The Coming of Winter
Published: November 5th, 2020
Author: Randy Hall
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On this day Tisanu could see the light snow relinquishing its lofty flight to the cold winds that fell heavy over the mountain palisades. Though not threatening, the wind moved with a raspy force to the valley floor.
The wise old man lived atop the highest peak of the highest mountain. His lodge was made entirely of ice. Though always frozen atop this pinnacle, he could view the lush valley far below, void of the clouds he knew, and filled with sunshine. He moved to the brink of the great mountain.
As Tisanu moved toward the cliff. His walk was slow and aided by a large staff, a gift from a powerful Douglas fur that stood as a sentinel along the tree line below. Tisanu was the keeper of winters. His leathers were thick and worn, fitting his strong frame loosely, like Tisanu, the leathers showed there age. The old man had carried winter from the towering peaks to the valley floor every season for many decades. He could feel a perception of change in the energy of the land around him. Makaw, the earth mother, was preparing for a long slumber.
Tisanu returned to his frozen lodge and gathered his most prized possession, a beautiful hand woven blanket of wool. The blanket was average sized and painted with many symbols and figures, tightly woven together and each representing a story or legend.
When wrapped around him, the brilliant blanket fit his body like a cocoon, the length was just enough cover his deep brown buffalo hide moccasins and just barely touched the ground.
Tisanu, with great purpose, slowly moved to the thin trail that plunged gently over the great mountains edge. This was the trail to the valley floor. As the old man engaged in the descent the magic began.
As he moved down the trail, ever so slowly, his body, though sure footed, was noticeably bent from many trips to the valley floor.
Each careful step Tisanu took carried his weary frame down the mountain face. In front of him were the many aspen that painted pockets on the mountain face, their bright colors, as Tisanu knew, only represented their closing eyes.
Wiki, the great stream whose powerful song could be heard a great distance in the spring, now whispered like a quiet lullaby to all those connected to Makaw. Even the grass turned brown from exhaustion.
With each step a cold wind grew stronger beside and behind him. Each gust carried waves of snow. All the earth he passed became silent and frozen. A smile grew on the wrinkled face of Tisanu, for this is when the old man began to see many friends on the path in front of him. Takalu, the sly fox, moved to protected areas in the mighty rocks and in the great pines that began to spot the landscape. With great thanks Takalu accepted their shelter.
Tankala, the tiny but wise mouse, burrowed into the heavy snow that fallowed behind Tisanu, prepared for the winter the great keeper brought down from the mountain.
All that lay in the valley in front of him , grew quiet. All the earth grew tired and exhausted from the past three seasons. On each side of the valley he could see the silent snow, a great white blanket being pulled over the sleeping earth mother
As Tisanu approached the deepest of the mountain shadows, he could see great groups of antelope fleeing the coming winter, in front was Tatoke, the swiftest of them all. In the span in front of him, Tisanu could see his goal, a large lodge formed completely of ice. In the enveloping dusk of approaching night, a slight yellow glow shone through the glass sides. The soft light reflected on the fresh blanket was welcoming and peaceful. If it is possible to see silence, this seen was that.
The old man paused by the opening of the great ice lodge. As he looked around, he could see the great white blanket he pulled from the mountain top begin to cover all of the earth mother and all that is connected to her. Immersed in the quiet lullaby being played by Wiki, the passing stream, Tisanu knew that at this time the earth is tucked in and warm, now she can sleep.
Tisanu could now rest. He entered the lodge, crawling on hand and knees through the low opening. To the old man, crawling into the tee pee was symbolic of crawling into the very womb of the earth mother. He now knelt in front of the mystic fire, bright and calmly crackling yet producing no heat. His great blanket wrapped tightly to his exhausted frame. It was time to sleep. Surrounded by the roaring silence of the world outside, tisanu closed his eyes and fell comfortably into deep sleep.
As the old man surrendered to the deep sleep that crept silently into his mind, he began to see visions and hear the whispering voices of all that slept under the great blanket outside. Tisanu could see the dreams and hear the voices of all nature. The trees spoke loudest. Standing tall as the sentinels of the forest, they told tales of all that has happened over the past seasons. Haun, the great stone spoke with a strong voice, proud that he held the earth in place and provided shelter for so many. The great bear shared thanks to Makaw for a safe year for her young.
Each dream told a story and Tisanu could remember them all for these were the stories of all of nature. Good stories and sad stories. Words of thanks and praise to the spirit world for new birth and growing families. Songs of sadness played in fond memories of loss. Some of the dreams came from thousands of years on the earth, while others were the first of the new born animals and plants. All of Inyas creation joined in on the joy and sadness and offered help, for this is what it meant to live as one consciousness and to be connected
After many weeks of listening and interpreting the many dreams tisanu began to realize that what he feared most was creeping, with each passing season, into the dreams of nature. As he listened closely, he could hear the fears of all that is a part of the earth mother. The visions carried less color every year. The voices cracked under the strain of sorrowful trepidation as to what future lie ahead.
Man, ignoring the past, has once again separated themselves from the natural world. The needless destruction and lack of respect for the earth mother, has carried great fear and worry into dreams of nature. A disconnect has begun and its gap grows larger every year.
Grandfather sun and grandmother moon continued to move across the skies for many weeks. Tisanu did not move. His mind was full of the narratives of all life. He now sat awake, but remained in place.
One morning, Tisanu was pleasantly surprised by sounds now distant but moving slowly closer to the lodge. The sounds of hooves and tiny feet were amplified by the crackling of the crusted snow. Soon he heard the sound that most warmed his heart, as a large smile altered the lines of age and wisdom on his face.
The sound was that of many birds singing in perfect harmony with Wiki, the stream and singer of the first song. Soon the wind, he who teaches the trees to dance, joined the harmonious joy. This was the first day to be filled with sound in a long time.
The old man knew well what was happening. He sat alone year after year awaiting anxiously for this moment. For this was the return of Agli!
As Tisanu crawled with cracking joints , from the small ice lodge, he could see so many animals around the lodge. Beautifully colored birds, singing, loudly, without constraint and projecting a joy that could not be subdued. The great Croyote, spirit dog of the forest, pounced through the thinning snow. Tisane stood upright , clinging tightly to his blanket, a smile so big on his face that it redirected the the tear of joy as it flowed along the lines of age.
Over a slight rise, in glowing sun appeared the slender and tall figure of Agli. As she approached, she stumbled through the snow, one arm reaching out to her greatest friend, the other holding a new born wolf pup.
Agli was a stunning women. She was very tall for a native American women. Her skin glowed and her eyes, though brown, were as bright as the August sun. long black hair flowed wildly to her mid back, tangled with leaves and small twigs as if she had just awoken from a long sleep on the floor of mother earth. Her leather dress was green and spotted with many colored stains from perhaps too many walks through the wild flowers.
Tisane could see her clearly now. His arms were outreached as if attempting to hold all the sun and the sounds that were slowly awakening. For the arrival of Agli, was the arrival of spring! The earth that was slumbering through so many suns was now awakening. Agli is spring.
Agli approached Tisanu arms reaching to hold her friend before they were close enough to embrace. The old mans heart was warm as he held his dear friend so close he could feel her very heart.
The young women pulled from Tisanu, her beautiful toothy smile glowed and accented her high cheek bones. In a near crying voice she said “I have missed you old man. It does my heart good to see you well”. Tisanu’s words were low and inaudible, for his body was overwhelmed by the love he had for this woman, his greatest friend.
Agli and Tisanu entered the lodge and began to speak. Long stories Tisanu related brought both laughter and tears to Agli. Agli told stories of many new babies on the valley floor. Even the great grizzly, so strong and fierce, with a soft heart, brought fourth the furry brown new borns to show Agli.
Tisane noticed as they spoke that the magic fire in the middle of the lodge, once cold, now began to put out warmth. Quiet drops of water began running down the ice walls. The old man knew, Agli was spring arriving every year. The melting ice meant it was time for Tisanu to pull the great blanket back to the high and lonesome peaks.
Agli was saddened to know the end of this visit was near. She carried a small pouch with her. Tisanu knew what was in the leather pouch, covered in fine bead work and long gifted feathers from the red tail hawk.
Tisanu, wrapped in his colorful blanket, awaited the most precious gift. Agli reached across the fire and handed the pouch to her friend.Tisanu received it with great gratitude. In the pouch were many small jars, each jar contained a beautiful colored die. There were many jars and many colors. Each die was made from the colors of the earth, wildflowers grass and even colors of mud,
Agli spoke,”I have listened to your interpretations of the earths dreams. Now it it is time for you to return to your high country and begin your work.” It is Tisanus responsibility to paint each of the stories on his great blankets. Tisane was the “keeper of the winters” his translations were the stories of all of nature.
The blanket the old man wore so tightly around himself, was one of many collected over many winters. Each of the blankets were painted with the wonderful colors of spring. Each character and symbol quietly speaking of the dreams of macaw.
Agli was saddened as she could see an overwhelming grief fall over friends body. Tisane spoke,”this year I shall not need so many of the bright colors you have gathered, each year too many of the voices bring news of mans greed and disrespect for Makaw. They are taking more than they need and pay no attention to the life they destroy, a life they are connected to and need to survive. Too many stories are dark with fear and confusion.”
As they both arose and exited the melting lodge, Grandfather Sun sent warming light to the friends below. The light was comforting and brightly lit the beautiful face of Agli. She reached out with both hands and held Tisanu’s hands tightly. The old man gazed into her eyes, the eyes of spring and rebirth, and again found some joy.
Agli spoke quietly, she told Tisanu that hope was carried on the wind and there were a handful of young peopleworking hard to find balance with the earth mother. “I wish you could see more of them Tisanu! They still cry at the sight of a beautiful desert sun rise. Their children play with and respect all the animals on the earth.” Agli’s smile widened and she said,”soon all colors will find joy in each other they will no longer see what makes us different but hold tight to the truth we are all connected as one”. Most of all there will rise a time a time when no man, animal or plant will ever have to fight for the right to exist! The wolf will raise their young in peace our hearts will see only power and wonder in the great elephants, never again only profit. She continued in a now crying voice, ”one year soon, I will gather the greatest of these people and one season as the great white blanket is pulled from the sleeping earth, we shall see a single, great tree growing as a gift from our ancestors. I will have one person of every color sitting around the tree. We will all sit solidly connected to Makaw and we will hold hands connecting strongly to one another.”
Agli now spoke with great energy.” Sitting in the middle of the circle will be you old friend. Aided by our ancestors you will begin to lay each blanket out in front of you. Then in your great native voice you will recite each of the dreams represented on your blanket.”Tisanu began to stand upright and maybe even began to smile as Agli spoke again. As she spoke her smile turned to a very serious face, pleading as she spoke again.” As all that is connected to Makaw is given a voice, all nations will learn. They will know the spirit of the land, they will say prayers and sing songs of thanks to all that this conscience earth offers! We will learn from the beasts and the trees and the mountains, to use only what we need. We will learn to hear the music of the forest and we will all dance with the wilderness forever.
The old man quietly bowed his head to spring, he let go of her hands and picked up his staff. ”I am glad to hear this Agli, I will begin my journey to the highest peak today and when I arrive I shall work hard on the blankets,”. Agli smiled. Tisanu looked her hard in the eyes, again holding her hands,”As I sit in awe of each beautiful sunrise and sunset, as I hear the silent music of nature, I will give thanks and sing humble songs of praise to Makaw. But in the deepest portals of my heart, know that all the beauty of the earth falls only a bit short of the beauty of your face. All the earths music will only play as a background to the sound of your voice in my mind for you are spring, and you are new hope to all. As grandfather sun casts shadows on my mountain, the light you bring and the glow of your spirit will always make the dark places feel safe.” The old man took a step back and said “thank you, I will anxiously await your return Spring. Then he turned and slowly started the walk back up the mountain.
Agli was heavy in sorrow as such a great friend walked away. Her voice was absent so she said goodbye with ony an expression of mixed emotions and a raised hand. All the animals around her grew silent for just a moment as they saw Tisanu move up the trail. Behind him, all the earth was awake! As tisane move up the trail, the great white blanket fallowed. All felt new birth as the snow slowly retreated to the great summit. The summit Tisanu called home. Half way up the tired eyes of this great man turned to see the valley floor. There she was, dancing with all the animals in a warm glow of sunshine. For now…all was good.