Native American Legends
Turkey, The Peace Eagle
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
Our "Elders", tell us the Legend of the Turkey is not
one we need to explain the Great Mystery and how it functions. So
came the Story of the Peace Eagle (Turkey) to the Eastern People.
In the First World we were pure Intelligence and therefore experienced
full consciousness. We were not lost in form and matter. We could
integrate and disconnect as we willed it so. We were of pure energy
and light. We were of all colors. We broke this direct connection
when we moved in greed. We took what was not given and felt separation.
The greed destroyed our balance and harmony. We turned from honor
and trust worthiness. We tried to hide and moved deeper into form
and matter, hoping to not be discovered. We lost knowledge of who
and what we were and turned further from our Source.
In the Second World we began the wheel of return. We became more
and more of the state of impermanence.
So things became very in-balanced. Humans became fearful and unsure.
We lost understanding of the Creators Patterns and fell into suffering
and the illusion of separation became larger than our faith and
we drifted in an ocean of tears and painful remorse for our act
of greed and for breaking the trust of Creator.
As each World ends and we renew our great wheel of life we begin
the journey of return to full consciousness and direct interaction
with the Creator. Always the Creator extended love and guidance.
Offering us always the path of harmony and truth.
We must choose the journey we will take and keep the faith. There
were the Real People who remained strong and pure. They keep showing
us the path of Return and healing us. Always our cry for help was
heard and the Wisdom Keepers come to show us the Way. Many creations
of the Creator has tried to help us over and over. Humans kept betraying
his Relations and would allow greed to overcome his heart and mind.
In each World, more and more of our relations turn from us and
will no longer trust us as mankind. Our very existence has been
placed in jeopardy. And many times the Creator has taken us back
to the beginning again, to try and show us our Path of Return.
The Storytellers were the historians of the Real People. And in
the story we were given the lessons and messages we need to understand
what we have lost.
So in the days past when our People were overcome with plight and
hunger it was the duty of the Chiefs to hunt and provide for the
people. The Chief was sad because his people had nothing to eat
and were very hungry. He could not hunt the Bear anymore because
the Bear said, "If you eat me", I will give you diseases
of the heart, for you have become a heartless people."
The Deer said, "If you eat of me", you will get rheumatism
and your joints and bones will stiffen and swell with fire because
you have lost beauty and grace. You have become embittered and crude.
You abuse and rape even your children, destroying their innocence.
The Rabbit said, "If you eat me", you will have weaknesses
of the mind and become forgetful. You will feel chilled and then
the fires of your Spirit will burn you with fever. You will suffer
duality and fear of everything.
The Squirrel said, If you eat of me, I will give you vertigo, and
all you eat will burn your insides. Your stomach will bleed. The
great Animals all cursed humans with illness. Humans no longer held
a place of Honor in the Circle of Life. They were not honored in
the hunt and he forgot the way of appreciation. Life was filled
with pain for Humans.
In these days, the "Chief" was leader of the People because
they trusted him and knew he protected his people. He was the "Father"
of the "Nation" or "Tribe of People". He ate
only after his People were all fed. He slept under warm blankets
only if everyone was covered and warm. The People called upon him
for a great council. They turned to the "Chief" and ask,
"When will the animals come back, when will you hunt again,
we are starving and growing weaker. Many are dying and are no more.
We must have food soon or we shall all perish." Many shouted
to him to call war upon other nations of people who they thought
had more than them.
The "Chief" was a man of great faith. he was trusted
and always honored all his relations. He was brave and had great
courage, "Chiefs" from many Nations knew of his valor.
He loved his people and gave his life for them. He saw all his children
thin and gray. He heard the babies and old people crying and his
heart hurt. He had tried to help the People understand how things
would need to change, he saw their greed and self destruction. He
did all he knew to lead them towards honorable living again. His
example was not enough. And some even hated him for it, and said
he was a weak man to be so righteous.
So the "Chief" prepared him self to hunt. He Prayed and
did the Ceremonies of the Ancients ways to honor all life. He remembered
the wisdom of his Grandfathers and Elders. He walked through the
forest for 28 days, fasting, to find a solution to feed his people.
He said, "Creator", what can I do? We are a wicked people.
We have forgotten to give appreciation and offering before the hunt,
and taking only what we need. We have wasted and killed without
honoring our faith. Now none come to us in our hunts, they curse
us when we eat to survive. It is true we have taken even when we
had more than we needed, and let food sit and rot. We have begun
to war with each other for possession of things and taking a person's
freedom away. For all this and more I come to you seeking atonement.
My People are hungry, our children are starving. I offer myself
in complete giveaway to Creator so my people can be fed. He prayed
long and hard. He chanted all his holy words. I ask to have a relation
that my people will feel safe to eat, and that will not give them
diseases. The Standing People (Trees), knew him well and told him
the "Real People" must learn respect. The Plant People
in the forest had remained the only friend of humans. They said
to him, "Put your heart to the Mother of all form here, (Earth).
She has love unending and she heals all form and matter that is
of her. Humans has forgotten how to call upon her. The "Chief"
lay upon the "Earth Mother" and spoke to her of respect,
and promised he would always live by the rule and measure of respect
if she would help him and his People. He cried and his tears fell
upon her soil. She felt his truth and goodness. The Earth Mother
extended herself again to her Children. "Earth Mother",
said to the "Chief", You must live by this law you have
made "Respect". Appreciate everything in your life, that
my body brings to your day. All has purpose. There is only The One
That Is All Things. Do not waver from your word. Hold your word
as valuable as your next breath.
"Creator" looked upon this and saw this "Chief".
Love was again being shown for the gift of life and the Good Earth.
He lifted the Chief into the "Dream Time Lodge", so he
could be with the "Chieftains" of "The Elder Fires".
The "Chief" was given a vision of a "Turkey",
it was the color of the "Earth", and the "Chief"
knew this was good. He thought the people will know this is a gift
from the "Creator" and is safe to eat. The feathers were
also shiny and was like a star filled midnight sky, the "Chief"
thought and the lights of the "Sky Nations" are there
as well. He watched as the "Peace Eagle", (Turkey) walked
about. He walks as a noble one of great dignity. He will help the
people find dignity again. The wise "Chief" was humbled
by how this creation was. Then he saw the beautiful fan as the "Turkey"
spread its tail feathers, and the "Chief" said, this is
good, the people will recognize the sacred ceremonial fan and know
it will give us back our strength and make us strong again. Then
the "Turkey" spread its wing feathers toward the ground
and began to dance. The People will return to the ancient ceremonies
of harmony and flow with the great cycles of "Sky" and
"Earth".
The "Chief" thought, how will we know it is okay to eat
him? We cannot kill the sacred messengers for food. And this is
a sacred one. It must speak to my people to let them know it has
come as give away, to be eaten.
At that moment, the "Turkey" looked at him and spoke,
"Chief", I have been given for only one purpose, to feed
you. Your prayers have been pure and your deeds of valor are many.
My body will give humans more energy for his muscles than any other,
it will carry no curse. My feathers will dance with you and you
"Chief", will wear my feathers as your cape, to remind
all of the unending love, that surrounds all creation. In my feathered
cape you will walk proud and free. My bones will give you tools
to provide all other needs you have. At my breast over my heart
will be a bone that will remind you how "Creator" fulfilled
your wishes. Keep this bone as my example to you humans and spirit
are bonded in Life. Make the part of me that touches the sacred
ground of the Earth Mother your offering to the Fire, so I may return
as often as you need me. Keep this agreement with "Creator",
and you will not hunger again. I have a message. . . the message
is Love and Trust, it says The One That Is In All Things calls to
The people to return to honor and harmony. To live in Peace and
create beauty where ever you are. Live in Respect and all shall
flourish, we are one.
The "Chief" said, "Sacred Bird", my people
will not understand all this. they will be afraid to eat so "Sacred
a Being". We have suffered many generations now and trust is
not the way we live anymore. They will need to hear you tell them,
and if you speak such wisdom they will even be less certain they
should hunt and feast upon your body. They have become superstitious
in their beliefs and practices now. They no longer remember where
they come from or who they are. The "Sacred Bird" said,
I will do what must be done, let us return to your people they are
growing weaker and soon will perish if we do not go now.
The "Chief" made cornmeal offering of appreciation for
this vision and gift. As he started back to camp to tell the people
about the "Turkey", it began eating his cornmeal offering.
he made a trail of cornmeal which the "Turkey" ate and
followed him back to his people, arriving very fat, having eaten
so much cornmeal.
The "Chief" came to the "Clan Mother" and said,
"Creator" has sent us this "Sacred Bird" for
food. The "Clan Mother" watched how noble and dignified
the "Turkey" walked. Holding his head with a manner of
courage and strength. She said, "We can no longer trust the
words of the "Chiefs" and "Warriors". Times
before they said it was okay to eat from the hunt and we have diseases
of the heart and mind, and aching bones. How can we eat such a fine
bird? Birds are, "Creators" messengers.
The Chief explained his vision and that he gave appreciation and
made a cornmeal offering. And then what he thought was a vision
became real and the "Turkey" started to eat the cornmeal.
At this point, the "Turkey" came closer showing no fear,
as all the other animals would, and run from humans. This one walked
among them knowing no fear. "Clan Mother" saw it was the
color of the Earth and felt her woman spirit stir inside her being.
The "Turkey" spread its tail and she saw it was in the
shape of a ceremonial fan. Then he spread his wing feathers down
and danced. "Clan Mother" said, how can we eat of this,
it dances and is a "Sacred Messenger".
The "Turkey" walked into the middle of the circle of
people who had gathered to see this "Sacred Bird" and
looked at the "Chief" and said, gobble me up. The "Chief"
jumped up, and stood back in shock. What is it you say to me? The
"Turkey" walked closer to him and said again, "gobble
me up." The "Chief" looked at his people and knew
they all had heard the "Sacred Bird" speak. Now the people
would believe and eat of it.
So they prepared as they had been given instructions to do. The
"Turkey" said, you will rub my body before you eat it
with spices and herbs. The garlic, to surrender to the Holy of all
Holies. Cinnamon to open it to the powers of procreation. Nutmeg
for the "Creators" spirit of the Evergreens and knowledge
of eternal life. Honey to maintain gentle nature and serenity. Peanut
oil to enhance assimilation and reconstruction of wholeness and
vitality. this was placed upon his body after all his feathers were
plucked carefully, so as not to break or damage a single one. A
great fire was made for roasting the "Turkey". They put
ground corn and a few whole kernels inside. They turned it over
and over cooking it evenly. The "Clan Mother" was glad
to see how the People were laughing and happy as they prepared for
the feast. Her "Woman Spirit" felt the union with "Earth
Mother" again and she felt the first tears of joy come.
Soon the Turkey was ready to eat and it was very big. The "Clan
Mother" carved the turkey from the bone carefully as to not
break any. She found the "Wish Bone" and it was as the
"Sacred Bird" had said. She fed all the families. Our
"Chief" does not eat unless everyone else has been fed.
The "Clan Mother" came to the "Chief" and said,
"Chief", my arms are tired from carving so much "Turkey"
and feeding all the People. Will you help me carry this "Turkey"?
And the "Chief" helped bring the abundance of "Turkey"
to the people.
The "Clan Mother" said, "Chief", it is time
to feed yourself and your family. When the "Chief" saw
all the meat that was left, he was surprised and asked, has everyone
been fed? "Clan Mother" replied, Yes "Chief".
Everyone has had two servings.
"Clan Mother" went to the fire and she too was surprised
to see the "Turkey" had totally replenished itself. The
"Chief" was fed "Turkey", and all his family
ate heartily. As they ate all felt humble for all that was being
given and felt their minds, bodies and spirits healing and becoming
whole again.
The "Turkey" replenished itself again and again. The
People ate of this "Turkey" all year long, always with
appreciation. they used every part of the turkey, recognizing its
complete give away. Everyone was gifted with a turkey feather.
After all went well for a full change of seasons, one morning as
"Clan Mother" went to the fire to prepare the food, she
saw two eggs. She knew these were the seeds of the "Sacred
Bird" and that it was pleased with the "Peoples"
offering and trusted them again. She kept the eggs warm and cared
for them as a Mother would any child. She sang love songs and sang
stories to the eggs as they incubated. She knew if it was to reproduce,
it would need to have "Woman Spirit" of the "Great
Bird". She made offerings to the "Earth Mother" for
this. And each day sang her woman's way chants. The first egg opened
and it was the Hen. She reminded them of the subtle beauty of woman.
The females do not need to decorate themselves extravagantly, because
they already have inner wisdom and beauty. The second egg opened
and it was the male, and with beautiful feathers so man would remember
his role and do as he was to be in the Earth. Today the "Turkey
Cape" is worn by the most noble, courageous and generous of
men.
The people ate in abundance from then on. They always remembered
to give appreciation every day and were always blessed abundantly.
Abundance comes when we show appreciation and Thanksgiving. The
celebration and feast is the time of friendship and appreciation.
Friendship is when we know we are all inner connected, and reflective
of each other. The time of Friendship and Thanksgiving is every
day.
The "Woodland Peoples" said let us have a seasonal celebration
when we seek one we do not know well or is new to our lands and
bring them to our feast of Friendship and make them welcome. This
is the "Feast of Friendship". Today it is called Thanksgiving.
For The Real People, it is celebrated at the Full Moon of November.
The white meat of the "Turkey" has the highest protein
of all meats. The dark meat has fats needed to assist the body to
generate heat. The "Real People" will not eat from the
knee down of the Turkey for that is the part that moves in the auric
field of the planet herself and belongs to the Mother. The feet
and lower leg is given to the Fire. The Wish Bone is saved intact
and strung as ornaments. The Turkey is Sacred to the Eastern Woodlands
People. Its Feathers are used in all Sacred Ceremonies. It is a
messenger of Innocence, Compassion, Abundance, Trust, Dignity, Peace
and Eternal Love. It calls all Mankind to practice Respect. This
is how it was told to us by our Elders as children at Thanksgiving.
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