How Buzzard Got His Feathers

This is one of my favorite Native American legends, and I wanted to share it with you.

An Iroquois Legend

A long time ago the birds had no clothing. They spoke like people, but they were shy and hid from sight. One day they decided to hold a great council. “We must go to Creator and ask him for clothing,” said Eagle. So it was decided. But who would carry the message?

Many birds volunteered. But finally they chose Buzzard. He could fly great distances because of his long wings, and he could soar higher than any of the other birds and so come more easily to the sun-place, where Creator lived. All of the birds burned tobacco and sent their prayers up to creator, and then buzzard set out on his way.

It was a long journey. Buzzard flew and flew. He ate the food he had carried with him and still he was far from the place of Creator. He became hungry, so hungry that he stopped and ate some dead fish washed up on the shore below him. They were rotten and smelled bad. But his hunger was great, and he did not notice.

He continued on his way. Now he was close to the sun-place; he went higher and higher. It grew fiery hot from the sun, but still he flew up and up. The skin on top of his naked head burned red in the sun’s heat, but at last he came to the place of Creator.

“I have been waiting for you,” Creator said, “because I have heard the prayers of the birds. I will give you clothes made of fine feathers to take back.” Then he showed Buzzard the clothing he had prepared. It was fine indeed. There were as many colors in the feathers as there are in the rainbow snake that arches across the sky after a rain, and the feathers shone so brightly that Buzzard had to turn his eyes away from them.

“Now,” Creator said, “I know how hard it was for you to fly to me. You may have the first choice of all these suits of feathers. Remember, though, you may try on each suit only once.”

Buzzard was very pleased. “I must choose the finest feathers,” he said to himself. “Then everyone will see them and always remember it was I who brought back clothing for the birds.”

He tried on a suit of bright blue and white feathers with a jaunty cap. “No,” he said, taking it off, “not bright enough.” And so that suit went to Blue Jay.

He tried on another suit of brilliant red and black with a tall crest. “No,” he said, “I do not look good in red.” And so that suit went to Cardinal.

He tried on another suit of gray and black with a scarlet vest. Again he was not satisfied, and that suit went to Robin.

He put on a suit as yellow as the sun with handsome dark markings. “Too much black on this one,” he said, and that suit went to Goldfinch.

Creator patiently watched Buzzard trying on one suit after another. None of them were right. Sometimes the feathers were too long. Sometimes they were not long enough. Some were too dark, others too light. None of them seemed to be just right for the messenger of all the birds.

Finally Buzzard put on a suit of clothes that was too small for him. Although all of the other clothes had grown larger or smaller to fit whatever bird chose them, this last suit of feathers was very tight. Buzzard pulled and strained. Finally he got it on. It left his legs and his neck bare; the red skin of his bald head remained uncovered. He looked at the suit. Not fine. Not fine at all. The feathers hardly had any color, just a dirty brown. They were not shiny and neat like the others. Buzzard was not pleased, “This is the worst of all.” he said.

Creator smiled. “Buzzard,” he said, “it is the only suit left. Now it will have to be yours.”

And so to this day you can see Buzzard wearing the suit that he earned for himself. He still eats things long dead because of what he ate on his journey to the place of Creator. And though some make fun of the way he looks, Buzzard still remembers that he was the only one who could make that long journey.

Even in his suit of dirty feathers that fits him badly, even with his head burned scarlet from the heat of the sun, he remembers that he was chosen be the messenger for all the birds. When he circles high in the sky, he is close to Creator. Then, even in his ill fitting suit of feathers, he is proud.

From firstpeople.us.

Tarot Card of the Week: Ten of Pentacles

The Ten of Pentacles illustrates an old man, watching his family, they appear wealthy and well cared for. The ten pentacles are over the image on the card, as if to overlay what is happening. This card often symbolizes abundance, success, comfort. This can be financial, material, spiritual, or other joys such as family and friends.

When I reflected upon this card, it made me think about what the world has been going through the past year. People staying at home, maybe feeling cooped up, our patience tested by being with our families more than usual.  But through this, there may have been a renewal of a bond between them. A rediscovery of each other. A joy found that was temporarily put on hold prior to March 2020 because of work and other commitments.

The old man in the Ten of Pentacles is separated from his family. He is sitting down, petting his dog, and observing from a distance his daughter/daughter-in-law and son/son-in-law with his grandchild. Although his dog does give him some comfort, there is a loneliness there. The rest of his family may be starting to venture out. When will it be his turn? He may no longer want to observe through phone calls or Zoom. He wants to be with his family again. He wants to laugh, hug, and be with them in person.

As the vaccine is being distributed, and cases of the virus go down, families can hopefully gather together again and feel safe and comfortable as things get to more of a sense of normal. That abundance and comfort is needed by many families who have strong ties, and protect and support each other.

Hello (again) world!

The Sun card from the Rider Waite Tarot Deck.

The Sun Card from the Rider Waite Tarot Deck.

So, I am back at it. Tarot has called me back again. Although my cards have always been close by, I have not done readings for myself or others since 2013. 

I have gone through some life changes since then. And the energies that I needed to put into these life changes left me too drained to do readings.

I changed my career. I went back to school in 2013 to focus on Environmental Studies. I have always felt a connection to the environment, and I finally was able to follow through on getting a degree and found a job in this field.

I moved from Michigan to Florida. I lived in Michigan for all of my life, and love the Autumn, but I could not manage the cold and darkness anymore.  Florida was calling to me, and my husband and I made it our mission to get there.  In 2018 it became a reality. I feel so blessed to be living in the Sunshine State, with green and bright year-around.

After settling here in Florida, I was ready for something else. What was it? I started thinking about my Tarot cards again.  I began by looking at my cards, reading books, and joined the BiddyTarot.com Community to connect with others interested in Tarot, and to learn from the resources the site has to offer.  I was a reader with BiddyTarot.com in 2013, and I am again now. 

I will not be offering readings through this site just yet because I want to practice for a bit first. And I am stumbling through building this site.  But it will not be too long until I do!

I plan to post every Sunday a Tarot card of the week. This will help me to become reacquainted with the cards again, and hopefully also teach you about the cards as well. I may also post other thoughts, reflections, stories, whatever inspires me to share with you.

Thank you for joining me in my journey.