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The
White Buffalo are sacred to many Native Americans. The
Lakota
(Sioux) Nation
has passed down the The Legend of the White
Buffalo--a
story now approximately 2,000 years old--at many council meetings, sacred
ceremonies, and through the tribe's storytellers. There are several
variations, but all are meaningful, and tell of the same outcome. Have
communication with the Creator through prayer with clear intent for Peace,
Harmony and Balance for all life living in the Earth Mother.
Spirituality among Natives Americans and non-Native Americans has been a
strong force for those who believe in the power of the Great Spirit or
God.
It matters not what you
call the Creator. What matters is that you pray to give thanks for
your blessings and trust the guidance given to you from the world of
Spirit. Many truths about Spirit are told and handed down from one
generation to the next.
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The Sacred White
Buffalo,
courtesy of former Spirit Mountain Ranch.
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legend of the White
Buffalo Calf Woman tells how the People had lost the ability to
communicate with the Creator. The Creator sent the sacred White
Buffalo Calf Woman to teach the People how to pray with the Pipe.
With that Pipe, seven sacred ceremonies were given for the people to
abide in order to ensure a future with harmony, peace, and balance.
Legend says that long ago, two young
men were out hunting when from out of nowhere came a beautiful maiden
dressed in white buckskin. One of the hunters looked upon her and
recognizing her as a wakan, or sacred being, lowered his eyes. The
second hunter approached her with lust in his eyes desiring her for
his woman. White
Buffalo Calf Woman beckoned the lustful warrior to her, and as he
approached a cloud of dust arose around them causing them to be hidden
from view. When the dust settled, nothing but a pile of bones lay next
to her. As she walked toward the respectful young hunter, she
explained to him that she had merely fulfilled the other man's desire,
allowing him, within that brief moment, to live a lifetime, die and
decay. White
Buffalo Calf Woman instructed the young man to go back to the
People and tell them to prepare for her arrival to teach them of the
way to pray. The young hunter obeyed. When White
Buffalo Calf woman arrived with the sacred bundle (the prayer
pipe) she taught the People of the seven sacred ways to pray. These
prayers are through ceremonies that include the Sweat Lodge for
purification; the Naming Ceremony for child naming; the Healing
Ceremony to restore health to the body, mind and spirit; the adoption
ceremony for making of relatives; the marriage ceremony for uniting
male and female; the Vision Quest for communing with the Creator for
direction and answers to one's life; and the Sundance Ceremony to pray
for the well-being of all the People.
When the teaching of the sacred ways was
complete, White
Buffalo Calf Woman told the people she would again return for the
sacred bundle that she left with them. Before leaving, she told them
that within her were the four ages, and that she would look back upon
the People in each age, returning at the end of the fourth age, to
restore harmony and spirituality to a troubled land. She walked a
short distance, she looked back towards the people and sat down. When
she arose they were amazed to see she had become a black
buffalo. Walking a little further, the
buffalo laid down, this time arising as a yellow
buffalo. The third time the
buffalo walked a little further and this time arose as a red
buffalo. Walking a little further it rolled on the ground and rose
one last time as a white
buffalo calf signaling the fulfillment of the White
Buffalo Calf prophecy.
The
changing of the four colors of the White
Buffalo
Calf Woman represents the four colors of man--white, yellow, red and
black. These colors also represent the four directions, north, east, south
and west. The sacred bundle that was left to the Lakota people is still
with the People in a sacred place on the Cheyenne River
Indian
reservation in South Dakota. It is kept by a man known as the Keeper of
the White
Buffalo Calf Pipe, Arvol Looking Horse.
The
legend of the White
Buffalo
Calf Woman remains ever promising in this age of spiritual enlightenment
and conscious awareness. In today's world of confusion and war many of us
are looking for signs of peace.
"With the return of the White
Buffalo
it is a sign that prayers are being heard, that the sacred pipe is being
honored, and that the promises of prophecy are being fulfilled. White
Buffalo
signals a time of abundance and plenty." (from Sams and Carson, Medicine
cards)
Though harsh as the world we live in may be throughout recorded history
there have been spiritual leaders teaching peace, hope and balance
(synergy) amongst all life. This was taught by great teachers such as
Jesus, Buddha, the Dali Lama's, and Native American leaders.
Chief Crazy Horse, Chief Seattle, and Chief
Red Cloud are a few of the visionary leaders who committed their lives to
bring peace, and internal happiness to all who they touched. They were
tangible signs of goodwill toward all men, women and children.
Legend courtesy Jim and
Dena Riley
Added March, 2005, updated
March 2013 to remove contact information to former Spirit Mountain Ranch.
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