By Chief White Eagle as told to White Wolf

(An old Native Teaching told to the Author by Inter-tribal Chief White Eagle)

Once there were two eagles that soared to great heights in the Heavens. They had great Love and a desire for creation and eternal progression. They realized that to have a fullness of joy, they needed to have posterity that is, offspring, and a place to fulfill this need. So a plan was devised, wherein the eagles went out and gathered unorganized matter (such as sticks, leaves, feathers, grass, and earth) to build a nest where this experience could take place.

The adult eagles saw that what they built was good-- it would be a good place to raise their young. In this nest, they laid two beautiful eggs, which were confided in the nest. They took care of these eggs with great dedication. Finally, the eggs hatched there were two little eagles who didn't have feathers, and who were small and helpless. Still, the parent eagles loved and cared for them.

The parent eagles fed, cared for and loved the two little eagles. As they gave food (nourishment) and love, the little eagles started to grow. The parents gave and the little eagles received and grew. The parents gave more and the little eagles received and grew more. The little eagles begin to look like their parents-- they started to develop wing feathers and a small tail. The little eagles depended upon their parents, as their parents fed and loved them. As the little eagles were fed more and received food, they grew larger, and looked more like their parents. They replaced their fuzzy down with feathers. The little eagles developed their muscles by exercising their wings. They got stronger and stronger, and larger. One started to think; I am strong now like my parents. Perhaps I can fly and do as my parents, even getting my own food. But their parents told them that they were not yet ready to leave the nest. They were to stay, wait, grow and learn more. Still that one young eagle in his pride, thought differently-- he would soon no longer need his parents. He kept exercising his wings and getting closer and closer to the edge of the nest-- he thought that he could fly and one day he decided to do such. But he didn't fly because his pride caused him to ignore his parents wisdom. Even though he flapped his wings, he fell to the ground. Bang, he hit! In an abrupt way, he learned the truth-- he hadn't learned to fly and he was not yet sufficiently physically and mentally developed. He realized that he needed to get back to the nest, but he didn't know how nor was he capable. He needed help, but there was time as it was still morning.

Along came a skunk. The skunk said that he could make the little eagle fly and put him back in the nest, but he must do everything the skunk said. The little eagle obeyed. But could the skunk put the eagle back in the nest? No! The little eagle felt helpless.

Along came a coyote. Coyote said that skunk didn't know what he was doing, but he, coyote, could make him fly and put him back in the nest. But you must do what I say. The little eagle agreed. However, even clever coyote was not able to put the little eagle back. Little eagle was feeling more helpless. Someone help me!

Now along came a bobcat with a gold chain and a crystal ball around his neck which he thought gave him great power. Help me cried the little eagle. Bobcat said that he was the right one-- only he with his wonderful crystal ball could put the little eagle into the nest and make him fly. But bobcat said you must do what I say. Bobcat with his crystal ball tried and tried to make the little eagle fly and put him in the nest. But was bobcat and the crystal ball able to do it? No! Bobcat became angry when the little eagle failed to fly-- he blamed the little eagle for the failure, not his own inability or the lack of power in the crystal ball. Its all your fault said bobcat as he angrily left the little eagle and went off into the woods.

It was now late in the day-- the sun was about to set. The little eagle really felt helpless. Suddenly, the little eagle was aware of a large being approaching from the east. He was very afraid. He lay close to the ground, trembling, and covered his eyes with his wings. He felt helpless and began to cry inside: "If only I had listened to my parents and not been so caught up in myself. I am sorry, if only I could get back in the nest, if only I had another chance, I am sorry, if only I had another chance."

The being reached down and picked the little eagle up. This being did not squeeze or hurt the little eagle, but handled him very gently, and said to the little eagle, looking him in the eye, ' I love you. I love you. I really love you!' He put the little eagle gently back into the nest. The Being then said: "Listen to what I say: Do not leave the nest until you hear the Call. Remember, do not leave the nest until the Call." The little eagle didn't know what this meant but he will find out.

The parent eagles kept feeding their young. They kept giving and the two young eagles kept receiving. The young eagles exercised their wings more but they stayed in the nest. They grew larger, stronger and looked more and more like their parents.

One day, the parent eagles circled above the nest three times, calling epee! eee!! But they did not come to it with food. The young eagles heard the: Eee! Eee! At first they were confused. But when the parent eagles circled the nest the third time crying: eee! eee!, the young eagles realized that it was time for them to leave the nest. This was the Call that he was to wait for. He had heard the Call, now it was necessary to make a choice-- to follow or not to follow!

The first young eagle went to the edge of the nest. He reflected on the past: his falling to the ground, the loving hands, being given a second chance and on his caring parents. He thought of his parents: "You have never led me astray. Therefore, I now chose to follow you".

The parents called encouragement: Eee! Eee! The young eagle realized that it was now time to fly. He thought he could fly well-- he had been taught and had exercised much. He jumped out of the nest and flapped his wings. He flew but it was a wobblely flight instead of the smooth one he expected. But he did well enough that he landed safely on the ground. This is like us when we first try something, we don't do well, such as when we first leave home.

The second young eagle went to the edge of the nest. She too thought of her parents: "You have never led me astray. Therefore, I choose to follow your call". She flapped her wings and jumped. She too wobbled but made it safely to a tree branch.

The parents continued to feed and teach the young eagles-- the parent eagles gave the young eagles everything they needed. They grew and practiced. Before long, they could fly and soar like their parents. The young eagles were no longer confined, such as in the nest, but had become as their parents. The parent eagles now had a fullness of joy in their offspring. And the fully developed young eagles soon started their own family. The cycle could continue.

An explanation of the symbolism

An Eagle Story, as most Native teachings and those of Christ, is full of symbolism. You must understand this symbolism to get the deep meanings of the story. Thus, this explanation.

The adult eagles are Gods, the Creators (male and female) or Jesus Christ. The nest is Mother Earth. The little eagles (eaglets) are our earthly parents (Adam and Eve) and/or each of us. Note the dedication that God (the Gods) (Eagles) give to raising their young (Man).

The adult eagles give food (both temporal and spiritual) to their offspring. But for it to benefit them (or us), we must be willing to receive it. A child, who does not receive both of these foods, will die. There must be both giving and receiving for growth.

As the eaglets receive, they grow. As they grow, power starts to come and they start developing feathers and wings, future potentials. As the eaglets continue to grow, they began to reach a stage where they can start making choices, start to question, think and know about what their parents are teaching. And they are starting to become accountable for their choices.

One morning (that is, early in his life), one eaglet decides that he can fly before his parents have said he could or before he is ready to fly. Ego/pride is developing! After all, the eaglet reasons, he has been exercising his wings, they have grown and he believes that he can fly. But he falls to the ground-- he has not obeyed his parents. This represents the fall of Man by turning from or disobeying God or his Creator's plan and law.

On the ground, the eaglet is unprotected, helpless, he is subject to worldly forces. On the ground, he realizes that he cannot survive there his ego couldn't fly him and he is not yet prepared or capable of flying at this point in his life.

The young eagle now meets three animals that represent worldly ways of approaching problems. These worldly (carnal) approaches distract us from following the ways of the Creator or if you will, Jesus Christ.

The skunk suggests that he knows more than the eaglets parents and can put him back in the nest. Even though the little eagle works hard to obey the skunk, the skunk can't put him back-- the skunk isn't God or the one who created him.

Next comes coyote, the Trickster, who says he knows much. Coyote feels very important but still cant put the eaglet back. Each animal would mislead or demand that you follow a different path other than the true path.

Then comes the bobcat with a gold chain around his neck representing material riches of the world and a crystal ball representing the powers of the world (computer technology (?)). All these worldly goodies attract little eagle. And bobcat says that he knows everything. Each animal demands that he be followed. All this moves little eagle further from his Creator.

Despite all bobcat's claims, he cannot put the eaglet back. Bobcat becomes angry and blames the little eagle for the failure. Bobcat fails to see and/or admit that his powers are inadequate (pride).

The time from morning until nights represents our earthly experiences.

It is now evening and there is little time left for the little eagle to be saved (to be put back alive in the nest). The eaglet becomes desperate. He becomes humble, thinks about his parents, wants another chance, and is sorry for his disobedience (he is repenting). Because of his humility, he starts to see a light (God and truth), which contains a very gentle person. But the eaglet, like us, is still uncertain and fearful. The Creator says to the little eagle: "I love you, really love you." He picks him up and puts him carefully back into the nest. The Creator gives him instructions: "Do not leave the nest until you hear the Call" (that is, Gods Call).

The little eagle ponders the instruction. Though he does not fully understand it, he decides to obey-- the right choice. God and the eaglets parents know that the eaglet is not yet ready to fly. The focus needs to be on God or our Creator, not on worldly things, or those who do not follow godly principles.

The eaglet focuses on his parents: "They have given me food. I have chosen to accept it, and have grown, such as feathers and wings." The eaglet decides to stay in the nest.

The feathers and wings the eaglets grow represent the gifts God gives to us as powers to move and also for protection. These are still growing in the little eagles.

One day, the parent eagles give the Call. They, not the eaglets, know when the little eagles are ready to fly. The eaglets remember the instruction and now know what the Call means. They use their ability to choose and decide to obey the Call to greater heights. But they could have chosen to stay at a lower level of development that is, they could have decided to stay in the nest.

The first little eagle reflects back my parents have advised me wisely. When I have chosen to disobey, I have gotten in trouble, been in darkness. When I have focused on the light (the Creator), I have had hope, not fear. (Hope comes from the Atonement.) The ability to choose is to have agency, a gift off God.

The first eaglet decides to follow his parents. He expects to fly well. He does fly but it is wobbly. The Creator knows that we must put forth effort (that is, much practice) before we can do well.

The second eaglet reflects that her parents have not led her ashtray. She uses her agency to choose to obey, and by obeying her parents (the Creator)) and not following false ideas, she retains the ability to choose good in the future. If she disobeyed her parents, she would loose the ability to choose good-- her growth and advancement would end. She also has a wobbly flight. We all have trails-- it takes time for us to be perfected.

The parents now instruct the eaglets on how to take off from the ground and the perch. As the eaglets learn and practice, they eventually develop the ability to soar. They become like their parents, that is, more God like and as we can, they develop their full potential.