By Scott A. Yeager for GANT News
Nothing will humble you and excite you like experiencing an encounter with what the First Nations People referred to as the Pèthakhuweyok or Thunder Beings.
They come in two forms in the Pennsylvania Wilds – one above the clouds away from our view and one that is a bit more familiar to us.
According the legend, the Pèthakhuweyok (pronounced – pet-hock-hoo-way-yock) are mighty beings with dominion over the sky, thunder, the winds and lightening.
While the Thunder Beings are viewed with great respect, as they can easily harm human life, they are often portrayed as benevolent spirits – great protectors of humankind.
In the spring and summer, the Thunder Beings are at their most active and are easy to encounter.
During the late afternoon in the Pennsylvania Wilds, you may look for certain signs to help in your quest to encounter the Pèthakhuweyok.
You may wish to visit a mountain top, lake, hemlock grove or high field. A sky of Tanzanite blue will begin to marble with clouds of white, darkening to a deep grey slate color.
The darker the sky, the closer the Thunder Beings are to you. As day gives way to cool night, you may hear their wings in the distance.
At first, you will hear the winds moan under each flap of their mighty wings. Do not fear the darkness. They will protect you. All that you need to do is stay still, call them by name, and wait. They will visit you.
The closer that they come to you the sharper and more heightened your senses will become. You will begin to smell, see and hear something as majestic as it is sublime.
When the time is right, the Pèthakhuweyok will send you water as a sign of appreciation for not forgetting about them and for honoring them.
Some people run and seek shelter from such a gift. Do not do this. Rather, you should further honor the Thunder Beings by dancing in the storm.
They will revile with you in a unique celebration of life. We should all learn how to dance through life’s storms.
If you wish to encounter the Thunder Beings when they are below the clouds that often blanket the lush forests of the Pennsylvania Wilds, a great place to look is near our waterways.
The Pèthakhuweyok love water. You will know them when you see them. Their physical form is akin to their spiritual work above the clouds. Yellow beams of sunlight are seen in their beak, giving way to a head that is as white as a January morning.
Jet black bodies support two wings that cut straight through even the fiercest of winds. Their tail is white and peaceful, much like that peace that is experienced after the winds of any storm have subsided.
Today, we call them eagles. We are blessed to have a thriving population of them here in the Pennsylvania Wilds.
Whether you view them as they fish along Mahoning Creek near Punxsutawney, the Sandy Lick Creek near DuBois or along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, bald eagles are amazing creatures.
It’s easy to see why the First Nations People mythologized them and imbued them with spiritual powers.
You will encounter the Thunder Beings along the Bennetts Branch of the Sinnemahoning, at Parker Dam and at Curwensville Lake. You may even encounter one of their cousins, the Osprey or the Golden Eagle – both formidable raptors in their own right.
Above the clouds or below them, the Pèthakhuweyok are always eager to see you. Their lessons still resonate with those who are curious enough to seek their counsel. They are, after all, our protectors and guides.