The Water, the Sky and the Earth Chapter 8/9

A re-write

The water, Sky and the Earth.
New journey. Chapter eight

 

The grandfathers and the grandmothers are in the children; Teach them well.
Ojibwa proverb

“All the Indians pray to God for life. and try to find a good road. and do nothing wrong in a life. This is what we want. and to pray to God. But you did not believe us.
You should say nothing against our religion. For we say nothing against yours. you pray to God. So do all of us Indians. as well as the whites. We both pray to only one God. who made us all.”
Sitting Bull

 

The Water, Sky and the Earth.
New Journey. chapter eight

 

The time went very quickly in Mexico. Don Francis took the three on long walks into the desert. He explain to them the plants were simple. You must respect the plants and care for them. Their power of healing plants are great gifts in return for us not to abuse and destroy. His face turn sad. He told them “In South American the powerful plants are dying because of the hunger of man’s great cities expansion. The animals know what to eat when they are sick. Maybe if we were more like the beast of the Earth. The world would be a better place?”

Little Wolf loved the peace and quiet of the desert. She would sit for hours with Red Fox in silence. He told her he could not sleep. He wanted alcohol. Chief Joseph made special taragon tea for Red Fox. Making it stronger to be able to heal the body and fight the demons. Chief Joseph would take Red Fox into the mountains. Together they would sit on the healing rocks and watch the hawks fly. Allowing the peace to create some sort of calmness in Red Fox mind and heart.

Coyote saw the eyes of Red Fox softening. He wasn’t nervous or shaking anymore. He told Coyote. “I will try to quit drinking. Maybe I will be alright? I will be training Marines now. Maybe my war is over? Damn Vietnam is done. “Coyote wrapped his arm around Red Fox. “Whisper maybe we will all be alright?”

The last day the three with Don Francis went to the healing stones. Don Francis made calea zacatechicti tea. Chief Joseph was there waiting spreading the healing sage by the stones. He blessed the area and pray for the spirit of the mountain to assist in the gathering. The three sat together. Little Wolf, Coyote and Red Fox learned to expect anything from the two old men. Chief Joseph told them. “I have been taking long walks with Red Fox. He will never completely heal. His demons and nightmares are death. When you have killed. Your heart and mind will become soiled. There is no repair except to understand the acts and learn that all life is precious and have purpose. How do we know we have not killed the savior of man by accident in the wars of hate and violence?”

The tea is passed to all. “The tea you are drinking is common and grow wild in the desert. It will open your minds. Calea zacatechicti is one of the many natural ways to clean the mind. I have smoke it with Red Fox. He can see his world with better eyes now. But we need our friends to support and hold us up when we are weak.”

After the teas is finished. Everyone lay down on soft mats on the ground. The three are side by side. Chief Joseph told them “To put their right leg into the inner left thigh. This will allow only good thoughts to come in.”

” Close your eyes.

Take five deep breath and hold each one for three seconds.

The sixth breath hold and think of bad thoughts or actions.

Hold for 5 seconds. Allow the bad to escape.

Take five deep breath and hold each one for three seconds.

The sixth breath hold and think of something good and wonderful.

Release the air and allow the mind to fall into calmness and peace.”

Coyote is dreaming he is walking on the coastline of Texas. He can see the city of Houston in the background. The city is not moving and there is no cars. He looks around and he see many empty houses on the beach. It look like a hurricane had destroyed the coastline. He looks at the water. It is black with oil. He can see bodies of sea creatures and birds covered in oil and dead. There is no life in the sky or moving on the ground. He saw an old man sitting on the shore. He goes to him. The old man with tears in his eyes told him. Man had succeeded in killing off the sea. He had killed off all that is beautiful.

Little Wolf touched Coyote arm softly. She whisper “Please wake up.” He jump up and falls into Little Wolf arms. With tears and fear he told her the story. “I saw the water and the dead animals. I met death. Death is the desire of man to kill all the beautiful things of this planet.” Chief Joseph touched Coyote shoulder. Tells them “The men of vision and dreams have great responsibility. He must try to stop the nightmare from happening or be an observer of the end of the world? “Coyote asked “Can this world be stop from it own death? ” Chief Joseph with a sad eyes whisper “I pray we can.”

The drive back to Northern California was very quiet. Chief Joseph told Coyote. “Dreams can be nightmares and also can be windows to the future we can try to change and must.” He told him. “You have a home here with me in the desert always.” He walks Chief Joseph to his door. Coyote told him. “I will be back in one year and thank you for being kind to me.” Chief Joseph hugged him. “Us Native American must stand together. We must lead in the battle to save Earth.” Red fox hugged the old man. He told him “Thank you for what you did for me. I have no desire for alcohol and my mind is thinking again.” Chief Joseph smiled. Hold Red Fox hands tightly. Told him. “You are very close. This is your home. We all need a place to feel safe. A friend who do not grade or rate. Some healing may take a lifetime. Come back when needed.”

Red Fox told Coyote as they drive on Highway 1. “I feel good for the first time in 10 years. Chief Joseph gave me a bag of herbal tea. I hope I don’t get tossed in the military prison for using this stuff.” Coyote smiled. It is a beautiful day on Highway 1. He can see the ocean from the highway.

The Water, Sky and the Earth chapter nine Coyote dreams
A Chapter by Coyote Poetry
With the journey into dreams. The real nightmares may appear. The dreamer can see the truth. Some truth is filled with death and terror.

“You have driven me from the east to this place, and I have been
here two thousand years or more…My friends, if you took me
away from this land it would be very hard for me. I wish to die in
this land. I wish to be an old man here…I have not wished to
give even a part of it to the Great Father. Though he were to give
me a million dollars I would not give him this land.”
Standing Bear of the Poncas

“If a man step his feet into a lake. Create movement that will expand
and grow. One strong voice can light the fire of many to stop hate and
war. Will it take a million deaths for man to realize? Every life is important.
We need to find peace with each other and nature before we only
leave death and doom for the next generation.”
Coyote

John Coyote got station at Fort Ord, Ca. The orders for Korea were canceled. He drove to Monterey in the Spring of 1976. He loved the coastline. He missed his new friends. He held many doubts about life and religion. He was born poor and wanted to allow the past to fade away. He arrived at his new unit. He made quick new friends. He loved to drink and raise hell. USA was falling apart. No jobs, a lot of people lost jobs and all their money in the economy going to s**t.

Padget from Maryland was his best friend. They would drive to Big Surf and drink every weekend. Raised hell and hung with the musicians. Padget believed in no rules. He lived for the moment and tested life every chance he could. Coyote did not tell Little Wolf he wasn’t in Korea. He wanted to see what life could be.

Padget, Coyote and three Soldiers went to Santa Cruz. An old country boy name Red from Virginia wanted to do the acid. Coyote volunteer to be the watcher. When you do dangerous drugs. Must have one person to maintain control. They met the contact on the beach boardwalk. A couple of dollars a hit. Padget bought $80 worth. They go to the Santa Cruz beach. Padget, Red and Hanley took three hits and put them under their tongue. Coyote watched them. They were calm and peaceful till Red got up and ran for the sea.

He was yelling “Death was here for him”. Coyote saw nothing in the sea at first. Coyote and Hanley tried to hold Red from going into the cold night sea water. Coyote looked up and saw a man 40 feet into the water edge. Just standing there with a small guitar and singing. The man was well dressed. Like he was ready to play a concert somewhere. Coyote went to the man. He asked what do you want? The man answered the question with a smile. “I don’t want you. You are dirty with hate and ain’t done raising hell. You have a lot of time Dreamer. You are special. Few people can live in hate and disappointment like you do.”

Coyote repeated the question. “What do you want and who are you?” The old man smiled and seem to dance on the water. He touched Coyote shoulder and told him. ” The dreamer can’t see the Undertaker when he is standing in the front of you. I will forgive you today. You are young. I promise the next time you will know me. I like you my friend the Dreamer. I can’t have Red tonight. Tomorrow you can’t save him. I want to give you a gift. I will sing you a song.”

He began to play the old small guitar and sing. ” My love she speaks like silence. Without ideals or violence. She doesn’t have to say she’s faithful. Yes she’s true, like ice, like fire.
People carry roses, Make promises by the hours, my love she laughs like the flowers. Valentine can’t buy her.”

Coyote heard Padget yelling “Get out of the water.” He turned away from the man. When he turned back. The man was walking into the sea. He turned and give a big wide smile and told Coyote. “I like you. I will answer one question for you. Any question you want to be answers”. Coyote asks what is the purpose of life? The Undertaker answer. “F*****g”.

Coyote went to his friends. He loaded them into his truck and they drove back to Fort Ord. in silence. He and Padget went to the Seaside beach alone. Padget asked what the old crazy man want? Coyote smiled and told him he was death. Wanted to take Red to hell. Padget laughed and told him you sure you didn’t take any acid? Coyote did not now why the Undertaker called him the dreamer? The crazy old Indians and now this crazy man of the sea told him. His dreams can come true. Padget handed him some small paper. Padget told him. Put then under your tongue and allow them to melt.

Coyote put the acid into his mouth. Within minutes his vision was different. The ocean was larger. Padget was too loud. He started to walk to Monterey on the empty night beach. Coyote begins to see ghosts and hear the whisper of the sea. He sat down on some rocks. Fall into a quick sleep.

He is walking alone. The city was quiet. He is back home in Detroit. He goes to his parent house. He goes into the bedroom of his parent house. He smell death. His mother and stepfather are dead. Have been dead for days. He made some coffee and read an old newspaper. Nuclear attacks in Asia and Africa in March 2020 have sent death to every corner of the world. The article stated all war had ended. World is trying to stop the death. The article stated death will be slow for the people away from the nuclear attack. The writer of the article stated. The lucky one’s died in seconds. Rest of world is dying slow and painful.

Coyote looked up. The Undertaker is across from him. Coyote asked do you want a coffee? The Undertaker smiled and told him a lot of sugar and creams please.” Coyote came back and gave the coffee to the old man. The old man told him thank you. Coyote asked is it my time? The undertaker smile. “Yes it is. You did well for me. You had the gift of dreams and did not do nothing. You could have done something. You did nothing for fear of failure and disappointment. One man or woman can cause a wave of change. Your wasted words and no effort left me with an easy job taking the cattle to hell.”

Coyote awake from the yelling in his face of Padget. Padget asked where the f**k were you? He smiled and told him. I’m going to Mexico and see Little Wolf. I need to understand what I saw. I need to know what is real or lies. Padget smiled and told him.  Only whiskey for you now. You are f*****g crazy.  He decided to drive to Mexico ASAP. He believed maybe one person can create a wave of change. The Undertaker had gave him advice. Maybe the Undertaker need the people alive to have his purpose

John Castellenas/Coyote

Author's Note

Just words.