THE ANTELOPE, THE EAGLE, THE HARE, AND THE RAIN By: Stanley Perry and Millicent Pepion
Gather around my friends and I will tell you a story about the Antelope, the Eagle, the Hare, and the Rain. One fine day, in an area of the world where four sacred mountains live, the Navajo People and Hopi People decided to have a race. The winner would be allowed to live anywhere within the boundaries of four sacred mountains. The loser would only be allowed only to live on the Mesas, plateau areas in the desert. Similar to a table, but more like a mountain cut in half. The Hopi People chose first, and they chose the Eagle. The Eagle who is a strong bird. The Eagle whose feathers can heal people. The Eagle who was sure to win. The Navajo People chose the Antelope. The Antelope is a runner. The Antelope must run daily to flee predators, such as the Eagle, who eat them! The Antelope was not likely to win. The race began. As expected the Eagle gained an enormous lead against the Antelope. The Eagles wings can carry the Eagle high in to the heavens. From there the Eagle can see all of Mother Earth. From heaven the Eagle can see little hares running about the land. The Eagle, who hunted hares regularly, could not resist hunting this particular Hare. From heaven the Eagle flew down and picked up the Hare. Then he dropped the Hare from a great height and the Hare died. The Eagle dragged the Hares body to a tree on the San Francisco Peaks and feasted upon his prey. The Eagle was enjoying his meal so much he didn’t notice the rain storm blowing in from the East. Soon after the Eagle saw the Antelope run by. The Eagle decided to rest a bit longer before he would win the race. Meanwhile the Antelope continued to run, not fast but steady. The Antelope did not take any breaks. The Antelope was thirsty and hungry, but he knew if he sacrificed his cravings he was destined to win the race. The Eastern Wind soon brought the Rain. The Antelope knew he would have an easier time running where the ground was more solid. For this reason the Antelope veered away from the creeks and rivers. Finally the Antelope reached the San Francisco Peaks. As he was running in a clockwise motion around the San Francisco Peaks, the Antelope saw the Eagle. He looked like he was digesting a hardy meal. Resting in the rain the Eagle was confident he was going to win. The Antelope continued running. After some time had passed the Eagle decided it was time to win the race. What the Eagle didn’t know was that the Rain and the Hare were working against him. The rain was weighing down his feathers causing him to struggle. And the Hare was becoming one with the Eagle. Some people call this “digesting.” Digestion happens when your digestive track breaks down the food you eat in to small pieces that nourish different parts of your body. Because the Eagle was digesting the Hare he was more tired than usual, and the Rain kept on raining. It was obvious the Eagle was going to lose to the Antelope, and he did. Yet, the Eagle could care less he lost to the Antelope. All the Eagle wanted to do was rest in a tree with the Rain. Every year since the Navajo People continue to honor the Antelope. They named sacred areas after the Antelope and have special songs, dances, and prayers for their dear friend. In the meantime, the Hopi People moved to the Mesas as promised, and every year since they sacrifice a baby eagle in a special ceremony only they can do. *************
One fine day the Antelope awoke and felt different. For some reason the Antelope knew it was a very special day. The Antelope began his day as usual with his morning prayers. Then the Antelope went about looking for berries and roots to eat. It was during this time the Navajo People approached the Antelope. They asked the Antelope if he would represent them in a race against the Eagle, whom the Hopi People had picked to represent them. The Antelope agreed to help the Navajo People, but in return the Navajo People would have to honor the Antelope and the Antelope Nation with songs, dances, and prayers. The Navajo People also promised to honor the Antelope by naming sacred places after him. The race began at the place where two mountains live, and one of the mountains is a sacred mountain. The Antelope and Eagle were told they would run from that place to another sacred mountain, the San Francisco Peaks. They were to run in a clockwise motion around the San Francisco Peaks and back. Whoever won would be allowed to live anywhere within the boundaries of the four sacred mountains. Whoever lost would have to live on the Mesas. The Antelope knew it was going to appear as if the Eagle would win. The Eagle is a very sacred animal. It is known the Eagle can fly fast and far in to the heavens. However, this did not deter the Antelope. The race began and before the Antelope reached the first marker the Eagle was out of sight. Still, the Antelope had committed himself to this race and no matter what he was going to keep running, not fast but steady. The Antelope felt the Wind blowing from the East. As the Antelope approached the San Francisco Peaks he saw the Rain headed there as well. The Antelope challenged himself to race the Rain to the San Francisco Peaks and won. As the Antelope was running clockwise around the San Francisco Peaks, he saw the Eagle resting in a tree. The Eagle looked as if he has eaten a Hare or small animal. The Antelope ran past the Eagle with the Rain who was following him. The Rain was mad he had lost to the Antelope and the Antelope knew this. The Antelope decided since the Rain was following him he would run away from the creeks and rivers. The Antelope knew those areas would be muddy and hard to run through with the Rain. The Antelope saw the Navajo People cheering him on and he knew then he had achieved his goal and won the race. He waited for the Eagle who was tired and struggling. The Antelope and Eagle shook hands and went about their separate ways. The Eagle headed north to a tree and rested. The Antelope headed east to a canyon area connected to Rainbow Bridge. The Navajo People named that place after him, and for generations the Navajo People continue to honor the Antelope through songs, dances, and prayers. In the meantime, the Hopi People moved to the Mesas as promised, and every year since they sacrifice a baby eagle in a special ceremony only they can do.
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One fine day an eagle awoke and stretched his wings to greet the morning sun. The Eagle sensed it was a special day. As the Eagle flew about his normal route he noticed the Hopi People signaling for him. The Eagle flew down to meet with the Hopi People. The Hopi People asked the Eagle to represent them in a race. Whoever won the race would be allowed to live anywhere within the boundaries of the four sacred mountains. Whoever lost the race would only be allowed to live on the Mesas. The Eagle agreed to represent the Hopi People so long as they promised to honor him in return. The Eagle, who is inherently a sacred bird, is already beloved and honored by all human beings, and everything on Mother Earth. The Eagle is a very special being, but he wanted more. The race began and with grace and confidence as the Eagle flew high above the sky in to the heavens. The Eagle was a peace with the Sun shining on his wings. He felt the wind blowing in from the east, but it appeared gentle and soothing. The Eagle looked down on Mother Earth. The Eagle followed the creeks and rivers to the San Francisco Peaks. He could see the people looking for him, and he could see the Antelope, who was not running not fast but steady. He looked onward and saw a hare, a sweet, juicy Hare who the Eagle wanted to eat. The Hare who, like everyone else, could not see the Eagle. The Eagle could not resist hunting the Hare. He devised a frightful plan to kill and eat the Hare. First he would sneak up behind the Hare. The Eagle knew the Hare was bound to rest sometime, and when that time came the Eagle sped down to the Hare and picked him up high in to the sky. Then the Eagle dropped the Hare from a great height. The Eagle flew back down to the ground and picked up the Hare’s lifeless body. He looked around for a tree where he could feast upon the Hare and saw one conveniently located at the base of the San Francisco Peaks. The Eagle was enjoying his meal so much he forgot he was in a race. He also forgot about the Wind which was growing stronger and bringing with him the Rain. The Eagle smelled The Rain blowing in from the east just as the Antelope ran past him. The Eagle had finished his meal and decided to rest a bit before he get back in the race and win. The Eagle fell asleep for a short time but was soon awakened by the Rain. The Wind and The Rain were frightening as the Eagle left the tree. The Eagle was running clockwise around the San Francisco Peaks and the Rain was soaking the Eagles feathers. This caused the Eagle to struggle and he was unable to fly as high as he normally could. The Hare wasn’t much help either. Digesting the Hare was making the Eagle tired and lazy. The Eagle saw the Antelope cross the finish line from a distance. He could hear the Navajo People cheering. The Eagle finished the race exhausted and worn out. The Eagle politely shook the Antelopes hand and agreed the Antelope had won the race before retreating under a tree to rest. The Antelope went on to become one the Navajo Peoples most beloved animals. They name special places after The Antelope, and even have special songs, dances, and prayers for him. In the meantime, the Hopi People moved to the Mesas as promised, and every year since they sacrifice a baby eagle in a special ceremony only they can do.
************** One fine day a hare awoke from a beautiful dream. Little did he know that would be the last the dream he would ever have, for this particular day just happened to be the last day the Hare would live. The Hare, of course, didn’t know this and went about his normal routine. The Hare said his morning prayers and greeted the morning sun as usual. The Hare could feel a breeze growing stronger from the east. The Hare decided he would have to find food early if he was going to eat that day. The Hare was joyfully frolicking about the desert when he came upon a cactus in full bloom. A sweet, juicy pear was beckoning the Hare. Just as the Hare took his first succulent bite an eagle snuck behind the Hare and picked him up high in to the sky. The Hare had never flown before and there were multiple layers of feelings going through the Hares mind. The Hare was exceedingly frightened he was going to die, and yet, amazed at how beautiful Mother Earth is. The Hare was at peace when the Eagle dropped him from a great height. The Hare lived a good life, a short life, but good one. What most people don’t know is that after your body dies your spirit is freed, and a light appears, and everything is at peace. The Hare saw the Eagle eating his body but he couldn’t feel any pain. The Hare saw the Rain and asked him to see what the Eagle had done to him. The Rain promised he would correct the Eagle by making his wings heavier than usual. The Eagle went on to lose some race with an antelope. Insects ate what The Eagle didn’t eat and what was left of The Hare melted in to the earth. Through time The Hare’s body has taken on many forms including dust. The Hare’s spirit, however, is alive and well. The spirit cannot die. For its next life the Hare decided to be an antelope, and later on- human.
************* The sweet gentle rain Is living in all of us Water is life.