Firewheel Casting

The Legend of the Firewheel

In ancient times, even before coyote became famous among the animals as the "trickster," creatures of the barren mesas and arroyos of the West respected his skill and ingenuity. One spring deer mouse and turtle and jackrabbit lamented that their lands had no bright colors and their houses were drab and plain. The red and yellow fire of the sun was beautiful, but too hot to touch. Even after the rains, the sweet grass only spouted green and the cholla and prickly pear grew fat, but never bloomed.

Jackrabbit was elected to seek out coyote and ask him if he would find more color for their barren arroyos and mesas. Jackrabbit could run fast enough to get away should coyote decide he was more interested in eating than talking. The next day jackrabbit found coyote napping under a pinon tree. He called out, ready to run should coyote become too alert. But coyote merely opened one eye and told jackrabbit to come closer. He had eaten a fat fish for breakfast and would not hunt again until tomorrow. Jackrabbit explained his mission and how all the animals wished for colors to brighten their homes. Coyote listened then closed his eye and resumed his nap. Jackrabbit scampered away hoping that he had succeeded.

After his nap, as the setting sun blazed fiery and hot, coyote thought about jackrabbit’s request. He would find a way to bring bright colors to their desert home. He would ask the Sun. Now, coyote knew that the Sun would never willingly give him the bright fire he wanted, for Sun was cruel and laughed as he baked the desert sand. So he thought and thought until he had a plan.

Coyote climbed a tall cliff just after Sun had gone to his home beyond the mountains for the night. Coyote howled and cried his most mournful cry long into the night, only stopping to catch his breath. Now Sun had worked hard all day and wanted to sleep, but coyote’s cry kept him awake. He shouted to coyote to quiet down, but coyote continued to howl. Finally, Sun rose from his bed and crossed the desert and came to the place where coyote sat and howled.

"Coyote, you must stop your crying so I can sleep and be ready to travel the earth tomorrow."

"I’m sorry Sun," coyote replied "I am trapped on this rock and cannot find my way down in the dark and I am so sad and hungry I cannot help but cry. Won’t you give me a little of your light to hold so I can find my way home?"

Now sun wanted to go home and sleep, and so he gave a little piece of his red and yellow fire to coyote. He fashioned it so coyote could hold it and not get burned.

"Take this," he said gruffly, "and let me get some sleep." As soon as Sun departed for his home beyond the mountains, coyote scampered down the rock and took his treasure to deer mouse, turtle and jackrabbit. They worked all night to fashion it into many small pieces. By morning the desert around their homes was dotted with the bright red and yellow fire of the sun.

When Sun saw how bright and colorful the land was, he knew he had been tricked by coyote and was angry and scorched the already barren land and took back his fire. All the small creatures cried out and wailed in sorrow at the parched and blackened land. They called out to the Great Spirit who lived in the cool forests of the northern mountains. The Great Spirit heard their sad cries and came to the barren lands. He called out to the Sun, to deer mouse, turtle and jackrabbit and to coyote and commanded all to come before him. Each told his tale in turn.

The Great Spirit pondered all he heard. In the cool of the evening he made his judgement. To deer mouse, turtle and jackrabbit he spoke kindly:

"I have neglected my small children of the desert and your land is indeed empty of color and beauty. I will set that right. But you took matters into your own hands and went to coyote with your troubles rather than to me, so the beauty I grant you will be beauty of the land and you will not be able to gather that beauty for your homes. You shall have red rocks and painted sands. The air will be clear and bright and you will see far and enjoy all the beauty for many miles. Rainbows and double rainbows will crown the storms of summer. And the cholla and prickly pear will bear bright blooms you cannot pick without pain. This land will be like no other."

With a ferocious frown the Great Spirit turned to Sun. "You have betrayed my trust, and in your anger, scorched these already dry lands. Coyote tricked you, not the small creatures who now suffer your fury. Henceforth, you will add to the beauty of this land. At the end of each day, you will light the sky with glorious fire so all will know your power, but it will not scorch. Instead it will announce the cool of evening and rouse the creatures of the night."

Lastly, Great Spirit turned a stern face to Coyote. "Oh mischievous dog, you tricked my brother Sun into giving you his fire. For such a deed, you will wander all the dry lands without a home, and your journeys will keep you lean and hungry, and you will be known by your mournful cry all your days.

"Since Sun freely gave the power of his fire to you, Even I cannot take that away. But, I will change it; make it a firewheel of red and yellow and wherever you travel, the firewheel will bloom like a blanket across the earth. This alone of all of the new beauty of your land may the small creatures collect for their homes. And the firewheel will remind them of how the land was made right again and even more beautiful."

As the Great Spirit turned away to the north and began his journey back to the cool mountains, he suppressed a small smile at coyote’s cleverness and knew he would be back.

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Firewheel Casting is an Albuquerque based company that specializes in hand cast products of exceptional quality. We are skilled in resin, soap and ceramic slip casting. While we have our own line of products, we also apply our talents to product development and private label manufacturing. We can help you create your own unique line of products that will set you apart from the competition. Call us to find out more about our partnership program.