SACRED WHITE BUFFALO
The White Buffalo Legend
The White Buffalo are sacred to many Native Americans. The Lakota (Sioux) Nation has passed down The Legend of the White Buffalo-a story 2,000 years old-at many council meetings, Sacred Ceremonies, and through the tribes' story tellers. 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 in the Earth Mother.
Spiritually among Native 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.
The 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 out of nowhere came a beautiful maiden dressed in white buckskin-one of the hunters looked upon her and recognized her as a wakan, a 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 warrior, 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) 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 relatives; the Marriage Ceremony for uniting male and female; the Vision Quest for communing with the Creator for directions and answers to one's life; and the Sundance Ceremony to pray for the well-being of all the People.
When 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 spiritually to a troubled land. She 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 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 heard, that the sacred pipe is being honored, and that the promises of prophecy are fulfilled. White Buffalo signals a time of abundance and plenty." (Sam's 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.
Now, more than ever recent events that are taking place worldwide are a wake-up call to seek connection to the devine Great Spirit or God that resides within us all.
The return of the White Buffalo is another physical sign from the world of the Spirit, ready and waiting to help us walk in our world with wisdom, knowledge and love. Regardless of our race, color or form, we are all brothers and sisters who live on the same Earth Mother. It is time to respect and honor each individual, as we ourselves would like to be respected.
NATIVE AMERICAN's QUOTED
"I am poor and naked, but I am the Chief of a Nation. We do not want riches, but we do want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches, we want Peace and Love "
Red Cloud (MAKHIPIY) Sioux Chief
"From Wakan-Tanka, the Great Mystery, comes all power. It is from Wakan-Tanka that the holy man has wisdom and the power to heal and make holy charms. Man knows that all healing plants are givin to Wanka-Tanka, therefore they are all holy. So too is the buffalo holy, because it is the gift of Wakan-Tanka."
Flat Iron (MAZA BLASKA)
"Upon suffering beyond suffering: the Red Nation shall rise again and it shall be a blessing for a sick world. A world filled with broken promises, selfishness and separations. A world longing for light again. I see a time of Seven Generations when all the colors of mankind will gather under the Sacred Tree of Life and the whole Earth will become one circle again. In that day there will be those among the Lakota who will carry knowledge and understanding of unity among all living things and the young white ones will come to those of my people and ask for this wisdom. I salute the light within your eyes where the whole universe dwells. For when you are at that center within you and I am at that place within me, we shall be one."
Chief Crazy Horse, Oglala Sioux
(This statement was taken from Crazy Horse as he sat smoking the Sacred Pipe with Sitting Bull for the last time, four days before he was assassinated.)
