Earth Spirit – Carlos Nakai Flute Evokes Images

No study of Native American culture is complete without the inspirational sounds of Navajo flutist Carlos Nakai.

The music evokes images from our collective unconscious and sets up a friendly environment for new students. Here are some images that emerged from a half hour of listening and writing:

I am in a vast plain and wild nature and I can see wild animals too. Mayumi

I imagine as if he and I are in bamboo grove and he has been playing only for me. Setsuko

I can see a town with hills and many trees. I can see the sun showing up. Clara

The sky of sunset, a flight of birds return to their nests. The little town is becoming darker and darker. I hurry to go home from a secret field. Yuko

All creatures are breathing calmly, and the earth is holding them gently. Yukiko

A dignified view in Moabu, Arizona:  It is an indigenous settlement. An eagle of the sky, red rocks on the red field and wind. Yuko

There are many trees with fresh green leaves and a little bit mist like a fantasy story. I can’t see any stream, but I can hear comfortable spring water running down out of the mountain. Tomoka 

I see an Indian standing alone in a wide field. It’s the time of sunset. An Indian is looking far away, he is thinking of someone special who he cannot meet anymore.  Yumi 

River with an icy stream; chirping birds at dawn, green vegetation, endless plain, pouring rain, gathered people, farewell to a death warrior, fire in a dark night. Hermogenes

People are in a religious ceremony practicing their rituals and presenting a beautiful girl as a sacrifice to their believed God. People are wearing some feathers, accessories, and different colors. Latifa

Images that I see are the Twin Towers falling down, people crying because they have lost their family. Marvin 

Michiyo even wrote a short, short story…

A man is in a mountain range, in a cold air, talking to condors about his feeling. He just lost his loved one, he feels so sorry and alone, but also feels her soul somewhere around him. It is early in the morning, between the mountains, you can see the sky in the east is growing white. He feels hope from that, he feels the energy from the earth. He thinks he is going to live with his way because his life was given by nature. Everybody around him knows lives are precious, and they are part of nature. He says,”Condor, what do you see? You might see my love’s soul. If so, I want you to fly me up.”