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Copyright
2005
One day Rainbow decided to journey to the Place of Healing Waters. She placed her things into her Iron Horse and drove it over the Big Rocky Mountain. Her first stop was at the Place of the Lake Hanging. In order to reach the lake she had to park the Iron Horse and walk beyond the ribbon of black tar. The walk to the lake would challenge her strength as it had on many previous visits, but she knew the reward at the end would be worth the effort.
As she reached the beginning of the foot trail she could hear big water rushing beneath a canopy of Standing People (trees). She knew she was entering a sacred place that had been visited by many Ancestors before her. Another world unfolded as she stepped under the canopy that shaded her from the mid day sun. She could see dapples of blue filtering in from Father Sky. The forest floor smelled of damp pine needles. She walked up the hill following the rushing river and many things appeared to her.
Next she saw a woman wrapped in blankets kneeling at the water. She was washing a bowl in the clear rushing river. The woman paid no attention to Rainbow and kept to her work. As Rainbow passed by her she seemed to be welcoming her back and blessing her return to the Place of Lake Hanging. As she went further up the trail she crossed seven bridges. When she came to the fifth bridge the water was rushing over the top of it so she had to step on stones to cross without getting her feet wet. She stopped on each bridge to feel the water rush under her and renew her spirit.
When she was half way to the lake she came upon a small cabin. No one lived there anymore. She could sense a camp of her Ancestors. On a large square rock next to the cabin sat an elder she had known before in another time. He seemed to be guarding the entrance to the Place of Lake Hanging. He sat very proudly holding a bow and arrow. He told Rainbow that the Truth was her protection and sent her on her way with his blessings.
Rainbow kept walking until the trail ran into a rock wall. Carved in the wall were steps to the lake. It was very steep and Rainbow’s legs were very tired, but she knew she could not stop now.
As she reached the top step she was greeted by a beautiful turquoise lake.
It had many waterfalls pouring into it. The floor of the lake was covered
with green moss and the water was so clear you could see down to the bottom.
This was a most wonderful sight but she knew she still had a little farther
to go.
She left the main trail and kept going up until she reached the Place Under the Waterfall. As she got near it, the mist from the water falling over the cliff soaked her quickly. This was what she had come for. She ventured under the falling water. The water rushing over her was so loud she could hear nothing else. She stood and let all her fears wash over her body. At that moment a power she had lost returned to her. The power of renewal was hers once more. Rainbow realized how important this power was and promised herself not to lose it again. Without it she would not have the energy she needed to continue on her journey and help others find their own special powers. She left the Place Under the Waterfall and gave thanks for the gift she was given. She walked back down the rocky cliff under the canopy of Standing People. She got in her iron horse and followed the black ribbon of tar.
Her next stop was the Cave of Vapors. For generations her Ancestors had visited there. The caves were beneath the Earth Mother and heated by vapors from Earth Mother’s heart. Rainbow had not visited there for many moons. The Earth Mother had a special message for her. Rainbow entered the cave and went into the main chamber. After rubbing some of the Earth from the wall of the cave on her face she lay down on a large slab of marble rock and looked up into the ceiling that was dimly lit. Tears came to her eyes as she thought of how poorly her society had been treating the Earth Mother by polluting her air, water, and ground. She felt sad for all the buildings being built on the Earth Mother. She felt sad so many of her tribe had forgotten that we are all part of the Earth Mother. Rainbow felt sad that her tribe no longer honored the four directions or the gifts from Grandfather Sun and Grandmother Moon.
Mother Earth spoke to her and said, “Do not cry for me Dear One. I am strong. I can take care of myself and need you not to be afraid. If you are afraid you will not be able to help others in this time of so many changes.” Rainbow realized she could no longer send her power to what she could not change. Then Rainbow saw a painting on the wall of the cave she had never noticed before. It was Turtle, Deer, and Wolf. Turtle sent lessons about cleansing. Deer sent messages of gentleness and Wolf was a teacher. Her lesson from the cave became clear. A gentle leader must take time to rest and renew to be a good teacher. It was Rainbow’s responsibility as a Warrioress to make sure she took the time to rest, cleanse and renew herself. She left the cave with a power she had not known in the past, the Power to renew and begin again. She knew she would never be the same. About Rainbow:
The
character Rainbow and her journeys represent the We are all connected. Two legged, four legged, winged ones, finned ones and crawling ones. Mother Earth, Father Sky, Grandfather Sun and Grandmother Moon are our relatives. The stars are our Ancestors. May we remember our Universal family and return Home to the Truth of who we are. Joined together we can comfort each other and begin to heal.
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