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Several years ago, was my first time to here the story of the existence and history of the Peace Pipe? Bear, the leader of our Lakota sweat lodge, always told us many stories. Somewhat he would talk to us like when you go to church and hear something powerful that affects you and changes your life. Not in a subtle why it is always a story this is profound and powerful?
One day he told us a story, after being with Bear and Edna for many years, I came to hear this story numerous times. Many many years ago, when life was free and the air was clean and only the forests covered all the lands and nature and the four legged, lived all around and lived in freedom.
There were a few Lakota men chosen to guard over their land and to protect their people, so they left their camp to the top of a high hill to look for enemies and to watch out for any good herds of Buffalo to hunt. They were young and having some fun and acting silly, then one of young men saw movement out of the corner of his eye said, I see one enemy coming, so crazy that only one is walking alone.
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She walked right up to top of the hill and stood right in front of the men hiding behind the trees. Embarrassed they came forward and stood with their mouths hanging open, this woman was a beautiful angelic Indian woman with long shinny black hair, with a crown of brown leather stripe embedded with turquoise of many color and red feathers; her eyes were brown like a deer. She was wearing a white leather skin dress; with bead work along the chest, and on the cuff of each sleeve with was made of black leather. And the carefully crafted bead work flowed along and around the bottom of her dress; her feet had white and black leather moccasin boots with beads made of turquoise.
They make out that she was clutching a little parcel in her arm, it was a long piece surrounded in layers and layers of sagebrush. In the men’s heart of hearts they knew and deeply silent and recognize she was otherworldly, she was a perceptive spirit and came to present them with a significance message, they cleared their minds of thoughts of this woman and experienced the fire drawing closer from within her, and the warmth extend and radiated and touch them with her affection and divine presence, at this moment they realized that she was holy and they felt honored. Except for one of the men, who wanted this to be his women?
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She put down the bundle she was holding and placed it before them on the ground. She said to them, Come here? they replied, with a low tone in their voice, "What is it that you want from us" The man that initially becomes aware of her beauty walked up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder, as if to take her as his own.
Then suddenly, out of nowhere, right then and there they saw a large whirlwind appeared then a mist shrouded, which them, surrounding the man and women. After that, the other men appreciated that all was unmistakable distinctive again, and the women was holding the gift wrapped in sage in her hand, in spite of this, the man that touched her was laying at her feet and a pile of bones.
The last two men standing were stunned as they gazed at the bile of bones, next they looked back at this mysterious woman with a new-fangled respect of her supremacy. She finally spoke to them, I am on a journey to your people, among your people is a man named Bull Walking Upright. It is imminent to see him and only him?
She continued to speak to them with a sturdy message? Go now and tell your people that I will be there soon, and ask them to move camp and to pitch their tents into a circle. Also, they are required to leave an opening in the large circle in the middle of the circle of their tents. Tell them to leave an opening in the circle facing the north and in the center make a large tepee, also facing the north.
Afterward, when all her directives were complete, she walked into the circle and was there with Bull Walking Upward and his people. Go now, and adorn yourselves as your mother does? In black and red, in brown and white, these are the colors of the buffalo, And also Mother Earth," she said, "The Earth is your mother. So, for exceptional ceremonies, you will honor your mother Earth always. And, above all else, bear in mind that this is a peace pipe, and I am bringing it to you and your people; and this is a gift from Mother Earth."
You will breathe out the smoldering smoke before and during all ceremonies. You will praise and share the peace pipe before making any treaties. It will bring peace to the Lakota nation and for your people it will bring peace in their hearts and minds. If you will use it when you pray to the Big Strong One above and to Mother Earth you will be sure to bear and receive the blessings that you ask." When the woman had concluded her teaching, she turned and leisurely walked away everyone was left in wonderment. The whole of her people observe her walk outside the gap of the circle, she paused for a split second and then she softly lay down on the ground in the open field.
Then unexpectedly she levitated and then she bowed into the form of a black buffalo cow. Followed by once more she lay down and then became the figure of a red buffalo cow. A third time she lay down, and arose as a brown buffalo cow. The fourth and final time she took on the of a perfectly white buffalo cow. Then she walked toward the north into the horizon she descended and finally disappeared over the hill.
Bull Walking Upright always stay close to the peace pipe vigilantly keeping wrapped in sagebrush all of the time. Every once in a while he would call all his people to gather, and he would untied the bundle, and share the lessons he had been taught by the angelic spirit buffalo woman. And, he used it in prayers and other ceremonies until he was way over one hundred years old.
Whilst he became frail, he held a great feast. There he bestowed the most precise pipe and the lessons to Sunrise, a commendable man. In a similar way the pipe was passed down from generation to generation. "As long as the pipe is used," the beautiful woman once said, "Your people will live long and will remain happy. As soon as it is forgotten, your people will perish."
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