How the White Parrot Got His Grey Feathers

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.

"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.”

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Find more stories on Kristin's YouTube channel "Winterfire"
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