LEGEND OF THE OSAGE ORANGE
THE FRUIT IS NOT EADIBLE BUT SACRED !!!!
FOR Pictures GO TO THE OSAGE ORANGE LEGEND
http://community.webtv.net/Taimloyd/OsageOrangeLEGEND
The pictures were taken off Web Sites on The Osage Orange with great Respect to Wakantanka ~ God creator of it, and the Publisher of the web sites and pictures.
This is dedicated to Monsignor Rev. Vincent J. Closs > 1903 ~ 1985 `
Once in the early days there lived an Old Indian Medicine Man.
He was loved by The People as his tribe called itself in their tongue, and his love and generosity spread not only through his tribe but to others as well, and he was asked to help whenever he was around and if a ceremony needed doing or someone important was needed to help with council or comfort the children he would be there. Everyone loved , and had great respect for him.
There was only one thing that was more important to the Old Medicine Man then his people. That was Wakontanka who created the
world, and all life upon, below and above it. He would often go to a Sacred Spot overlooking the village or near it where he could observe every thing in case there was an emergency .
He would thus spead time Offering his Pipe to Wakontanka Creator and watch his prayers he believed are carried to Wakontanka Creator rising in the smoke riding on his breath as the Eagle rides upon the Wind.
As he meditated and prayed to Wakontanka he chanted," Waaakonntaannnkaaa " over and over . As he did so he meditated on the great meaning of Wakontanka which means The Greatest Mystery in his language. He gave thanks to Wakontanka Creator of all the Flyers, Swimmers, Crawlers, 4 Leggeds, 2 Leggeds, Plant people and everythig above, on, and within the Earth which supplied the People all they needed as a Mother. He thanked Creator,for these, for Creators help, and The People. He thanked Wakontanka for everything he had done and had only one request to make of Wakontanka ~ Creator . That he would be accepted as Wakntanka's favorite son, and that Wakontanka would teach him.
One day the old Medicine Man as he meditated had a great vision in which he saw Wakontanka in his Glory so bright and wonderful that he could not even look upon Wakontanka directly but saw Wakontanka everywhere arround himself.. The voice of Wakontanka spoke upon him telling him that if he truely wished to be the favorite son of Wakontanka the Medicine Man must leave The People for awhile and live alone and then Wakontanka would teach him and make him His favorite son. Then Wakontanka was gone.
The old Medicine Man was overjoyed, and told the People his prayers had been answered
The People felt very happy that Wakontanka had answered their Medicine Mans prayers and would accept him as His favorite son for this was his greatest desire . Yet they felt bad because he would have to leave The People and they loved him so much. Many had known him all their lives and he had been at Ceremonies, Births, Deaths. When someone got sick or lost his way on the Sacred Road he would`be there to help out, comfort and share with them. Even once when
a young man had tried to get married and he had told the young man to go into the wilderness and practice with a hollow tree until he knew what to do. True the young man had learned to check for bees Still he had married him to a very lovely maiden. The Medicine Man smiled at the thought. He knew
he would miss The People deeply but he wanted to be favorite son of Wakontanka above all things.
The people loved him so much that they all got together and held one of the greatest feasts that had ever been held on the plains. All Tribes in the area and travelors fromother areas were invited to it. They
had a great Buffalo Hunt to feed everyone and provide clothes, and robes for use at it. They were made and dedecorated with beauty, and love. Finally the day for the feast arrived and People from many tribes arrived who knew or had heard of the Old Medicine Man. They came from all over bringin food, and gifts for Give Away, and the old Medicine Man. Then they Feasted, Gambled, and Celebrated their Medicine Man's dreams being fulfilled. On the Third Morning some of the men had to hunt for more food but even it was an extention of the feast. Everyone celebrated 4 days, and 4 nights. Then at the end of the feast there was a Great Giveaway by and in honor of the old Medicie Man. On the 5th Day the Medicine Man was greeted and thanked by everyone. Then while everyone was celebrating and singing he was followed out of the village .
The Medicone Man went to his Sacred Spot overlooking the village and asked Wakontanka to watch over and protect The People , It was now time for the old Medicine Man to journey to a Sacred Place that Wakontanka had told him about and live there alone with Wakontanka for a great many moons. He would then come back and teach The People.
IT IS A BEAUTIFUL FALL DAY AS THE MEDICINE MAN MEDIATED AND LEARNED FROM WAKONTAMKA ~CREATOR .
He understood the treachings now in the trees and plants could understand their language, He knew how they healed . He had danced with Wakontanka, and had joined the Storm Spirits as they played among the lightning. He had learned to be one with the Earth Mother and learned from her. He had learned all she had to teach, and the next famine the People would not be hungry or thirsty during a drought or cold with the Winter. He was the favorite son of The Creator Wakontanka and had learned all the secrets of the Earth Mother . He looked forward to sharing what he had learned with the People when he had returned for Wakontanka told him he would be going home soon . He thought of this as he sat on a ridge mediating awaiting the first light of day to open the sky in beautiful colors . He marvelled at the beauty before him.
THE OLD INDIAN MEDICINE MAN WAS FASTING AND PRAYING ON THE RIDGE AND HE WAS SURROUNDED BY A LOVELY CLEAR ROBIN EGG BLUE SKY .
Some young warriors noticed him off from the distance. They had heard of him and one was from the village he had served and foved the old Medicine Man and had felt bad when he left The People. He suggested to the leader of the war party that they move on for this was a Sacred Place, and the old Indian was a Medicine Man who was the favorite son of the Great Creator ~ Wakontanka . The boy leading the group used his knees in his horses ribs to get a better view of the Medicine Man sitting on his blanket on the ridge surrounded by his medicine objects and chanting. The Leader told them it was only an old Indian waiting to die and they should put him on his way. Besides they needed scalps and it had been days since they had set out, and they still had not got a single scalp, or horse. They were warriors ?
The boy who knew the old Medicine Man said that this was Sacred Ground and that the old Medicine Man was from his tribe. That the Medicine Man had had a vision of the Great Wakontanka Creator instructing him to leave The People to become Wakontanka's favorite son and learn from Him. He told them of all that the Medicine Man had done and of the real great InterTribal Feast when Tribes came from all over to see him off to become Wakontankas favorite son and learn from Wakontanka ~ Creator .
No one listened to him as all the others could think of was riding into village with a scalp on their lance to prove they were all great warriors. They would say they got it in combat and had counted coup on it.
The Leader laughed at what he called stories and set his horse into a gallop at the old Indian Medicine Man on the ridge, and killed him while he was chanting WAKONTANKA's name.
This made Wakontanka Angry for his favorite son had been killed while praising him.
The warrior not satisfied wih this jumped off his pony, and scallped the old Medicine Man making the Great Wakontanka even angrier.
The warrior screamed and yelped screaming, " I have killed a great warrior. Come and count coup with me",and shook the scalp in the air.
The other warriors started to ride away, as one screamed at him that he had angered the Great Wakontanka by killing the Old Medicine Man. who was favorite son of Wakontanka The Creator. They had remembered the feast and had heard the Legends about the Old Medicine Man.
This angered the leader who shouted out he did not care who the Old Indian was he had his first scalp. Shaking it in the air he then took out his Tomahawik and split the old Indian Medicine Man's head open. Then yanking the brain out he held it up in his other hand yelling .
This angered Wakontanka so much that out
of a clear sky a roll of thundrer echoed and a jagged bolt of lightning shot down at the Leader of the warriors just missing him. Now somewhat afraid he threw the Medicine Man's brain into the woods. After he threw it Lightning out of the blue sky suddenly struck the brain of the Medicine Man who was Wakontanka's favorite son. Instantly the old Medicine Man's brain became a tree. And from it hung fruit that looked like a luminesent human brain with tiny hairs from being scalped. The brain of the old Medicine Man who was the favorite son of Wakontanka ....
After seeing what had happened and looking directly at the brain like fruit on the Indian colored tree that had appeared in front of him the leader screamed out fear realizing what he had done, and fell to his knees asking forgiveness and cutting his arms with his knife out of great sorrow .
As he bled he looked up and saw the others riding over a ridge, so he got on his pony and quickly rode after them.
After a brief council they returned to the village and announced what they had done. They even brought the fruit of the tree to show the People. Yes it looked like a brain and upon closer inspection they could see hairs growing out of it ~ the remains of being scalped..
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All of the animals would not eat of it, and so a great council was held while they were being held in a lodge in the center of the village. Everyone who saw them insulted them. Even a dog who lifted it's leg behind the Leader. Finally after much discussion the council was over.
It was decided that from that day forward all The People that came across them would ignore them. They would not be spoken to , traded with, helped, or even associated with though the Leader had done it none of the others had stopped him. It was therefor decided that they were all guilty of angering Wakontnka by killing His favorite son. They were o all be shunned by all the People.
IT IS TOLD THAT IF YOU DISPLAY THE BRAIN FRUIT OR OSAGE ORANGE THAT THE OLD MEDICINE MAN WILL GUIDE YOU AND WAKONTANKA WILL PROTECT YOU !!!!
As for the Warriors who killed the Medicine Man who was the favorite son of Wakontanka Creator they still wander and mourn every fall mutilating themselves and wearing war paint which may rub off on some of the leaves it is said turning them red and other colors ~ seeking forgiveness from Wakontanka in memory of what they had done and the old`Medicine Man . They wander wondering when they will be allowed entry into the Happy Hunting Ground .
Always the brain like fruit of the Osage Orange reminds them and all The People of how they had angered Wakontanka.
Whatever you do never anger Wakontanka Creator, or you too may be doomed to wander forever with nothing with you but the memry of how you angered Wakontanka like them.
AHO MITAKUYE OYASIN AHO~AMEN
Turning Bear
TurningBear@lakota.net
MAY THE OLD INDIAN MEDICINE MAN WATCH OVER YOU,AND MAY THE GREAT SPRIT PROTECT YOU SO YOU WILL LIVE LONG AND PROSPER.
AHO MITAKUYE OYASIN AHO~AMEN
~~(8^)
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