ORANGE - BECKONING SPLENDOR
“Grandfather, why is the sky painted orange at each sunrise and each sunset?”
“My child, the sky is painted orange because it is the canvas upon which the Lifeblood of Earth’s children, embodied within each dream, is blended with the Light of Creation.”
“Grandfather, is that why we honor the rising sun each morning and the setting sun each evening?”
“Yes, my child. These are the times when the dreams of Earth’s children are written across the sky for all to behold.”
“Grandfather, was their always a sunrise and a sunset?”
Grandfather smiled. “No, my child. In the beginning, there was the blazing light of a noonday sun without gentle cover of clouds. There was also the total darkness of a midnight sky without light of moon or stars. Without a sunrise to gently herald the coming of day, the children of night lived in fear of being blinded by the sudden light. Without a sunset to gently herald the coming of night, the children of day lived in fear of being lost in the sudden darkness. And so it was that fear filled the hearts of the children of Earth.
“One day, The Creator called a Council of all the Wise Ones. They were to select a gift for the children of Earth. So, the Wise Ones came to Earth and lived among her children. As they journeyed into the day and into the night, the peace within their hearts drew many unto them. Before long, the children of the day and the children of the night mingled together. One shared the joy that the light brought, while the other shared the peace that the darkness brought. Fear no longer found a home in the hearts of the children of Earth. In its place dwelt the Light of Creation planted in the stillness of night and nurtured in the joy of day.
“When the Wise Ones returned to the Creator, all agreed on a gift. Let there be a gentle awakening of the day. Across the sky let there be a record of the dreams of Earth’s children planted in the stillness of night. Let there be a gentle awakening of the night. Across the sky let there be a record of the joy brought by the fulfillment of those dreams.
“So you see, my child, the dreams of all Creation are blended in each Sunrise, and the fulfillment of those dreams are blended in each Sunset. And so it is, the greater our dreams, the more brilliant is each Sunrise and each Sunset.”
The Dreamcatcher Legend
Native Americans of the Great Plains believe the air is filled with both good and bad dreams. According to dreamcatcher legend, the good dreams pass through the center hole to the sleeping person. The bad dreams are trapped in the web where they perish in the light of dawn.
How the Dreamcatcher Came to Be
Long ago, when the world was young, an old Lakota spiritual leader was on a high mountain. On the mountain, he had a vision. In his vision, Iktomi — the great trickster and teacher of wisdom — appeared in the form of a spider.
Iktomi spoke to him in a sacred language that only spiritual leaders of the Lakota could understand. As Iktomi spoke, he took the elder’s willow hoop — which had feathers, horse hair, beads and offerings on it — and began to spin a web.
He spoke to the elder about the cycles of life and how we begin our lives as infants. We then move on to childhood and in to adulthood. Finally, we go to old age where we must be taken care of as infants, thus, completing the cycle.
“But,” Iktomi said as he continued to spin his web, “in each time of life there are many forces — some good and some bad. If you listen to the good forces, they will steer you in the right direction. But, if you listen to the bad forces, they will hurt you and steer you in the wrong direction.”
He continued, “There are many forces and different directions that can help or interfere with the harmony of nature and also with the Great Spirit and all of his wonderful teachings.”
All while the spider spoke, he continued to weave his web … starting from the outside and working toward the center. When Iktomi finished speaking, he gave the Lakota elder the web and said, “See, the web is a perfect circle, but there is a hole in the center of the circle.”
“Use the web to help yourself and your people … to reach your goals and make use of your people’s ideas, dreams and visions. If you believe in the Great Spirit, the web will catch your good ideas, and the bad ones will go through the hole.” (Note: Some bands believe the bad ideas are caught in the web and the good ideas pass through to the individual. Either account is acceptable.)
The Lakota elder passed his vision on to his people. Now, the Sioux use the dreamcatchers as the web of their life. Traditionally, it is hung above their beds or in their homes to sift their dreams and visions. Good dreams are captured in the web of life and carried with them … but the evil dreams escape through the center’s hole and are no longer part of them. (Note: Some bands believe the bad ideas are caught in the web and the good ideas pass through to the individual. Either account is acceptable.)
Lakota believe the dreamcatcher holds the destiny of their future.
St. Joseph’s Indian School