Puzzle Description:

This is a close up of the Heyoka Dream Warrior. Heyoka is the Lakota Sioux concept of the jester or sacred clown character. A medicine man without the medicine, Heyoka heals through humor.

#1: Teresa K (fasstar) on Jan 24, 2011 [SPOILER]

The Heyoka plays an important role in Lakota culture. His role is that of teacher as well as prankster. He does what is opposite, and sometimes his behavior seems inappropriate. He may dance backwards, or wear warm clothing in summer and complain that it is too cold. He may make fun of authority figures. There is usually a lesson to be learned. If one reads between the lines, one will see things differently, with heightened awareness.

"The truth comes into this world with two faces. One is sad with suffering, and the other laughs; but it is the same face, laughing or weeping. When the people are already in despair, maybe the laughing face is better for them." - Black Elk

Here is a Lakota story:

A bear was attacking some Lakota and a Heyoka got in the way. The people were yelling, "Run, Heyoka! He's going to kill you!" But the Heyoka continued to stand there. The bear was about to attack him, but he turned around, holding a porcupine quill pointed at the bear's stomach and simply said, "bzzz." The bear screamed and fell over. Then the bear ran away.

Such actions are perceived to be the result of sacred powers. Instead of running, this Heyoka had the power to stand his ground and fend off the bear by doing the opposite of everyone else. He did not panic; instead he remained calm. The abilities of this particular Heyoka, as with other Heyokas, derive from his spiritual power. Thus Heyokas use spiritual power to help the Lakota people.

beautiful

You were missed, Teresa.

I love it! Thanks Teresa.

Thanks a lot for the entry and the story behind it!

Great image.

another excellent Teresa puzzle.

Teresa,fabulous puzzle.

I always blow up the puzzles as large as I can when I solve - it's easier to read the clues. This image didn't pop out at me right away until I made smaller again. Then it became obvious just how beautiful it is. Wonderfully done.

Beautiful and very nice to have a clown be black and white after all those colors I have been doing. Thanks

i agree with comment 11
the little sand dollar thing in his hair took some work
very nice puzzle

Really nice, and I also appreciated the black and white.

Very nice. I studied the Lakota Indians while in school. Black Elk was a favorite read. I did not know what this puzzle was until the end. Thank you.

thanks for entry T :)

i really appreciate your take on this theme and i enjoyed solving the puzzle!

I personally can't understand how this one couldn't have at least placed. It's excellent.

Thank you, Telly. I personally thought the same thing about your entry. :-)

And we did too about you two and a couple others, it was very hard.

huggggsss Jota

I don't envy your job Jota and Tom :)

It's really getting harder and harder for three of us, don't forget Sylvain.

maybe she envies his job though and just not yours
haha

Well, I'm really pleased with all the WCP entries. When everyone's creativity is nurtured and nudged, the competition just makes it that much more fun. And it's especially exciting when WCP veterans like Telly get into the action again! :-)

Well, thanks Teresa.
Ha ha Bugaboo.
No, I don't envy any of the judges, Sylvain included. (Though I wish I had his creativity with choosing topics and coming up with the idea for the contest in the first place!) Especially this week. There are so many entries and they're so good and so completely different that I'd find it extremely difficult to judge! Good luck...lol. :p

having Jota to help... we always figure it out

We not always please the crowds, but we do figure it out. The three musketeer's.

Nice.

Goto next topic

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