In the beginning, elders were sitting together, very close to each other. Their elbows rested on their knees and they held their head with their hands. They sat motionless for a long time, just staring past each other into the void.
     One day, one of them spoke. "We have been sitting here for a long time; maybe we should do something else now." The other elders were intrigued. They thought it was a good idea so they started thinking about what they could do. After some time, one of the elders spoke again. "Maybe we could build a world, a place where creatures could come to life and move about. We could watch them do this and guide them as they walk." The eyes of all the elders lit up. What a challenge it would be to make such a thing! How exciting it was to finally put their wisdom into practice! As they looked around at each other, the elders saw that all of them agreed this was a good idea and they started thinking about how it could be done.
     After some time, they shared their ideas with each other and started drafting a plan for as perfect a world as they could think. This took a long time and when they were finally done they decided to review their plan before putting it into action to make sure they had not forgotten anything. In the end, all the elders looked perplexed. I was indeed a perfect world they had planned but something was missing; something essential. So they sat together again to think about this.
     After a long time, one of the elders jumped up. "I know," he exclaimed, "the world we wanted to build is indeed perfect because everything has been carefully planned and anticipated. But what is missing is precisely what drove us to this project in the first place." "Inspiration!" shouted another elder; "Spontaneity!" added another; "Freedom and creativity!" exclaimed all the others in unison.
     The elders now fell silent. They pondered their shared question: How could they make a world that is inspiring, spontaneous, and gives freedom and creativity to its inhabitants? So they sat together again for a long time.
     Finally, one of them lifted his head with an inspired look and said "I think that the best way for us to do what we want to do is to embody the world itself and the qualities we want in it." All the elders were now nodding their head, smiling. They all knew what needed to be done. They all took a step forward, making their circle really tight and then, while exploding outward into the vast nothingness, shouted "Let's sing, dance, and rejoice!"

     As their voices echoed through the newly created universe, the elders formed the galaxies, the homes where all life would take place, and they lit up the Stars as sparks from which all creativity would flow. All of them spinned and danced, singing their joy. This was so for a long time.
     One day, out of one of these sparks came Grandfather Sun and Grandmother Earth and they danced together. They were happy and they sang of their wish to foster life out of their union so that more things could join the great dance. So the Sun penetrated the crust of the Earth and the Moon, the Earth's sister, assisted in pulling the life-giving Waters out of the Earth's womb. As a gift to their newly born daughter the Sun gave the algae and the Earth gave the fish and they danced together and multiplied.
     All were happy and prospered for a long time but the Waters were becoming exhausted after taking care of so much life. Grandmother Earth saw this and said "Grandchildren, your Mother is being burdened with so many of you. Some of you should come on land and I will take care of you." All the Grandchildren considered what had been said by the Earth because they cared a great deal for the Waters. Finally, one of them said "Grandmother, you are very strong and wise but how will we survive on your belly without our Mother?" The Sun, who had listened to the conversation, then said "Grandchildren, if some of you can agree to live on the Earth I will give you a gift so that you can still enjoy the gentle caress of your Mother."
     So the Grandchildren gathered in a big circle to discuss the issue. They talked for a long time and in the end some of them volunteered to live on the Earth not to overburden the Waters. Thus, some of the algae grew roots and planted themselves on the ground, hence becoming the Plant Nation. Similarly, some of the fish grew legs and walked on the Earth, hence becoming the Animal Nation.
     When the Sun saw this he addressed his Grandchildren. "Grandchildren," he said, "thank you for honoring your Mother's needs. As promised, I give you the gift of rain." At once, the sun lifted some water up into the sky and blew it over the land. These clouds traveled the Earth on the winds' back, spraying water on the Plants and Animals on their journey. Then, all were happy and kept on dancing and singing.
     After a while, though, the Animals complained that the Sun's heat was too strong and was burning them. So everyone gathered in a big circle to talk about the problem. There was much disagreement about what should be done because some Animals wanted less heat but some Plants wanted more of it. After everybody was heard, a solution that satisfied all was found. The Plants who wanted more heat would grow tall and strong, thus being closer to their Grandfather, and they would provide shade for the Animals to stay out of the sun when they wished to do so. Thus, these Plants became Trees. After this, all lived happy for a long time.
     Life in the arms of the life-giving Waters and on the belly of Grandmother Earth was good but the Plants and Animals who lived during the day and took advantage of the Sun's powers were becoming sad because they could not see the Stars of creativity dance in the night. It is true that they were already blessed with the presence of great celestial beings and that they always enjoyed the Moon's visits but they wished they could experience the original inspiration that made the grand symphony of the universe. So everyone gathered in a big circle to talk about what could be done.
     All were heard and some ideas began to emerge. "Maybe some of us could go up to the Stars to learn their songs and bring them back to share with everyone." said one. "How will we do this?" asked another, "the Trees are already very tall but they still cannot reach the Stars." They all thought for some time until another voice was heard. "Sometimes, when I'm up on the hill and the wind is strong, the air carries me as I lean into it. Maybe the great Winds could help us reach the Stars in a similar way." Everybody's attention then turned to the great Winds as they were asked for their input. After some reflection, they finally said in unison "If some of you want to come with us we will teach them how to fly high up in the sky so that they can be close enough to hear the Stars sing." Several Animals volunteered to be taught by the Winds and so they went on their way.
     For many moons the Winds taught them how to move their arms in a certain way. As they did so, feathers grew on their skin and they became Birds. Thus, to this day the Birds fly high up in the sky to hear the Stars sing and they bring back the songs they learn to their brothers and sisters on Earth. In this way, everybody rejoiced and sang their thanksgiving for the beautiful gifts there were given.
     Everyone was happy living this way. However, everything took a very long time to be done. Trees were growing too close to each other and did not have enough room to be healthy. This also prevented Animals and Plants to prosper in the forest. Strong winds came through from time to time to take the weaker Trees down but they were often very busy and, therefore, quite careless in this task. Thus, many beings started talking about how nice it would be to have someone take care of them all the time so that all could be healthy and happy. Then, as had been done since the beginning of time, everyone gathered in a circle to talk about what needed to be done.
     Everybody soon agreed that some Animals should be responsible for taking care of the world because they could see what was needed and act quickly. It was also proposed that these caretakers walk softly on the Earth, that they look behind them to see the wisdom of their ancestors, that they look up to be inspired by the celestial beings, that they look on each side of them to see their brothers and sisters' needs, and that they look ahead of them to be guided by the future generations, those who keep the secrets of the consequences of actions.
     Everyone was thrilled with the picture that was emerging, although some beings were concerned that the caretakers would have too much power over them. Therefore, it was decided that only the Animals with the most upright mind could become caretakers. As their name was called out, these Animals became Humans and they were instructed to walk upright so that they would remember their responsibilities toward the health of all living things.

     With Human Beings caretaking the land, everyone was happy and healthy, and all sang their thankfulness for the beautiful world they shared. This was so for a long time.
     Human Beings were in high demand for their skills so they grew without restraint to take care of all their relations, which, in turn, fed them, healed them, and clothed them. But soon there were more Human Beings than was necessary and there was not enough to do for all of them. Without anything good to do with their hands and body, some Humans became mad and jealous of those who were still receiving great gifts from their relations. These mad Humans then shouted: “As we do not receive gifts from you, we will just take whatever we want and wage war upon you!” And so it was that the mad ones cut down huge expanses of trees and left the land for dead, raping Grandmother Earth as they went; they stole the fish and soiled the life-giving Waters; they slaughtered the Bird and Animal Nations to grow even larger in numbers and thus increase their power; they built houses taller than the tallest trees, and they flooded the night with powerful lights on the ground so as to drown out the soft murmuring of the Stars.
     This was a time of great sickness so all beings were called to come together and talk about what was happening. Everyone came to the council, as they had done since the beginning of the world, but few Humans even heard the call. The People were very angry: “The Human People are not fulfilling their responsibilities; they do not listen to their elders any more and have gone mad!” “They are not taking care of us like they promised they would.” “Great sickness will overcome us all if they go on this way.” Everyone was very agitated except for the few Human Beings in the council who bowed their head in shame. After the anger receded a bit and more constructive solutions were discussed, it was decided that the Human Beings who were not ill would talk to their kin and protect their relations at all costs. It was said to them: “Go and meet you Human Brothers and Sisters and carry the Stars in your eyes as a symbol of inspiration and ancestral wisdom so that all who see this sign remember the instructions they have locked up in their hearts.”
     And so these Human Beings went to bring the agreed-upon message to the mad ones. Unfortunately, the mad ones didn’t have time to listen; they were always busy making a lot of noise and hurrying by, desperately trying to fill the emptiness they felt in their spirit. Those who did hear what the messengers had to say became enraged. “Nobody can tell us what to do! We are the rulers of this world and those who oppose us will die.” And so the messengers were persecuted and had to hide in order to stay alive. At that time, it seemed that nothing could cure the great sickness overcoming the land. And, as the Stars looked like they were fading away, so was hope in the heart of the People.

     As despair ruled the world, one Bird found the strength to look up to the sky at the dimming Stars and, in a spark, remembered her own commitments to the world. She looked around her and said: “Bird People, we have been so busy criticizing the Humans for not being responsible that we actually forgot our own responsibilities. Let us sing and bring joy and inspiration back to this world!” All the other Birds looked at her with a glare and shrugged their shoulders. “What’s the point? It’s too late. Things can’t go back the way they were. Besides, we would just draw attention to ourselves and get killed!” The one Bird looked down… then back up. She sighed. Then, she took another breath and started singing. Her song filled the air and the Winds, now inspired, carried it across the land. The other Birds looked at each other, ashamed, and finally added their voice to the song.
As the song traveled, all the People joined in: the Tree Nation, the Animal Nation, the Plant Nation, the Fish Nation, the life-giving Waters, and the Celestial Beings soon were all singing and dancing, gaining strength and hope, and honoring the brave Bird who reminded them that nothing is lost as long as spirit flows through them. The Human Beings who carried the Stars in their eyes also heard the call and chimed in. Only the mad ones would never heard the song.
     At last a great council was called once again. This time, nobody complained angrily. Everyone knew that the mad ones would never listen to overt requests and that the best they could do was to be good examples by honoring their personal commitments. Thus, all the People pledged once again to do the things they had volunteered to do long ago. After this was done, someone asked: “What will happen of the mad ones?” Silence fell on the council as everyone thought about this for a while. Grandmother Earth finally spoke. “When they remain still and ask for assistance in a humble way, let us lend them a friendly ear; let us sing to them softly; let us fill their dreams with hope; and let us hold their hand and show them the way back to our circle. The way out of madness will be a painful one for them as they will have to free themselves from their own chains. In this way, may they leave their immature ways behind and become responsible beings once again; may they add their voice to our songs, and reclaim their position in the great dance of life.” “What if they still don’t listen or don’t want to go through the pain?” asked someone else. The Earth looked at all her Grandchildren and smiled. Then, she started singing the song the one Bird had given them all, and all joined in as they left the council.



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