Ritva Kurittu Wrote:
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>
> I think you have the wrong picture of the
> skinwalkers. They are human, they think as humans
> and act like humans when not in "animal" form. And
> even in animal form, they still think, they do not
> solely "go on instincts" since they are, after
> all, still at half humans!
Excuse me?????
That is a mighty big set of assumptions on your part, Ritva. Either that or I would like to see some authoritative cites and quotes regarding this, starting with do Navajo skinwalkers even exist in the first place, human or not. (?)
>
> The Navajo skinwalkers are outcasts.
Yes, according to some. But in reality they might very well be elite and very much part of the *very* in crowd.
They very
> probably are born as outcasts, live as outcasts
> and die as outcasts.
What is is your evidence for believing so?
This naturally would cause
> grudge and anger and will to revenge onself, which
> they do.
Do they? I suppose they do. But is there a greater purpose?
But at the same time the only hope for
> them to EVER be accepted back, is to turn back the
> clock to the days before the Long Walk when they
> were accepted as respected parts of the Navajo
> society.
Why do you assume they were ever apart, or, if they were apart, why do you assume they want to be accepted?
And how do you do that? One main point is
> keeping the unity between the Navajo people and
> keeping their sacred ways alive. As Stryfe said, a
> great deal has been lost.
Yes, and now we are beginning to to approach the Yin Yang thing between Fear and Beauty.
If nothing is done, more
> will be lost, untill it is beyond recovery and has
> been mutated to hazy mythological tales. As it is
> now the Long Walk is not too far back and the
> tales have been passed on to the next generations.
> IMO, the constant pressure from the skinwalkers
> does keep some of the customs and beliefs alive,
> customs that are otherwise pretty easliy lost in
> the modern world.
The medicine man. Don't you think he knows this? Why is it that everyone assumes he only has a right hand and not a left as well? How is it that when he thwarts the skinwalkers he is somehow able to protect himself against the supposed retaliation of the skinwalkers?
Because he is good? Silly rabbit. The reason he is able to protect himself--if he does at all-- is because he is powerful, not because he is "good". If he is any kind of wise man--IMO-- he is both yin and yang.
>
> It would be interesting to gather the info about
> what kind of families are harassed. Are those the
> families, where the old customs are resepected and
> remembered over the average, or is it the other
> way around? Or are these families in some kind of
> connection with the skinwalkers having been
> declared outcasts way back?
>
> This said, as the skinwalkers are outcasts, they
> have to make a living out of something.
Yeah, they seem have a great infrastructure !! Brilliant communication and transportation, not to mention the bread and board in the caves. I wonder where they park the vans?
Yes, I can
> very well think they get paid to scare and harass
> due to personal vendettas, and maybe even due to a
> few dirty medicinemen, who get business thrown
> their way in the form of Blessing Ways to
> perform.
> So are they evil?
Who? The medicine men or the skinwalkers?
>I'd personally say yes and no.
And I would agree with you.
> Yes, in a way, that they misuse the shapeshifting
> and it's original purpose. But no in a way, that
> they do bring balance. The context of right cannot
> exist without the context of wrong. The light and
> darkness picture all over again.
> As to my saying Amen! to the shapeshifting, yes, I
> did. Everything that exists, be it visible or
> unvisible can be symbolised by animals, their
> caracteristics and powers. Reaching out and
> assimilating to one can only be benefic in the
> ways of understanding the meaning and goal of the
> existence itself. This said, when I say
> shapeshifting, I do not mean the Navajo
> skinwalkers in their present state.
> But yes, I was also saying Amen! to Stephanie's
> description of shapeshifting.
>
>
> Just corrected an interesting typo: I had typed
> Stryfer instead of Stryfe! Freud put aside, I
> wonder if Stryfe is not being pointed towards his
> new task!
>
>
>
>
>
> Edited 1 times. Last edit at 02/21/05 03:09PM by
> ritva.
teacup