Zuni

Introduced in: Native Lights

Appearance
Zuni is a white horse with a gold blanket and harness and is found in the Native Lights card series.

Magical Gift
Zuni's companion is a dragonfly. Among the Zuni people of the southwestern United States, dragonflies bring or herald rain and are symbols of health.

Tribe
The tribe this steed is based on are the Zuni, a Native American Pueblo peoples native to the Zuni River valley. Today, most Zuni live in western New Mexico, United States.

Historically, Zuni women made pottery according to clan tradition. Clay for the pottery was dug after giving ritual thanks to the Earth Mother. It was first ground, and then sifted and mixed with water. After the clay was shaped into a vessel, it was scraped smooth with a scraper. Then a thin layer of finer clay was applied to the surface for extra smoothness. Then the vessel was polished with a stone. After the piece was painted with home-made organic dyes using a yucca brush, the pottery was fired in kilns. During the firing, silence was observed in order to maintain the original "voice" of the "being" of the clay and its intended purpose. Selling pottery and other traditional arts and crafts is a major source of income for many of the Zuni, and an artisan may be the sole financial support for their immediate family as well as others. They make pottery, clothing, baskets, and Kachina dolls.

The cultural life of the Zuni people revolves around their religion, which is unique from the other Pueblo peoples. They venerate three deities: Earth Mother, Sun Father and Moonlight Giving Mother. They make barefoot pilgrimages and engage in ceremonies honoring birth, coming of age, marriage and death.

Zuni culture has always been extremely placid and tranquil. They have earned a status in the popular culture of the West as a profoundly spiritual and peaceful people.

Inspirational Message
"Find your strength inside you, where magic is alive."