Pau Pua & Watering Hole

"Pau Pua and the Watering Hole" is a beautifully illustrated 'picture book' for all cultures and all ages. It is the story of a young native boy who lives with his grandparents and journeys through an enchanted forest with his grandfather to a magical Spirit Tree Gathering. Young Pau Pua finds himself sleeping under a Great Tree where he is visited by spirit-animals in the night. Dream Weaver appears and the Spirit Animals gather before him to speak for those who can no longer come to the Watering Hole, and for those to come. Pau Pua receives three Great Gifts, one being a new name. His new name 'Clear Waters' ushers in a magical sun light morning of singing birds and dew-drops. The events lead to the beginning of Pau Pua's life-quest---to find the Beauty and to speak for the animals to help keep World Earth a sacred beautiful place for all of Life.

Pau Pua and the Watering Hole is a beautifully illustrated 'picture book' for cultures and all ages. It is the story of a young native boy who lives with his grandparents and journeys through an enchanted forest with his grandfather to a Spirit Gathering. Young Pau Pua finds himself sleeping under a Great Spirit Tree where he is visited by spirit-animals in the night. Dream Weaver appears in the wee early morning hours, and Pau Pua sees himself in dream-time calling the spirit-animals. They gather before him at a brown watering hole in vivid primitive colors to speak about why their number are dwindling and why many of their kind no longer come to the watering hole, or swim in the rivers. A brown spotted spirit owl appears on a branch before the spirit of Pau Pua and hoots on owl spirit tongue: Pauu Puaaa. . . " You have an important voice, for now you have the gift of spirit vision. When he awakens in amazement, his grandfather is smiling that knowing smile. He presents Pau Pua with two gifts--one is a new name, "Clear Waters". Grandfather declares: "I am already very proud of you grandson, for you understand that all of life is sacred and that Earth is a sacred place. Suddenly, magic is in the air--- the sun lights up Spirit Tree; the winds begin to blow, and yellow birds in the Tree top begin to sing. An early morning rosy sun lights up the grass and there is a magical dew-drop-dance. Pau Pua discovers that the dew droplets can blink and change to all colors of the rainbow. His wounds (undefined) feel better already. The closer Pau Pua looks the more beauty he will find. He thinks of how to use the paints his Grandmother taught him to grind, to ask the wounds in his heart what he should do with them. Little does Pau Pua know that one day he will become the keeper of the myths for the creatures of the forest and the sacred mountain. His wondrous journey and life-quest has just begun. He will find the Beauty, and be a voice for the Creatures of the Earth to help keep World Earth a sacred, beautiful place--for All of Life.

Author, Merle Van Dyke Wolford/Eagle Bear (1931-2007) was a gifted artist, prolific writer, storyteller and psychotherapist. She was a beloved Grandmother and friend to the Earth and her children. As a friend, mystic-healer, mentor, and workshop speaker/ host, Merle was a joyous inspiration to many. Her humor, curiosity and love of nature was cultivated at an early age in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky, USA. Merle Wolford was born of Native American Cherokee and Dutch ancestry, her father worked in the mines as company electrician. Merle occasionally taught Art Therapy classes as a guest instructor at Mt. Mary College, Milwaukee, WI. She was well versed in Tibetan Buddhism, Jungian psychology, myth, and philosophy. Merle championed ecology, and was an advocate for children and future generations. She became a “Witness for Non-Violence” and a supporter of Native Treaty Rights for the Ojibwa/People of the Wisconsin, and Great lakes Region. These rights continue to protect the delicate ecosystem of Wisconsin from the ravages of mining to this day. As an artist Merle exhibited many of her paintings and sculptural pieces in museums, earning recognition for her compelling visonary work. As a writer and born psychic-medium-shaman, Merle left a considerable legacy of original manuscripts. These writings include poems, songs, stories, art therapy, and “Visions of the Sacred Pipe”: “Communications” with the Great Spirit, the ‘Old Ones’, and persons, entities, and luminaries from the other side. Pau Pua and the Watering Hole is the first of Merle’s magical children’s stories to be published.