Legend of the White Buffalo
Sioux (Lakota)
The White Buffalo are sacred to many Native Americans.
The Lakota (Sioux) Nation has passed down 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.
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 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.”
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 of the White Buffalo
