How the Vulture Saved the Earth

This beautiful turkey vulture flew in between me and the sun so close above me I could almost reach out and touch him. I shot the photograph right into the sun which came out quite illumined and mysterious. To bring out the colors I saturated them and this was the result. while looking up the symbolism of vulture I came across this Native American tale. It is only fitting that I tell this tale as the photograph is a perfect illustration for it.


Long ago the sun was much to close to the earth.

It was burning hot and the animal world got together to decide what must be done. Fox stepped up and offered to help. He took the sun in his mouth and ran as fast as he could towards heaven. The sun got so hot it burnt his mouth. To this day the Foxes on earth have black mouths. He returned unsuccessful.

Then Opossum stepped forward
Opossum volunteered and wrapped his tail around the sun and ran towards the heavens. He too found the sun was much too hot as it burnt the hair off his tail. He returned and to this day all possums do not have hair on their tails.
Vulture stepped forward

He was the most beautiful and powerful of birds. He had beautiful feathers on top of his head and so beautiful that he was envied by all. He pushed the top of his head against the burning sun and pushed the sun farther and farther up into the heavens. He could feel the feathers burning off his beautiful crown but he was so strong that he pushed the sun far away enough from the earth so the animals and the earth could live on. Vulture had sacrificed his beautiful crown feathers to save the earth and he remained bald. To this day all vultures heads are bald.

~ Native American Tale

Vulture is very misunderstood. People see vulture as ugly and mean because he eats dead animals. Vulture is an amazing bird that keeps our environment clean. His scientific name

cathartes aura means "golden purifier". He does not kill his prey. Vulture is also a beautiful graceful soaring bird who rides on the winds. Have you seen vulture teetering on the winds making use of every draft. this takes much strength and power.

Vulture teaches us to honor others for who they are and not how they appear. This is a very good lesson for us to learn. Perhaps your heart will open next time you encounter vulture and you can share this story with others. ~ DeborahMoen

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