Chippewa Lake rippled with little waves, while the
sun's glimmer played peek-a-boo in the swollen
rice beds. The wild grasses swayed in the summer
breeze begging the colored strings of Morning
Star's prayer stick to join in their dance. The young
woman sat on the sturdy birch branch that ex-
tended out from the edge of the lake. She had
scooted out as far as was safe, a stick wrapped
with colorful strings in her hand, prayers in her
heart. Morning Star touched the strings, as her legs
dangled over the lake, and thought about her
intent, her prayers.
The yellow string was attached for the life that
moved inside her. She instinctively rubbed her
stomach and looked up into the sky. The young
woman prayed for blessing of her baby. Next,
Morning Star touched the red string. She thought
of the changes she now experienced, the circle of
her womanhood, as she nurtured the child within
her womb. She asked to be strong, for mornings
were difficult to get through. The black string was
wrapped around a notch on her stick and Morning
Star smoothed out the wrapped string as though
comforting a bruise. She asked for wisdom
to become a wise mother, to know when to give and
when to let go. Morning Star followed the stick's
length to its middle, where her mother who was
now in the Spirit World, was honored. A tear fell
onto the white string washing it with love, as
Morning Star imagined her mother's arms around
her, proud of the grandchild her daughter now
nurtured. Morning Star held the stick up into the
wind and let the breeze dry her wet cheeks. She
watched the green string dance with the wind. Into
the breeze, she thanked Earth Mother for her gifts.
The blue string was wrapped for connection. The
change in Morning Star's life craved this joining to
the Spirit World. Morning Star pulled out an
orange string from her pocket. It was for herself.
Her becoming. Her being. She wrapped the stick
for Morning Star.
The young woman knew it was time to release the
prayers to the Spirit World. It was time to give her
intent to Gitchi Manidoo. She held it high: her
intents, the stick, her prayers. She asked the Seven
Directions to take her intents to the Spirit World.
Morning Star dropped the stick into the lake and
watched as the Wind Spirits carried her intents off
into the middle of the lake, until she could no
longer see the prayer stick at all.
Three moons passed and Morning Star grew. As
her sickness left and she felt alive with great
health, the Chippewa River carried her stick along
its currents. over rocks. and into still waters. The
East and South directions had carried her intent.
Five more moons passed. And Morning Star gave
birth to a beautiful boy. Spring turned into Winter
and Winter into Spring. Soon he grew into a strong
boy. He became known as one who listened more
than he spoke, who gave as much as he took, who
respected his mother and gave her pride. The
Chippewa River had moved West to enter the Great
Mississippi. The West direction had carried her
intent.
The boy neared adulthood and Morning Star tried
to remember what it was like to hold him, where
the time had gone. He was still a child, but wore
moccasins larger than hers. He was still young, but
spoke of adult ways. He was naive, but craved
experience. Morning Star needed guidance, as she
did not know what to do with her son who was
growing so quickly. Morning Star remembered her
mother with gentleness and spoke her wise words
to her son. The North winds carried Mornign Star's
prayer further down the great river, and her intent
was whirled into the North winds'power.
Her son grew strong and became a great hunter. He
brought buffalo back for his people. He fished the
waters and harvested the rice. Morning Star's
prayers left the shores of Earht Mother and entered the ocean.
Morning Star held her first granddaughter in her
arms and smiled at her son. She held responsibility
to her people in her arms. She thought of the
teachings and the love she would give this fine
little one. Father Sky carried her intent out to meet
the oceans, where sky blends with water. Morning
Star connected to the Spirit World and in turn the
Spirit World connected to her people.
Morning Star awoke one night to the sound of the
wind. She walked to the lake and leaned against
the birch tree where once she had offered her
prayers. The woman looked out to the peaceful
stillness of the lake. She thought to herself. Her
life. Looking up she saw her star and knew the
Water Spirits had carried the intent of her prayer
stick into the Spirit World, for the wild rice swayed
in the light wind and her heart continued to beat
the intent of long ago.