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Stories From around the world

Aandeg the Crow

1/3/2025

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A Story Told by the Ojibwe
​Retold by Kristin Raphaela Otti

When the Great One, Gichi-manidoo, was creating the flying ones, every single one of them was given great purpose. “Migizi, you will be the peoples’ messenger of prayers and thanks!”, he told the Eagle, then he created Hawk and told him, “Gekek, you are to be the messenger of the peoples’ needs and good medicine!” Gichi-manidoo then called Loon into being and said, “Maang, you are going to be the teacher of love and relationships!”
​
Picture
Makwa. "White Brown Bear Smiling", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2024, Cafe Eiles, Vienna)
The Great One created Crow and said, “Aandeg, you are… Oh, I am needed elsewhere for a moment. Be patient and wait for me. I will be right back.” Aandeg the Crow nodded, but soon he got bored and started preening his feathers. “Well, hello? Great One?” He took a look around. “Is anyone out there? Could anyone tell me what I am supposed to do? Hello?” He cawed impatiently. “I will find out myself. Whom to ask? Oh yes, I will ask Makwa the Bear.” 
​
All their teachings didn’t fit with him. He learned from all of creation, but still he could not find his purpose and was not satisfied with his life.

Aandeg took off and flew to Makwa the Bear’s cave. “Boozhoo, Makwa! It’s me Aaandeg!” “Boozhoo, Aandeg, nice to see you!” “Makwa, I don’t know what I am supposed to do, the Great One did not tell me. Would you teach me your ways so I can be of help to others?” Makwa said, “Yes, I will show you how to find the right herbs and plants, so you can cure any illness, I will teach you how to fish and then I will show you how to survive the cold winter days.”

​Aaandeg was a great student and learned everything Makwa told him about, but when winter came and the first snow had fallen, he said, “Sleeping through winter is not what I want to do, there is so much to learn out there! This is not my way! Thank you, Makwa! See you in spring!” He flew away.

He learned from Beaver, asked Loon to teach him his ways, sought out Wolf as his mentor, walked with Turtle until he grew impatient once more and asked Coyote for advice. 

Picture
Ajidamoo. "Jumping Jack Squirrel", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)
But all their teachings didn’t fit with him. He learned from all of creation, but still he could not find his purpose and was not satisfied with his life.
​
Then one day, he heard someone crying in the woods. It was Ajidamoo the Squirrel. Ajidamoo was sitting on an oak tree. He looked very weak and sad.  
​
Picture
Aandeg. "White Crow", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)
“Aaniin, Ajidamoo! What’s the matter? What is troubling your heart?” Ajidamoo looked at Aandeg and said, “Aaniin, Aandeg! I don’t know what to do, my heart feels completely empty and drained!” Aandeg cawed, “You know what, Makwa will know what to do! He is the greatest of healers. We will ask him. And then we will visit Mikinaak the Turtle. He knows all about taking it slow and being patient!”
Picture
Waabooz. "White Rabbit", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2024)
​Makwa and Ajidamoo had a great healing ceremony and Mikinaak told the squirrel all about patience and moving slowly. Soon the squirrel felt healed and balanced again and could return to his purpose with fresh spirit. Aandeg said, “That felt great! Let’s see, where to go now… There is so much to learn. Oh, what now? Who is crying now?” ​

Since the Crow was always curious about such things, he went to investigate and found Waabooz the Rabbit crying in front of her burrow. “Boozhoo, old friend, what is troubling your heart?” “Oh, I just cannot take it anymore! I just want to be done with it and die!” “But why?” ​
​
The Great One created Crow and said, “Aandeg, you are… Oh, I am needed elsewhere for a moment. Be patient and wait for me. I will be right back.” Aandeg the Crow nodded, but soon he got bored.

Waabooz the Rabbit started complaining about Waagosh the Fox and told Aandeg that there was simply no peace with Waagosh around. The crow listened carefully to everything his rabbit friend had to say and then advised him to make good use of his long legs and long ears, “Waabooz, you can listen very well and you can easily tell, when Waagosh is nearby! And look at those long and strong legs of yours! You can outrun him anytime!”
Picture
Waagosh. "White Fox Stargazing", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2025, Hotel Hecher, Wolfsberg, Carinthia)
​Waabooz was taken by surprise and answered, “You are right! I can and you know what? I feel pretty good about it, too! Thanks, Aandeg!”
 
From that day, Aandeg kept travelling throughout the lands and made friends with all of creation, finding his purpose in helping others to either find their purpose or return to it with fresh spirit. ​
Find more stories on Kristin's YouTube channel "Winterfire"
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Odide - How the White Parrot Got His Grey Feathers

26/2/2025

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A Yorùbá myth retold by Kristin Raphaela Otti
​
​One morning, when the sun rose and bathed all of creation in its golden light, the Great One called all the birds to him and looked at them with a loving smile. “When Father Sun rises tomorrow and his healing light greets Mother Earth, I will call the bird with the most beautiful feathers to me.” 

The birds started chattering excitedly, wondering about who would be chosen by the Great One. They talked about what they could do to make their feathers even more beautiful, even shinier and more colorful and very slowly their energies started to change. At first, they had been talking about each other’s beauty, now they were looking at each other with envy.
​
“You are indeed the most beautiful of them all, for true beauty is found within the heart and not on the outside. Much harm has been done to you and yet you answered my call unwavering, sharing your heart’s light without hesitation.”

​Their words of encouragement turned into long tirades about the imperfection of others, they spoke behind each other’s backs and starred daggers at one another. 
​All of the birds sought to improve their beauty by bathing in fresh spring waters, diving through rainbows, singing to Father Sun and asking Mother Earth for jewels, they could brighten up their feathers with. All but one. Odide, the white parrot, sat on a tree, his eyes closed, enjoying the sun and the mild breeze. 
 
At first, the other birds thought nothing of Odide simply sitting there, then they became uneasy and started wondering, why he was doing nothing, while they were trying with all their might to improve their looks and appearance. Fear began creeping up in their hearts and they decided to play a trick on him.
Picture
"White Parrot Dreaming", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)
The other birds grew even angrier than they had been before and flew to a sorcerer, who lived in the darkest part of the forest, the one, where the only light, that is ever seen, is the one cast by the fire, the ancient sorcerer uses to brew his concoctions and prepare his charms. They told the sorcerer about Odide and asked him to turn his shiny white feathers blood red. The sorcerer looked upon them with ancient eyes, that did not remember the light of day, and did what they had asked of him.  
 
The birds started singing triumphantly. Now that white parrot would not dare to show himself before the Great One. Feathers heavy and grey with ashes? Blood red tail feathers? He would not be courageous enough to come. He would not show his dirty feathers to the Great One.

​When Father Sun rose to give Mother Earth a good morning kiss, the birds sat down on the trees around the Great One. One by one they came and when Odide flew in and landed on the Great One’s knee, the other birds gasped. “There you are, Odide!”, said the Great One lovingly. He looked at the parrot. “You are indeed the most beautiful of them all, for true beauty is found within the heart and not on the outside. Much harm has been done to you and yet you answered my call unwavering, sharing your heart’s light without hesitation.”
​
Find more stories on Kristin's YouTube channel "Winterfire"
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The Call of the White Eagle

13/11/2024

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An story written
​by Kristin Raphaela Otti

​Among all beings of creation, Eagle is the highest flying one, daring to fly near the sun. When All-heart, the Great One, dreamt the flying ones into being, each and every single one of them was given a task and a purpose. Eagle was named the messenger and bearer of prayers to the spirit realms and messenger and bearer of visions to Mother Earth and all of creation. Eagle accepted the sacred duty to speak from the heart with love and to relay the messages and visions without ill-will and without deceit. 
​
Picture
"White Eagle", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023, Carinthia)
When the seasons turned and a long and dark winter began to hold the hearts of humankind in an icy grip, Eagle was no longer greeted with warm words of welcome and the messages and visions, he had been asked to give, were spoken to frozen hearts. Sadness and sorrow filled his heart. He sat down on the branch of a dead tree and he began to weep. He no longer wanted to speak to deaf ears. The harsh words he had been met with and that had been spoken behind his back had wounded his heart badly and weighed him down. He put his head under his right wing and closed his ears to the world.
 
Suddenly he heard a tiny voice, “Dare to fly out one more time, please. Just one more time. Let us take a look from high up in the skies and see, what we can do to help mend the hearts of all of creation.” Eagle looked up and saw a white eagle sitting next to him on the branch. “Come and follow your heart one more time!” The white eagle jumped into the air and took flight, flew higher and higher and soon was out of sight. Eagle hesitated for a brief moment, then let out a scream and rushed after his new friend. 
Picture
"Eagle Reborn", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023, Carinthia)
Dare to fly out one more time, please. Just one more time. Let us take a look from high up in the skies and see, what we can do to help mend the hearts of all of creation.

​One more time.  
 
Eagle flew higher and higher, but he could not see the other eagle anywhere. The fires of the sun started to burn away all the ill-wishes and harsh words that had been spoken in anger and that had hurt his heart. His heart began to feel lighter and lighter. He soared even higher and dared to stare directly into the sun.

​The sun light gently caressed his eyes and the shadowy mist that had clouded his sight vanished. His plumage and heart ablaze he looked deep into the heart of the sun and saw his own light mirrored back to him, a majestic white eagle. He let go of his pain and fears and dove straight into the sun. Out of the ashes of wounds past Eagle was reborn as Phoenix.
 
He returned to his task and purpose, singing a song of hope, renewal and rebirth, challenging all of creation to let go of the pain and wounds of the past, to allow them to become the healing wisdom of today and the hope of our new tomorrow. 
 
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The Warrior and the Eagle

30/4/2024

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A Story Told by the Lenni Lenape Retold by Kristin Raphaela Otti


A long time ago, the Lenni Lenape had come to believe, that if you could just pluck a feather from the tail of an eagle by being cunning and swift, your heart would not just only be filled with never-wavering courage, but good fortune would always be your faithful companion. 
​
A giant eagle, much taller than any man, was flying straight at him. Its feathers were bloodred. Instead of grabbing the meat, the eagle seized the young warrior with its sharp talons and carried him away to a high cliff. 

One day, there was a young hunter and warrior, who was known for his recklessness and ambition. He wanted to pluck eagle feathers for a headdress, showing his prowess.

​He went out looking for the highest mountain, he could find in the lands, for surely, only the most beautiful and strongest eagles would call the snowy mountain tops their home. On his way to the mountain top, he took the life of a large wolf, whose liver he wanted to use to bait the eagles. Without care or honoring the life, he had just taken, he left the remains of the wolf at the wayside and followed his path to the mountain top.
​
As soon as he had placed the wolf liver on a sunlit rock, an eagle dove out of the sky in an attempt to grab the fresh morsel. The young warrior screamed in anger and drove the eagle away, for he deemed it too small and its feathers not large enough. All day, he screamed and shouted, driving away one eagle after the other, for their plumage did not satisfy him.
 
When the sun was about to set, he heard the loud flapping of wings and looked up. A giant eagle, much taller than any man, was flying straight at him. Its feathers were bloodred. Instead of grabbing the meat, the eagle seized the young warrior with its sharp talons and carried him away to a high cliff. The young man soon realized that he would not be able to escape, unless he decided to jump down and cause his own demise.
​
Picture
"White Harpy Eagle", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)
Picture
"White Harpy", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)
There was a large eyrie with four young eagles on the cliff. The giant bloodred eagle spoke, “I am the Chief of the Eagles and I have been watching you from the skies far above. I asked my warriors to gift a feather to you, but you were not satisfied with the feathers of the eagles, who agreed to bestow their gifts upon you. Your greed has brought you here. You will stay atop this cliff and care for my young, until they have grown large enough to carry you back to where I picked you up. Perhaps by then, you will have learned to honor the gifts given to you.” The Chief of the Eagles took off.

​So it happened, that the ambitious warrior could do nothing else but stay and watch over the young eagles. After some time, his mind calmed down and his heart opened up. He did so well, that the young eagles began to call him friend and speak to him in a loving way. The ancient eagle would fly by from time to time and bring them a deer or other game in its talons, feeding them.
​
He no longer felt the need to take away anything from another living being by force, but was happy to open his heart to all the gifts given to him without condition by the world around him. 

The young warrior stayed for many days and finally the young eagles learned how to fly and would stay away from the eyrie and the cliff all day. He was left to his own thoughts, but instead of listening to his mind wondering if the ancient one would honor his word, he listened to the song of his heart, watching the young eagles grow into magnificent birds.  

​When the giant bloodred eagle returned the next time, it said, “My grandchildren have grown strong enough, to carry you home, for you have taken good care of them. I will fly along with you to see, that you reach your lands safe and sound.” The young eagles seized the young man with their talons and carried him back to the mountain top, where the ancient one had seized him. 
 
When the young warrior made his way down the mountain, he found some eagle feathers lying on his path. He knelt down and gladly accepted the gift given to him. He no longer felt the need to take away anything from another living being by force, but was happy to open his heart to all the gifts given to him without condition by the world around him. 
Find more stories on Kristin's YouTube channel "Winterfire"
Winterfire
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Migizi the Eagle

23/4/2024

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A Story Told by the Ojibwe Retold by Kristin Raphaela Otti


A long, long time ago, when the hearts of our ancestors had frozen and were ruled by hate and greed, their eyes could no longer see the beauty of creation and the gifts and wonders in the world around them. They had made a habit of taking more than they needed, pillaging the lands, the waters and the mountains, taking the lives of their brothers and sisters, giving jealous breath to lies turning words meant to heal into venom eating their hearts bit by bit.  
​
“The human world is shrouded in a dark night and your eyes are used to the light of the sun. How are you to see?” Migizi answered without thinking, “My heart will be my eyes.”

And so it happened, that the guardians of the lands, the mountains, the seas, the winds and the volcanoes, gathered in the east and held council, talking about, how the humans had lost direction and were wandering astray far from their hearts.  In the south, the spirits of the plants, the trees, the herbs and the flowers, gathered and spoke about how their voices of healing wisdom were met by ears that had become deaf to the world around them. At the same time, the animal spirits gathered in the west, talking about how they were being hunted for pleasure and not survival and about how their medicines were no longer being honored but simply taken by force and used in darkness. The Council of Creation gathered and listened to the guardians, the spirits of the plants and the animal spirits. They decided, that there was no love left in the hearts of humankind and that humanity had to be changed forever. 

​Migizi the Eagle had been listening and watching carefully and felt his heart grow heavy with sorrow. He stepped forward and said, “Please wait! My heart says, that there is still love in the world and that not all has been lost. Let me prove it to you and find it! I can fly higher than any other being and my eyes see farther than any other pair of eyes in creation! Please, let me fly out there and prove to you, that not all is lost.”

​The Council of Creation pondered Migizi’s words and replied, “The human world is shrouded in a dark night and your eyes are used to the light of the sun. How are you to see?” Migizi answered without thinking, “My heart will be my eyes.” The Council of Creation said, “We will give you four days to find proof of love in the heart of man and that they deserve to be part of this world.”
Picture
"Eagle Reborn", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)
When the sun rose on the first day, Migizi took off and flew into the eastern lands. He was sure, that he would soon find proof and be able to return to the Council of Creation with glad tidings. He soared higher and higher, but he could see nothing but hearts that had lost the ability to listen to their own songs and were heavy with envy and jealousy.  ​
Picture
"White Eagle", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)
After the sun had set, he returned to the Council and said, “I have not found any proof today, but tomorrow I will fly even higher than I did today.”
 
When the second day was dawning, Migizi took off again and flew in the southern direction. He flew higher and higher, but all he could see from above were hearts mercilessly waging war against one another. Desperately he flew even higher, only to watch the wars spreading in all four directions. He could not find any proof of love and he returned to the Council of Creation, his heart filled with sadness.

When the morning sun rose on the third day, Migizi sighed. He did not want to fly out into the world, but he had taken on a task and given his word. He would honor it. He took off and flew in the western direction. He decided to fly even higher than before, looking as far as he could, but again, he only saw darkness and sickness in the hearts of man. He returned to the Council of Creation, when the night fell. “I could not find any proof of love in the heart of humankind today either.” The Council said, “You have but one more day.”
​​
“Please wait! Grandmother has told me, that whenever we take a life, we must honor that life. It is our responsibility as people not only to take, but also to provide and give.”
 
When the sun rose on the fourth and last morning, Migizi felt tired. He took off and flew towards the northern lands. He did not fly as high as before, but near the ground and when the short winter day ended, he decided to keep on flying for some time despite feeling hopeless. His eyes were not used to the darkness and when he first saw a fire in the distance, he thought that his eyes had played a trick on him. When his sight cleared, he got curious and flew towards the fire.

He saw a young boy and his father, two hunters. The young boy had just killed his first deer and taken a life. When the father wanted to start cleaning the animal, the boy said, “Please wait! Grandmother has told me, that whenever we take a life, we must honor that life. It is our responsibility as people not only to take, but also to provide and give.” The boy held up a leather pouch. “Grandmother has given us a gift of tobacco.” The father nodded and began to smile. Then he took out the tobacco, said a prayer and put it into the fire.

​Migizi let out a scream and flying faster than he ever had, he headed back to the Council of Creation. Happily and excitedly, he screamed, “Look, look! There is still some love and compassion in the hearts of humankind!” The Council of Creation agreed and that day, Migizi the Eagle became the bearer of messages, prayers and visions.
Find more stories on Kristin's YouTube channel "Winterfire"
Winterfire
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The Weight of a Snowflake

23/4/2024

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A Traditional Story Retold by
Kristin Raphaela Otti 


A long, long time ago, on a cold winter’s day, when Sister Wind was dancing merrily over the snowy meadows, a little fox and a small badger were playing together on a clearing in a snow-covered forest, trying to catch the snowflakes that were falling from the sky. 
 
The little fox who was watching the glittering snowflakes in awe asked the badger, “Do you by any chance know, how much a snowflake weighs?” “Oh, not much at all! See? They land on my fur and do not weigh me down at all! I can still run around and play!” 
​
“Sometimes we think that all our efforts are in vain and our voice will not make a difference, but if we work together and put our unique gifts to good use, many a great thing is possible.”  

A wise old owl who had been watching the two youngsters playing in the snow said, “My young friends, let me tell you a story.” The fox and the badger sat down and looked up at the owl who was sitting high up in the trees. 
Picture
"White Owl", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)
“Once upon a time, on a cold winter’s day just like this, not long after I had hatched and was still considered a spring chicken, I was sitting on the branch of a mighty tree. Snow began to fall and I was astounded to see that no snowflake was like the other and since I wanted to know, how many unique snowflakes there were, I started counting them as they were landing on the branch. One, two, three, thirty-seven, three hundred nine, eleven thousand fifty-six, two hundred thousand sixty-four and then another snowflake weighing nothing landed on the branch and all of a sudden it broke - mighty or not.” 
 
“Whoa!”, the two youngsters exclaimed. The old owl continued, “Sometimes we think that all our efforts are in vain and our voice will not make a difference, but if we work together and put our unique gifts to good use, many a great thing is possible.”  
Find more stories on Kristin's YouTube channel "Winterfire"
Winterfeuer
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Bunjil the Eagle

23/4/2024

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A Dreamtime Story of the Bunurong People Retold by Kristin Raphaela Otti 

A long time ago, when conflicts were raging among the Kulin nations and people were no longer taking care of one another, but instead greedily ravaging the lands, the Sea became very angry. 

“I will help you, but only, only if you change your ways and open your hearts again. Look upon all of creation with love and compassion.”
​

​The bigger the hate, the jealousy and the disunity in the hearts of man grew, the higher the waves she sent towards the lands became. When blind rage finally began to consume the hearts of the people entirely and all hope seemed lost, the Sea drowned the beaches and plains and threatened to flood the entire land. 

​The nations tried to blame each other, but soon they had to realize, that the wrath of the Sea could not be calmed down by shouting insults and pointing fingers, nor would any of the weapons wielded impress the waters, that kept rising steadily. 
Picture
"White Wedge-tailed Eagle", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)
For the first time in a long, long time the nations gathered and met in council. They decided to ask Bunjil the Wedge-tailed Eagle, who had created the land, for guidance and help. Bunjil listened intently to every word spoken and said, “I will help you, but only, only if you change your ways and open your hearts again. Look upon all of creation with love and compassion.” 
​
Bunjil flew out to the Sea, who had begun to calm down at the same time, that hate and rage had lost their hold on the hearts of man, and asked her to stop rising.     
Find more stories on Kristin's YouTube channel "Winterfire"
Winterfire
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How the White Parrot Got His Grey Feathers

23/4/2024

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A Yorùbá myth retold by Kristin Raphaela Otti


​One morning, when the sun rose and bathed all of creation in its golden light, the Great One called all the birds to him and looked at them with a loving smile. “When Father Sun rises tomorrow and his healing light greets Mother Earth, I will call the bird with the most beautiful feathers to me.” 

The birds started chattering excitedly, wondering about who would be chosen by the Great One. They talked about what they could do to make their feathers even more beautiful, even shinier and more colorful and very slowly their energies started to change. At first, they had been talking about each other’s beauty, now they were looking at each other with envy.

“You are indeed the most beautiful of them all, for true beauty is found within the heart and not on the outside. Much harm has been done to you and yet you answered my call unwavering, sharing your heart’s light without hesitation.”

Their words of encouragement turned into long tirades about the imperfection of others, they spoke behind each other’s backs and starred daggers at one another. 
​All of the birds sought to improve their beauty by bathing in fresh spring waters, diving through rainbows, singing to Father Sun and asking Mother Earth for jewels, they could brighten up their feathers with. All but one. Odide, the white parrot, sat on a tree, his eyes closed, enjoying the sun and the mild breeze. 
 
At first, the other birds thought nothing of Odide simply sitting there, then they became uneasy and started wondering, why he was doing nothing, while they were trying with all their might to improve their looks and appearance. Fear began creeping up in their hearts and they decided to play a trick on him.
Picture
"White Parrot Dreaming", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)
The other birds grew even angrier than they had been before and flew to a sorcerer, who lived in the darkest part of the forest, the one, where the only light, that is ever seen, is the one cast by the fire, the ancient sorcerer uses to brew his concoctions and prepare his charms. They told the sorcerer about Odide and asked him to turn his shiny white feathers blood red. The sorcerer looked upon them with ancient eyes, that did not remember the light of day, and did what they had asked of him.  
 
The birds started singing triumphantly. Now that white parrot would not dare to show himself before the Great One. Feathers heavy and grey with ashes? Blood red tail feathers? He would not be courageous enough to come. He would not show his dirty feathers to the Great One.

​When Father Sun rose to give Mother Earth a good morning kiss, the birds sat down on the trees around the Great One. One by one they came and when Odide flew in and landed on the Great One’s knee, the other birds gasped. “There you are, Odide!”, said the Great One lovingly. He looked at the parrot. “You are indeed the most beautiful of them all, for true beauty is found within the heart and not on the outside. Much harm has been done to you and yet you answered my call unwavering, sharing your heart’s light without hesitation.”
Find more stories on Kristin's YouTube channel "Winterfire"
​
Winterfire
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Aandeg the Crow

23/4/2024

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A Story Told by the Ojibwe
​Retold by Kristin Raphaela Otti

When the Great One, Gichi-manidoo, was creating the flying ones, every single one of them was given great purpose. “Migizi, you will be the peoples’ messenger of prayers and thanks!”, he told the Eagle, then he created Hawk and told him, “Gekek, you are to be the messenger of the peoples’ needs and good medicine!” Gichi-manidoo then called Loon into being and said, “Maang, you are going to be the teacher of love and relationships!”

The Great One created Crow and said, “Aandeg, you are… Oh, I am needed elsewhere for a moment. Be patient and wait for me. I will be right back.” Aandeg the Crow nodded, but soon he got bored and started preening his feathers. “Well, hello? Great One?” He took a look around. “Is anyone out there? Could anyone tell me what I am supposed to do? Hello?” He cawed impatiently. “I will find out myself. Whom to ask? Oh yes, I will ask Makwa the Bear.” 
​
All their teachings didn’t fit with him. He learned from all of creation, but still he could not find his purpose and was not satisfied with his life.

Aandeg took off and flew to Makwa the Bear’s cave. “Boozhoo, Makwa! It’s me Aaandeg!” “Boozhoo, Aandeg, nice to see you!” “Makwa, I don’t know what I am supposed to do, the Great One did not tell me. Would you teach me your ways so I can be of help to others?” Makwa said, “Yes, I will show you how to find the right herbs and plants, so you can cure any illness, I will teach you how to fish and then I will show you how to survive the cold winter days.”

​Aaandeg was a great student and learned everything Makwa told him about, but when winter came and the first snow had fallen, he said, “Sleeping through winter is not what I want to do, there is so much to learn out there! This is not my way! Thank you, Makwa! See you in spring!” He flew away.

He learned from Beaver, asked Loon to teach him his ways, sought out Wolf as his mentor, walked with Turtle until he grew impatient once more and asked Coyote for advice. 
Picture
"White Squirrel", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)
Picture
"White Crow", white pastels, Kristin Raphaela Otti (2023)
But all their teachings didn’t fit with him. He learned from all of creation, but still he could not find his purpose and was not satisfied with his life.
​
Then one day, he heard someone crying in the woods. It was Ajidamoo the Squirrel. Ajidamoo was sitting on an oak tree. He looked very weak and sad.  “Aaniin, Ajidamoo! What’s the matter? What is troubling your heart?” Ajidamoo looked at Aandeg and said, “Aaniin, Aandeg! I don’t know what to do, my heart feels completely empty and drained!” Aandeg cawed, “You know what, Makwa will know what to do! He is the greatest of healers. We will ask him. And then we will visit Mikinaak the Turtle. He knows all about taking it slow and being patient!”

​Makwa and Ajidamoo had a great healing ceremony and Mikinaak told the squirrel all about patience and moving slowly. Soon the squirrel felt healed and balanced again and could return to his purpose with fresh spirit. Aandeg said, “That felt great! Let’s see, where to go now… There is so much to learn. Oh, what now? Who is crying now?” 
​
The Great One created Crow and said, “Aandeg, you are… Oh, I am needed elsewhere for a moment. Be patient and wait for me. I will be right back.” Aandeg the Crow nodded, but soon he got bored.

Since the Crow was always curious about such things, he went to investigate and found Waabooz the Rabbit crying in front of her burrow. “Boozhoo, old friend, what is troubling your heart?” “Oh, I just cannot take it anymore! I just want to be done with it and die!” “But why?”

Waabooz the Rabbit started complaining about Waagosh the Fox and told Aandeg that there was simply no peace with Waagosh around. The crow listened carefully to everything his rabbit friend had to say and then advised him to make good use of his long legs and long ears, “Waabooz, you can listen very well and you can easily tell, when Waagosh is nearby! And look at those long and strong legs of yours! You can outrun him anytime!”

​Waabooz was taken by surprise and answered, “You are right! I can and you know what? I feel pretty good about it, too! Thanks, Aandeg!”
 
From that day, Aandeg kept travelling throughout the lands and made friends with all of creation, finding his purpose in helping others to either find their purpose or return to it with fresh spirit. 
Find more stories on Kristin's YouTube channel "Winterfire"
​
Winterfire
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    Kristin Raphaela Otti
    I am a shaman and storyteller from Carinthia, Austria, tending the fires of winter in the hearts and walking with those, who wish to embark on a journey deep within.  ​

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