In the earliest days of creation, when the world was new and the earth was still soft beneath the feet of the Holy People, there was no wind. The air hung silent and heavy, unmoving as stone. Without breath or breeze, the world could not live, no crops would sprout, no clouds would wander, and no sound could travel beyond a whisper.
First Man and First Woman, the sacred beings who walked the young land, saw the stillness and grew troubled. They prayed to the Four Directions, East, South, West, and North, to bring motion and life to the world.
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Their prayers rose like smoke into the heavens, and the Four Directions answered. From each direction came a holy messenger, each carrying a sacred bag bound with symbols of their power.
From the East, where dawn is born, came the first being. He carried a white bag filled with the Wind of the East, the spirit of beginnings, hope, and renewal. His arrival brought the first blush of light over the mountains, and the faintest whisper of breeze stirred the grass.
From the South, the second being approached, bearing a blue bag. Inside it swirled the Wind of the South, warm and nurturing, bringing growth, comfort, and the strength of the sun.
From the West, beyond the sinking sun, came the third messenger. His black bag held the Wind of the West, which carried rain, change, and the mystery of endings.
Last came the being of the North, cloaked in grey, with a yellow bag containing the Wind of the North, the keeper of wisdom, endurance, and the memory of the ancestors.
First Man and First Woman stood at the center of the world, where the four directions meet. Together with the Holy People, they prepared to open the sacred bags. But before they did, they prayed again for harmony, for if one wind grew stronger than the others, it could destroy the balance of the world.
When they untied the cords, the bags quivered, and the winds burst forth. A rush of air swept through the land—mountains echoed with new sounds, rivers rippled, trees bent and danced. The world took its first breath.
The East Wind brought the dawn and filled the sky with colours of promise. The South Wind warmed the soil and awakened the seeds. The West Wind drew clouds together and spilled rain upon the earth, while the North Wind whispered ancient wisdom into the stones.
For a time, all was perfect. The winds circled one another in harmony, each taking turns to move through the world, bringing what was needed, light, rain, warmth, or rest.
But as ages passed, humans began to complain about the weather. They cursed the cold when the North Wind blew and begged for calm when storms came from the West. Their words grew sharp and ungrateful. The Four Winds, proud of their sacred duties, heard the people’s anger and began to quarrel.
The East Wind demanded to shine longer, for people praised its light. The South Wind roared to prove its strength. The West Wind darkened the skies with furious rain, and the North Wind howled with icy wrath. The balance broke, and the world trembled with storms.
Mountains shook, rivers flooded, and trees were torn from their roots. First Man and First Woman once again prayed to the Four Directions, reminding them of their sacred promise, to move together in unity, not rivalry. Shamed by their chaos, the Winds calmed and vowed never again to fight for power.
Since that day, the winds continue their eternal dance. Sometimes gentle, sometimes fierce, they move through the world in perfect balance. And whenever people complain too much about the weather, the Winds grow restless, quarreling once more to remind humankind that harmony and gratitude sustain the earth.
Moral Lesson
Harmony is the breath of life. When balance is broken by pride or ingratitude, even the winds will rise to restore it.
Knowledge Check
1. Who created the winds in the Navajo legend “The Origin of the Winds”?
The Holy People and the Four Directions created the winds to bring balance and life to the world.
2. What does the Wind of the East symbolise in Navajo folklore?
It represents dawn, hope, and the power of new beginnings.
3. What gift does the Wind of the South bring?
The South Wind brings warmth, growth, and the nurturing energy of the sun.
4. Why did the Winds begin to quarrel?
They grew angry because humans complained about the weather, forgetting the importance of gratitude and balance.
5. What lesson do the Four Winds teach humans?
They remind people that all elements must work together in harmony, and balance must be respected.
6. How do Navajo stories like this reflect nature’s importance?
They show that every natural force, like the wind, has a spiritual purpose and maintains the world’s equilibrium.
Source: Adapted from Native American Myths and Legends, ed. Richard Erdoes & Alfonso Ortiz (Pantheon Books, 1984), pp. 55–57.
Cultural Origin: United States (Navajo Nation, Southwestern U.S.)
