Here We Speak One Language

A Spring Celebration of Story

In the time where time is in a circle, Yesterday looks like tomorrow, where today might be a long time ago. A time when we all spoke one language and we all knew how to respect the land and all of the living things.

There was a beautiful young woman, her name was Story, and she was Deer Woman. Story had forgotten that she was Deer Woman.

One night she had a Dream of the forest, running and running in the forest. When she woke, she went to find her Chinny (grandfather), and talked to him of her Dream. He was very wise and he told her that a Spirit was trying to tell her something. She needed to listen to this Spirit and to learn the old language.

Story went back to her home, where the Forest Spirit was waiting for her. This Spirit took Story on a journey into the forest to see the Spring Celebration and meet all the spirits of the forest. For all of the plants, rocks, trees, animals, for all the things in the forest have a spirit, and to help her remember.

The first Spirit Story met Moss man, he taught her about all the little things in the forest floor, trees and air. Of how there are Spirits in all of this. When it was time to leave, the Moss man gave Deer Woman a gift to help her remember who she was.

Next she met the Mushroom Spirit, who also gave her a gift so Story would remember. Story knew of these gifts, but couldn't’t quite remember what it was.

Then she met the Otter Spirit that taught Story to use all of her senses. Otter Spirit also gave Deer Woman a gift so she could remember.

The Skunk Cabbage Spirit taught Deer Woman about respect and how to respect all life. Skunk Cabbage Spirit gave Deer Woman a gift for her to remember.

Then it was time to meet the Cedar Tree Spirit. He taught Deer Woman the old language and showed her how to ask for help and not to be afraid. Deer Woman received a gift from the Cedar Tree Spirit and she started to understand.

Deer Woman was taken to the Yew Tree Spirit , where her spirit was cleaned and purified. Yew Tree Spirit taught Story all the old ways of using the respected plants to heal the sick. Here, Yew Tree Spirit gave Deer Woman a gift.

All of these Spirits sang for Deer Woman. Respected Forest Spirit, the Spirit that took Deer Woman into the forest, and this Spirit showed Deer Woman what might happen to the forest, the destruction, stumps, slash, and the death of the forest and of all the forest plants. Such a sad sight made Deer Woman cry and Plant Spirit took her back to the forest she knew.
All of the Spirits sang and played music for Deer Woman and she remembered who she was, running and running in the forest, for this was Deer Woman’s home.