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Coyote
The Coyote holds a most unique
place in the legends and folklore of
North American tribes. Although intimately associated with the Great Mystery
in the very act of creation, his wily descendants are both pests and relentless
competitors in the serious business of survival on the Earth Mother.
One of the tribes of old California believed that the coyotes were the first
humans who ever existed. In the beginning, of course, they walked on all
fours. Then, gradually, they began to grow certain human body parts-a finger
here, a toe there, an ear here. Over the course of generations, they eventually
became perfect humans with beautiful tails. Although the tails were handsome,
they slowly wore away through the human habit of sitting upright.
To another southwestern tribe, the coyote became an early, god-like savior
of humankind. Originally, so goes the old legend, the Great Sun Chief had nine
brothers, all flaming hot like himself. The native people down on Mother Earth
were about to wither and die under the terrible heat of ten suns burning down
on them. Brother Coyote, quickly assessing the situation and immediately
perceiving the answer, leaped into the sky and slew the Sun Chief's fiery
brothers, thus saving the tribespeople from baking to a crisp.
However, this problem had no sooner been solved when Sister Moon's nine
sisters, each as cold as she, began to turn the night into a freezing torment.
Once again, the tribespeople were helpless, for they had no way to keep
warm, and they appealed to Brother Coyote to help them lest they perish.
Coyote had to have time to think, so he retreated to the far eastern edge of the
world. After a time, the Great Mystery sent him an idea. Coyote picked up his
flint knife and struck it against a rock. Sparks flew into some leaves, and
almost before he knew it, he had created fire. He took a few moments to warm
his paws over the flames, then leaped into the sky and slew each of Sister
Moon's frigid sisters, thus saving humankind from freezing to death. But as
an aid to their keeping warm on cold winter nights, Coyote gave the tribes the
gift of fire.
So it was the coyote who gave humankind the knowledge of how to make
fire, how to grind flour, and how to find the herbs that would bring about the
quickest cures. But Brother Coyote has a very strange temperament-or maybe
he didn't think he received enough thanks for his gifts-for he is also a
Trickster.
True, he brought fire and food and healing herbs to humankind, but he also
brought death. The tribespeople soon learned that when you ask such a creature
to grant you a wish, you had better hope that there will not be some twist
attached to it.
Medicine teachers Star-Spider Woman and Battling Bear caution that if you
must be foolish enough to ask Coyote a favor, at least be very precise in
what you request.
The Navajo regard the coyote as the very essence, sign, and symbol of Dark
Side witchcraft. If a Navajo were to set out on a journey and spot a coyote
crossing his path, he would go home and wait for three days before setting
out again. Borrowing the devil from the Christian missionaries, the Navajo
believe that Satan uses the coyote as his steed on evil nocturnal missions.
If you have received the coyote as your totem animal, you must first remove all
negative connotations from your mind about the creature being a representative
of the Dark Side of spirit. The coyote is an exceedingly resourceful animal with
amazing powers of adaptability. Listen carefully to your coyote totem guide, for
it will teach you the fine line between wisdom and folly.
The coyote totem spirit may well have come to you because you, too, are a
survivor a person who knows how to adapt to any situation, good or bad.
Ancient wisdom lies within the vibration of this spirit helper, but to gain its
greatest spiritual treasures, you must truly pay very careful attention to the
essence of each and every message that your guide relays to you. This totem
animal will teach you discernment, one of the most valuable of all survival
lessons on the earthplane.