Post by wren on Oct 22, 2006 18:20:24 GMT -5
The Origin of Disease
A Traditional Cherokee Story
Long, long ago, when the humans, plants and animals could still talk to each other, they maintained a delicate balance within their environment. Each division of this triumvirate gave to, and took from, the others in a fair way.
Then, one day, the humans invented weapons and discovered that they could use them to hunt very efficiently. They began to kill and kill and kill the animals, taking far more than they could eat and neglecting the important tradition of honoring the animals’ spirits. The humans were very pleased with themselves, indeed.
The animals, of course, were deeply troubled by this new practice and met to seek a solution to the problem. They talked and talked and talked, until their anger overtook them and they made a vengeful plan . . . the animals created disease. Each animal, in turn, named a disease, described the symptoms and the way in which the humans would contract it. The animals were very pleased with themselves, indeed.
The plants observed all of this and, in their wisdom, saw that the delicate balance of the triumvirate was destroyed. Knowing that this would bring an end to them all, the plants became allies to the humans. Each plant volunteered to give itself to cure a disease. If the humans were not able to understand which plant cured which disease, the plants agreed to reveal the cures to the humans.
This generous act restored the delicate balance, which continues today. For this, we are most grateful.
A Traditional Cherokee Story
Long, long ago, when the humans, plants and animals could still talk to each other, they maintained a delicate balance within their environment. Each division of this triumvirate gave to, and took from, the others in a fair way.
Then, one day, the humans invented weapons and discovered that they could use them to hunt very efficiently. They began to kill and kill and kill the animals, taking far more than they could eat and neglecting the important tradition of honoring the animals’ spirits. The humans were very pleased with themselves, indeed.
The animals, of course, were deeply troubled by this new practice and met to seek a solution to the problem. They talked and talked and talked, until their anger overtook them and they made a vengeful plan . . . the animals created disease. Each animal, in turn, named a disease, described the symptoms and the way in which the humans would contract it. The animals were very pleased with themselves, indeed.
The plants observed all of this and, in their wisdom, saw that the delicate balance of the triumvirate was destroyed. Knowing that this would bring an end to them all, the plants became allies to the humans. Each plant volunteered to give itself to cure a disease. If the humans were not able to understand which plant cured which disease, the plants agreed to reveal the cures to the humans.
This generous act restored the delicate balance, which continues today. For this, we are most grateful.
