Nanabozhu Visits Sedona

At 5 a.m., Nanabozhu woke up and found himself sleeping in the “Inn over Oak Creek”, in Sedona, Arizona.

“Oh, It’s still dark outside. I wonder where the sun is.  It should be getting light out by now.” He also noticed that he still felt a little tired.

“Hm.” He thought ” I think I’ll drop by that vortex at the Phoenix Airport for a little refreshment.” So he stepped outside, changed into a small Blue Heron, and winged his way over.

He searched for the place on the hill where the Junipers grew twisted. That was one of the ways that you knew to find a vortex. Of which he heard Sedona had four. Looking at one of the Junipers, he could see how it grew.  It was as if the small tree had grown inside a cyclone and the wind perpetually twirling about had spiraled the tree as it grew so that not only  the bark of the trunk and branches were twisted but their grain deep into the heartwood as well.

He knew he had arrived because he felt that tingling on his neck and the hair standing on the back of his head as the healing energy of he vortex refreshed him, and he began to feel better already. Still no sun though.

“That’s because I thought I would give you the honor of singing the sun into view.” the Earth said.  “You see, the Sun always likes to hear the songs of The People of the Earth so I will slowly turn  so he can hear the song of the next person to sing. ”

“Well, what should I sing?” asked Nanabozhu with a twinkle in his eye.  ” How about, ‘Ah’m all shook up’, by Elvis Presley?” He could feel the earth give him a gentle swat on his arm.

“That would be good if Elvis sang it.” she said,  “But the Sun likes original songs that come from the singers themselves, the best.”

“I can do that.” replied Nanabozhu. He thought quietly for a few minutes and then raised both arms to the East where the sun would rise, and began his chant.

Oh my favorite Sun,

(even though you’re the only one.)

 

Enlighten the skies

to entice the eyes

of children and old folks to waken.

 

But not so much so,

to the Larks please don’t go,

they’d rather the day were forsaken.

 

Then dim the stars and the moon,

so The People will swoon

when that beauty is seen

come this e’en’.

 

And turn the violet sky rose

bring sweet dawn to the nose

to soften the hearts of The People.

 

Now Chiaroscuro the place

your appearance will grace

to make the artists of Sedona most happy;

 

But not so intense

that their feelings are flensed

to the point that it makes them get sappy.

 

Now color the earth

and put shadows therein

and the hearts of the people you’ll win.

 

And when you are ready,

shine your brilliance most steady,

warm the air with your breeze for your kin;

 

So to soothe stiff old bones

and to soften sore muscles

so we all say “Well Come!” when you show.

 

And when you have risen,

freed us all from night’s prison,

we are thankful,

just so you know.

 

Nanabozhu could feel the Earth looking at him askance; nevertheless, the Earth had turned, and the Sun had risen.

“Thank you.”  said the smiling Sun.  “That was…very Nanabozhu-esque.  That certainly adds to my day.”

“Now”, said Nanabozhu to the Earth, “if you will allow me to rearrange things a little bit, I have a gift for you.” And with that, he rearranged a mountain formation so that it looked like his face, waking up to the dawn and praying. Which you can see to this day from the viewing point next to the Sedona airport.