Heyoka on the Hill

The following I received while in Lodge on the first evening at the first Vision Quest camp I supported.

Heyoka on the Hill

A great leader stands upon the top of a lone hill, which sits in the middle of an endless prairie of tall, yellow grass.  On one side of the hill, below this man, is a vast crowd of angry people dressed in black. Their angry voices rise on the Fall breeze. On the other side of the hill is a crowd of people dressed in white, whose angry voices rise into the breeze, as well.  The two crowds are shouting at each other in voices of hate and in languages so different that neither can understand the other.

The Chief is trying with all of his power and all of his prayer to sooth and to calm and to bring the two sides together in peace. "JOIN HANDS AND PRAY!" he yells, but they do not. "DANCE TOGETHER AS ONE!" he yells, but they do not.  The anger and craziness from the two sides just grows into a dust-like cloud that seems to fight over his head.

The Chief then does what he must.  He then transforms into Heyoka.  He strips his body of clothing and puts on the mask of a Coyote. And he paints his left side black and his right side white.  As Heyoka he then raises his hands and encourages anger from the people of black with his black arm and encourages hatred from the people of white with his white arm. He yelps and laughs like a coyote, and the people copy him as though insane. He claps his hands together and stamps his feet and the people copy him. The people howl as their attention falls upon only him. 

Then with a slow deliberation, Heyoka stretches his arms out and turns, facing the opposite direction. Now his black arm points at the people of white and the white arm points at the people of black. And a sudden jolting silence falls upon both crowds and upon the entire prairie of tall yell ow grass.

And as the two masses of people take a single step toward each other, this time in utter peace and silence, the Heyoka transforms back into the mighty Chief and Healer, there to help them finally hold hands and pray and to dance together as one.

This is my Journey,

-- Owl