Interesting collection of legends about bobwhite quails and other birds in Algonquian tribes. Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links Spirits of the Earth: A Guide to Native American Nature Symbols, Stories, and Ceremonies:īook about the meanings of Indian animal spirits, including a chapter on quails.įlights of Fancy: Birds in Myth, Legend, and Superstition:Ī good book on the meaning of quail and other birds in world mythology, including Native North America. It is called a bird of passage, because it does not always live in the same place, but spends the winter in one country. Recommended Books of Quail Stories from Native American Myth and Legend Pima legend about a family of Indian quails getting the better of Coyote.Ĭherokee legend about the powers given by Eagle to Quail and other birds. Some tribes, such as the Creek and Cherokee, also have a Quail Dance among their tribal dance traditions. ![]() Quail are also used as clan animals in some Native American cultures. They are considered modest and humbleīirds by many Southwestern tribes, and the Pueblo people associate quail with the earth. It is a lesson that we too must learn if we are to fully embrace our freedom as children of God and finally dispel all thoughts of returning to the slavery of sin.Quail do not play a major role in the folklore of Native American tribes. God 'rained flesh upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea' ( Psalms 78:27 ). This is the hard lesson that the Israelites learnt by enduring the privations of the desert for forty years. Quails S The Israelites were twice relieved in their privation by a miraculous supply of quails, (1) in the wilderness of Sin ( Exodus 16:13 ), and (2) again at Kibroth-hattaavah (q.v.), Numbers 11:31. As Augustine puts it, our hearts are restless until they rest in God. Eventually these consolations become revolting and we must search for another ‘fix’. As a sun symbol, the quail is symbolic of life, creation, growth, passion and desire. Here the Quail represent all the sensual, intellectual and emotional consolations that we turn to in order to avoid the cross of Christ, in order to avoid the sacrifices that love of God and love of neighbour demand. The yang principle, and quail meaning is also connected with the sun. He tells Israel: ‘ You will eat it ….for a month until it comes out of your nostrils and sickens you’ (Numbers 11: 20). Once again God provides responds to the complaints of his people by providing meat in the form of Quail, but this time he promises Israel that they will grow tired of this meat too. The consolations of slavery much too alluring. They are bored of this food and once more long for the variety of their diet in Egypt. Here the people have already received the gift of the Manna, they have already received the bread from heaven, the food for the journey – and they are sick of it. In Numbers Chapter 11, however, the context is slightly different. In the Eucharist, our bread from heaven is the Body and Blood of Christ himself, this is our food for our journey with God. ![]() In the Desert, God gave his people bread from heaven and flesh from the sky in the form of Quail. ![]() In Exodus, then, the Quail appear as a sign of God’s providence and generosity, and also a foreshadowing of the Eucharist and the Incarnation. In addition, he also provides Quail, he provides his people with flesh to eat in the desert. To strengthen them and encourage them on their journey, God provides his people with Manna, bread from heaven and a ‘type’ of the Eucharist. ![]() As the people begin to feel the pangs of hunger and thirst they begin to regret their leap from slavery in Egypt to freedom with God. In Exodus Israel is only just beginning its wanderings in the desert.
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