Be as the Butterfly

During the sacred Sun Dance, closed to the outside world,
the Lakota people celebrate the union of the great green bowl of the earth
meeting the great blue bowl of the sky, the Sun overhead,
and the union of the people in the unending Great Plains,
the horizon line unbroken, unabridged, a perfect sphere
in their meeting bisected by the Sun Dance central pole,
just as we two-leggeds traverse the earth, upright and unafraid.

Much may be learned in two-legged travels
from the animal companions surrounding and participating
in the journey. Their lessons must be learned
if a warrior may one day reach the horizon’s line
and step beyond to the spiritual plain.

From Buffalo comes abundance, the meat to feed,
the skins to clothe, the bones and sinews to create a home.
From Eagle comes power, tenacity, and healing,
the opportunity to fly above worldly sorrows in the company of Great Spirit.
From Dog is learned loyalty and protection,
the devotion to family and to personal truth.
From Rabbit comes the knowledge of fear and humility,
the ability to move through adversity and travel on.
From Deer comes gentleness and compassion,
an embodiment of Great Spirit’s love for all.

When one extraordinary warrior is connected to all
that the animal spirits teach, has mastered all they embody,
he will reach yet one more lesson, the Butterfly,
most delicate in form but strongest of all.
Butterfly transforms, transfigures entirely,
old cells traded for new to become a wondrous creature,
a splendor to behold.
Butterfly breaches the horizon line, flies beyond
and over the edge into the spirit unknown.

Be as the Butterfly.