Second Posting Assignment

Bruce Hoon (jbh1887@silver.sdsmt.edu)
Fri, 7 Nov 1997 12:32:02 -0700 (MST)

For discussion purposes, I would like to finish my thoughts
concerning rainbows. We touched on this subject briefly in class when
dialog of the coyote story arose.
"The rainbows were crossed. They had been his former means of
travel"(141).
We all travel through life on a rainbow of cultural and
ethnic diversity. The beauty of a rainbow reflects the beauty of the
collective soul of life. If we can transcend our ethnocentricity, and let
the rain wash away our fear, we become part of the beauty and radiance of
that rainbow.

In response to Brian Green's statement,"ceremonies or stories
aren't just for entertainment": I would agree. But a separation is
necessary between ceremonies and stories. Ceremonies are observable,
participitory, and inclusive of experience. In Ceremony, they are used to
heal and strengthen Tayo. Ceremonies are performed by Betonie to bring
Tayo back to himself; bring Tayo back to the stories; spark Tayo's
memory of those stories.
Stories are the cornerstone of belief: they are a stablizing
force that create a spiritual path. Ceremonies, however, are a tool
utilized to return us to that path--to help us begin the most difficult
journey: the journey inward.

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