The Dethronement of Yata

Abstract

There are several different versions of the Lakota myth of the winds. (1) This is a myth that expresses meaning on four different levels: the religious, cosmological, psychological and sociological. At the religious level, the myth presents the supematurals from the highest, Skan (That Which Moves) to the intermediates, Wohpe (The Beautiful One). At the cosmological level, the myth sasserts that nature itself is holy, purposive and personal. At the psychological level, the myth rassures the individual that the forces of the world are not chaotic, but subject to rationality, prayer and appeal. At the sociological level, the story reveals Lakota attitudes and behavior concerning family structure. The myth of the winds is true and beautiful and good. I will be reflecting on this story from a psychological-sociological point of view. The purpose of meditating on a true myth is to destroy false myths. This meditation may aid us in destroying the following false myths: It is a false myth that all children in the same family grow up in the same way. Each child is born into a different place and interprets his own position differently. It is a false myth that each child grows up in the same family atmosphere. The arrival of each new child alters the family dynamics. It is a false myth that parents love all children equally. Each child trains his parents differently. They may love each child but each child occupies a different position in their hearts (Grunwald and McAbee, 1985, p. 70) It is a false myth that parents are totally responsible for how children turn out and hence it is false that parents should feel guilty. By reflecting on the myth of the winds, we may be able to refute all of these erroneous assumptions.