Coyote

By Celli Laughing Coyote

The Cosmic trickster, the fool and clown, The force of spiritual changes and lessons to be learn. He equates with Loki, Mercury, and Anubis. He is sometimes known as the Creator of Man.

He is there when you have given all to someone and feel used and abused by them. He is there when a child utters the plain and simple truth that everyone else is trying to hide from. He teaches us to laugh at ourselves and the world. I know for me that when I loose my sense of humor Coyote will appear to remind me to laugh and to cry.

He is the great teacher of ourselves. Where most teachers show knowledge and growth though the intellect, Coyote shows how to grow though the heart and emotions. When he tries to do things because others think it is right and proper, he fails and feels put upon. When he does things from self interest and because he feels it's right, he succeeds. And sometimes he just can't win, so he laughs at himself and the world and continues on.

After Coyote had finished working on the world and made all the inferior creatures, he called them together to counsel on the creation of Man. They sat down in an open space in the forest. On Coyote's right sat the grizzly bear, next - the black bear, and so on according to rank until the circle was complete with the little mouse against Coyote's left.

The panther was the first to speak. Man, he declared, should be created with a voice that could make everybody tremble, and he should have mighty claws. The grizzly said it would be silly to have Man squalling like a panther frightening away prey. He should have great strength and be able to knock his prey senseless with the first blow. The buck said that Man could never look proud unless a royal set of antlers crowned his head. He thought that it was silly for any animal to make to much noise and thought that they should pay more attention to the eyes and ears. They should be as shapely and delicate as a spider's web and as bright as the stars. The mountain ram said that Man should have to great curving horns to balance his head with, beside the Deer's antler's were always getting tangled in the brush and low tree limbs.

When it came to Coyote's turn, he said that he could hardly keep awake listening to all this egotical talk. All anyone wanted to do was make Man a copy of himself. In that case all we needed to do was to pick out any baby and call it Man. And what about a mind? Doesn't anyone want Man to think?

Now as far as himself Coyote knew he was the best formed or smartest of the animals that But it was all well enough to have a voice, the buffalo bull had the strongest in the land was very stupid. the shape of the grizzly's legs and feet which enabled him to stand erect and reach out was certainly good for Man. The grizzly was also happy in having no tail, for Coyote knew from his own that it was just a home for fleas. The bucks eyes and ear were pretty good also. Then there was the fish to think of, he was naked and could stay cool. And the Eagles talon were really good for grabbing things. But in the end only Coyote had the wit to give Man. So he would give Man cunning and adaptability.

At this the beaver broke out " But what about the Tail? Give Man a broad and flat one so that he can carry sand and mud on it!"

The Owl wondered that noone had suggested wings. The Mole said that with wings he would bump his head against the sky and get his eyes burned, he didn't need them to burrow in the cool earth. The Mouse said he needs whiskers! At this point the counsel turn into a brawl!

At this point Coyote lost his temper and nip a chunk out of Beaver cheek and Owl tried to remove Coyote's scalp and there was a great ruckus. Coyote finally got them settled down and told them to each make an image of Man. This must be done before Sunrise. So each animal grab a bit of clay and made Man in the image of himself. But they were sleepy after all this fighting and talking so one by one they fell asleep, only cunning coyote stayed awake.

He gave man arms and hands to reach and grasp with and standing up, just like he said in counsel. And when he was sure all the other animals were asleep, he went around and discharged water (peed) on all the other models and so ruined them.

As the Morning Star dimmed he finished his work and breathed life into his creation. He cried his joyful howl as he does to this day and woke everyone up to look at his creations - MAN