. Understood?”
“And you Brave Bull,” continued the medicine man, “you will have to climb Thunder Mountain. When you reach the top, you must capture the bravest of all eagles, using only your hands and a net, without hurting it. You will bring it to me alive on the same day that Blue Cloud returns. Now go!”
The young people embraced each other tenderly and set off—she toward the north, and he towards the south—to accomplish the mission entrusted to them.
On the appointed day, the two youths met in front of the teepee of the medicine man, holding the bags containing the prescribed birds. The old man asked them to carefully take the birds out the bags. They were truly magnificent specimen…
“And now what do we do?” asked the young man. “Do we kill them and drink their honorable blood?”
“No” said the old man.
“Do we cook them and eat their precious flesh?” asked the young woman.
“No” repeated the old man. “Do as I say: take the birds out and tie them together by the legs with these strips of leather. Once you have tied them, release them that they may fly free.”
The warrior and the young maid did what he asked them to do and released the birds. The eagle and the hawk tried to take off but quickly fell back on the ground.
After several attempts, irritated by their incapacity to fly, the birds started attacking each other with their beak, hurting each other senselessly…
“This was the spell you asked for,” said the medicine man. “Never forget what you just saw. You are like an eagle and a hawk. If you bind each other, even if it is out of love, not only will you live a life of crawlers, but sooner or later, you will begin to hurt each other. If you want that the love between you lasts, fly together… but never be attached.” |
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