Owls Vision

There was a young native man named Precious Feathers, and while growing up, he had goals and aspirations to be the chief of his tribe one day. He was very much into the history of his tribe and everything it stood for, but saw the way his people were living currently and felt as if they had turned away from their roots and lost the way of living in which the elders had paved the way for. So he seeked out the elders one day, looking to go on a spirit quest. The elders helped Precious Feathers get ready for the quest and made sure he was prepared. After going through fasting, prayer, meditating, and the sweat lodge, young Precious Feathers was ready for his Spirit Quest.

The young boy started the quest in the sweat lodge and for the first two days, nothing had come to him yet. So he went to bed and said a prayer to Mother Earth, asking for a vision that would help bring his tribe back together and build the community he had envisioned. It was a stormy night with loud thunder and lighting that woke him up. When he opened his eyes, there was a barn owl perched up right in front of Precious Feathers. Precious Feathers was startled and hopped out of bed real quick. Barn Owl saw this and told the boy to relax and to hold on to his wings. So Precious Feathers grabbed onto the wings of the Barn Owl and off he went into the night sky.

Precious Feathers noticed his body was still sleeping in the sweat lodge though and was puzzled, but the barn owl reassured him that all was well and he will see in due time. At that time, they were so high in the sky and could see everything from his tribe's land. The Moon was full and lit up everything. It was almost as if it was day and Precious Feathers couldn’t distinguish if time was real or not. The Barn Owl took him all across the country, then they went to the moon and stars. Once they arrived at the moon, Barn Owl told Precious Feathers to hop off and take it all in.

After a period of silence, the boy asked the owl, why have my people turned away from their teachings? What happened to living in harmony with one another? Why are my people not looking out for their brothers and sisters? Precious Feathers sat there and asked questions till he couldn’t ask anymore. The barn owl then took him back in time to when tragedy had happened with the people of his tribe and showed him how pain in their hearts had turned them away from their ways of living. Every major moment that had happened, the Barn Owl took Precious Feathers to that moment in time to witness the events. Barn Owl didn’t say a word the whole time. It was meant for Precious Feathers to take it all in and piece together the ways in which he was meant to help heal his tribe and the rest of the world.

After going through time to all the moments, they returned back home to the sweat lodge. Barn Owl stared into the eyes of Precious Feathers and said “you hold all of the power inside of you Precious Feathers. You are here for a reason and through your struggles and fears you will grow to be the chief of your tribe. You will not fail, because you have the spirit of the whole universe inside of you. We will always be with you Precious Feathers when you call upon us, we will come.” Then Barn Owl flew off into the sky and was gone just as quickly and he arrived.

Precious Feather returned to his body and woke up with many thoughts and questions. He had seen all the pain and trauma that his people went through and it hurt his heart on a whole different level than ever before. He knew he had two choices to make. Either sit in pain and let it hurt forever or start the healing process. After lots of process and going through grief, pain, anger and many more emotions, he was ready to let go of it and try to move forward. He knew that in order to move forward, forgiveness would have to take place. Without forgiveness, he realized the world would never move forward.

Young Precious Feathers then went to his tribe members and called to have a meeting as a whole. He discussed the way in which the elders had lived in harmony with one another and the meaning of a true community. It was to love everyone and respect them for all they are. Precious Feathers stood with the talking stick and said “My people live in harmony with all things including the two-legged, four-legged, winged ones, and Mother Earth herself. The plants, trees, oceans and lakes. Where I come from, hate doesn’t exist.” Young Precious Feathers continued stating “If we want to heal and live a better life, we must all start by healing ourselves. If you are okay with sitting in pain and suffering for the rest of your life, then that is the life you chose to live, but I'm tired of living in pain and suffering and it is my duty to do everything in my power to help heal and make a difference to the community.”

The tribe was so touched and amazed by the strength and knowledge of the young man that they made him Chief of the tribe. In the end it took a very long time, but the community started to work together and healing took place. They all looked after each other and working in harmony and things in turn got better for everyone and everything.