The eagle and the falcon

⏱️ Reading time: 2 min.

A Sioux legend says that once, Brave Bull and Blue Cloud came holding hands to the old witch doctor of the tribe’s tent and asked him:

“We love each other and want to marry. But we love each other so much that we want advice that will ensure we stay together forever, that will ensure we stay by each other’s side until we die. What can we do?”

And the old man, moved at seeing them so young and so in love, so eager for a beautiful word, said, “Do what must be done. You, Blue Cloud, must climb the mountain to the north of the village. With just a net you must catch the strongest hawk and bring it here alive, on the third day after the new moon. And you,  Brave Bull, must climb the mountain of thunder; at the top you will find the strongest of all eagles. With just a net shall you catch it and bring it to me, alive!”

The young people embraced each other tenderly and then set off on their mission.

On the appointed day, in front of the witch doctor’s tent, the two waited with their birds.

The old man took them out of the sack and noted that they were indeed beautiful specimens of the requested animals.

“And now, what shall we do?” the young people asked.

“Take the birds and tie them together by a leg with these leather strings. When they are tied, let them go so that they may fly free.”

They did as they were ordered and set the birds free. The eagle and the falcon tried to fly, but could only make small leaps over the ground.

After a while, irritated at being unable to fly, the birds began to attack each other, pecking at each other until they injured themselves.

Then, the old man said, “Never forget what you are seeing. My advice is this: you are like the eagle and the hawk. If you keep yourselves tied to each other, even if it is out of love, you will not only live by hurting each other, but sooner or later you will begin to hurt each other. If you want the love between you to last long, fly together, but not bound with the impossibility of being yourselves.”

Be very careful about making a woman weep, for then God counts her tears!

The woman came out of the rib of the man, not from the feet so that she should be beaten, not from the head to be superior, but from the side to be equal… a little lower than the arm to be protected, and from the side of the heart to be loved…

(From the Talmud).

If you really love someone, let them fly with their own wings.