The Winds of Change Foretold
Inspired by the Legend of the White Buffalo a sacred symbol of life and abundance to Native Americans.
The Legend of the White Buffalo Calf Woman remains ever promising in this age of spiritual enlightenment and conscious awareness. In todays world of strife and war many people are looking for peace and harmony.
My favorite version of the Legend of the White Buffalo Calf Woman tells how the People had lost the ability to communicate with the Creator. The Creator sent the sacred White Buffalo Calf Woman to teach the People how to pray with the Pipe. With that Pipe, seven sacred ceremonies were given for the people to abide in order to ensure a future with harmony, peace and balance.
Legend says that long ago, seven sacred council fires of the Lakota Sioux came together and camped during the summer in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Two young men went out hunting when out of nowhere came a beautiful maiden dressed in white buckskin. One of the hunters looked upon her and recognizing her as a wakan or sacred being lowered his eyes. The second hunter approached her with lust in his eyes desiring her for his woman. White Buffalo Calf Woman beckoned the lustful warrior to her and as he approached a cloud of dust arose around them to be hidden from view. When the dust settled, nothing but a pile of bones lay next to her.
As she walked toward the respectful young hunter, she explained to him that she had merely fulfilled the other man's desire, allowing him, within that brief moment, to live a lifetime, die and decay. White Buffalo Calf Woman instructed the young man to go back to the People and tell them to prepare for her arrival to teach them of the way to pray. The young hunter obeyed.
When White Buffalo Calf Woman arrived with the sacred bundle (the prayer pipe) she taught the People of the seven sacred ways to pray. These prayers are through ceremonies that include the Sweat Lodge for purification, the Naming Ceremony for Child naming, the Healing Ceremony to restore health to the body, mind and spirit, the Adoption Ceremony for making of relatives, the Marriage Ceremony for uniting male and female, the Vision Quest for communing with the Creator for direction and answers to one's life, and the Sundance Ceremony to pray for the well being of all the People.
When the teaching of the sacred ways was complete, White Buffalo Calf Woman told the people she would again return for the sacred bundle that she left with them. Before leaving, she told them that within her were the four ages and that she would look back upon the People in each age, returning at the end of the fourth age, to restore harmony and spirituality to a troubled land. She walked a short distance, she looked back towards the People and sat down. When she arose they were amazed to see she had become a black buffalo. Walking a little further, the Buffalo laid down, this time arising as a yellow buffalo. The third time the buffalo walked a little further and this time arose as a red buffalo. Walking a little further it rolled on the ground and rose as a white Buffalo calf signaling the fulfillment of the White Buffalo Calf prophecy.
The changing of the four colors of the White Buffalo Calf Woman represents the four colors of man - white, yellow, red and black. These colors also represent the four directions, north, east, south, and west. The sacred bundle that was left to the Lakota people is still with the People in a sacred place on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in South Dakota. It is kept by a man known as the Keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe, Arvol Looking Horse."
"With the return of the White Buffalo, it is a sign that prayers are being heard, that the sacred pipe is being honored and that the promises of prophecy are being fulfilled. White Buffalo signals a time of abundance and plenty." (from Sam's and Carson, Medicine Cards)
Legend courtesy Jim and Dena Riley
This is a realistic painting depicting a large bison standing in a natural landscape. The bison, rendered with great detail, has a thick, dark brown coat and a distinctive hump on its back, demonstrating the artist's attention to the textures and contours of the animal's physiology. Its head is turned slightly towards the viewer, allowing us to see details such as the eye and horns, imbuing the creature with a sense of life and presence.
In the foreground of the painting, a small, white-colored calf sits on the ground, almost in profile. The calf's coat is depicted with lighter, softer brush strokes, contrasting with the darker and heavier texture of the bison's coat. The interaction or relationship between these two animals is a focal point, as they share the same space and seem to be looking towards each other.
The background features a vast, open sky with a mix of blue tones and wispy clouds, suggesting a broad expanse above the animals. Below the sky, the landscape shows a rocky outcrop or cliff formation to the right, with warm brown and orange hues. This cliff gives a sense of the rugged environment in which these animals live. The grassy field where the bison and calf stand has been painted with varying shades of brown and yellow, and individual blades of grass are visible, adding depth and texture to the scene. The overall impression is one of wildness.
The original oil painting is 36"H x 48"W x 1.5"D on gallery wrap canvas.
A copy of this painting is available as a Giclee, signed and numbered. There is a limited edition of 50. All Giclee Prints are shipped ready for hanging or framing. Please specify mounting preferences. Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery. Call with questions at 303-570-0357.
The Legend of the White Buffalo Calf Woman remains ever promising in this age of spiritual enlightenment and conscious awareness. In todays world of strife and war many people are looking for peace and harmony.
My favorite version of the Legend of the White Buffalo Calf Woman tells how the People had lost the ability to communicate with the Creator. The Creator sent the sacred White Buffalo Calf Woman to teach the People how to pray with the Pipe. With that Pipe, seven sacred ceremonies were given for the people to abide in order to ensure a future with harmony, peace and balance.
Legend says that long ago, seven sacred council fires of the Lakota Sioux came together and camped during the summer in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Two young men went out hunting when out of nowhere came a beautiful maiden dressed in white buckskin. One of the hunters looked upon her and recognizing her as a wakan or sacred being lowered his eyes. The second hunter approached her with lust in his eyes desiring her for his woman. White Buffalo Calf Woman beckoned the lustful warrior to her and as he approached a cloud of dust arose around them to be hidden from view. When the dust settled, nothing but a pile of bones lay next to her.
As she walked toward the respectful young hunter, she explained to him that she had merely fulfilled the other man's desire, allowing him, within that brief moment, to live a lifetime, die and decay. White Buffalo Calf Woman instructed the young man to go back to the People and tell them to prepare for her arrival to teach them of the way to pray. The young hunter obeyed.
When White Buffalo Calf Woman arrived with the sacred bundle (the prayer pipe) she taught the People of the seven sacred ways to pray. These prayers are through ceremonies that include the Sweat Lodge for purification, the Naming Ceremony for Child naming, the Healing Ceremony to restore health to the body, mind and spirit, the Adoption Ceremony for making of relatives, the Marriage Ceremony for uniting male and female, the Vision Quest for communing with the Creator for direction and answers to one's life, and the Sundance Ceremony to pray for the well being of all the People.
When the teaching of the sacred ways was complete, White Buffalo Calf Woman told the people she would again return for the sacred bundle that she left with them. Before leaving, she told them that within her were the four ages and that she would look back upon the People in each age, returning at the end of the fourth age, to restore harmony and spirituality to a troubled land. She walked a short distance, she looked back towards the People and sat down. When she arose they were amazed to see she had become a black buffalo. Walking a little further, the Buffalo laid down, this time arising as a yellow buffalo. The third time the buffalo walked a little further and this time arose as a red buffalo. Walking a little further it rolled on the ground and rose as a white Buffalo calf signaling the fulfillment of the White Buffalo Calf prophecy.
The changing of the four colors of the White Buffalo Calf Woman represents the four colors of man - white, yellow, red and black. These colors also represent the four directions, north, east, south, and west. The sacred bundle that was left to the Lakota people is still with the People in a sacred place on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in South Dakota. It is kept by a man known as the Keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe, Arvol Looking Horse."
"With the return of the White Buffalo, it is a sign that prayers are being heard, that the sacred pipe is being honored and that the promises of prophecy are being fulfilled. White Buffalo signals a time of abundance and plenty." (from Sam's and Carson, Medicine Cards)
Legend courtesy Jim and Dena Riley
This is a realistic painting depicting a large bison standing in a natural landscape. The bison, rendered with great detail, has a thick, dark brown coat and a distinctive hump on its back, demonstrating the artist's attention to the textures and contours of the animal's physiology. Its head is turned slightly towards the viewer, allowing us to see details such as the eye and horns, imbuing the creature with a sense of life and presence.
In the foreground of the painting, a small, white-colored calf sits on the ground, almost in profile. The calf's coat is depicted with lighter, softer brush strokes, contrasting with the darker and heavier texture of the bison's coat. The interaction or relationship between these two animals is a focal point, as they share the same space and seem to be looking towards each other.
The background features a vast, open sky with a mix of blue tones and wispy clouds, suggesting a broad expanse above the animals. Below the sky, the landscape shows a rocky outcrop or cliff formation to the right, with warm brown and orange hues. This cliff gives a sense of the rugged environment in which these animals live. The grassy field where the bison and calf stand has been painted with varying shades of brown and yellow, and individual blades of grass are visible, adding depth and texture to the scene. The overall impression is one of wildness.
The original oil painting is 36"H x 48"W x 1.5"D on gallery wrap canvas.
A copy of this painting is available as a Giclee, signed and numbered. There is a limited edition of 50. All Giclee Prints are shipped ready for hanging or framing. Please specify mounting preferences. Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery. Call with questions at 303-570-0357.
