Story: How the Peacock got his Eyes

In the Early Days, when magic was present before our eyes, Eternal Blue Heaven gave each of the creatures on Earth a unique quality. These qualities were to help the creatures form identities and to find their place in the world. Peacock was a most brilliant bird, gifted with the most dazzling plumage. His body was the deepest, regal blue and rainbows seemed to dance on his fanned tail.

The other birds, each ignoring the gifts given to them by Eternal Blue Heaven, began to envy Peacock's striking plumage.

Crane watched Peacock as he strolled past, and cursed his beauty. "Look at how his ornate tail flows behind him like silk! My dismal tail does nothing for me!" Eternal Blue Heaven, angered by Crane's envy, struck her blind with a flash of lightning. As Crane screamed out in fright, her eyes appeared on Peacock's tail.

Owl turned his head to watch Peacock as he passed, and cursed his beauty. "Look at how his ornate tail flows in all directions! My plain tail does nothing for me!" Eternal Blue Heaven, furious at Owl's envy, struck him blind with a flash of lightning.. As Owl hollered in pain, his eyes appeared on Peacock's tail.

Raven fluttered alongside Peacock as he went on his way, and cursed his beauty. "Look at how his magnificent tail turns the heads of all the animals! My plain tail does nothing for me!" Eternal Blue Heaven, enraged by Raven's envy, struck her blind with a flash of lightning. As Raven screeched in terror, her eyes appeared on Peacock's tail.

Peacock gazed upon his tail, and watched the tears flow from the eyes of Crane, Owl and Raven. Just as he was gifted with a beautiful body, Peacock was gifted with a beautiful heart. He could not bear to see any of his avian family suffer. The plight of Crane, Owl and Raven distressed Peacock, but what could he do?

Approaching the blinded Crane, Peacock held her close and spoke to her of her gift. "Graceful Crane, if you had a tail like mine you would be tripping up. You would have to give up your beautiful dancing."

Peacock held the the blinded Owl firmly by his wing, and reminded him of his gift. "Stealthy Owl, if you had a tail like mine you would be too laden to fly. You would lose your prowess as a skilled hunter."

And as Peacock consoled the blinded Raven, he reminded her of her gift. "Clever Raven, if you had a tail like mine you would have to surrender your mystery. You would have to stop travelling through the Veil."

"My gift of beauty is but one quality," Peacock reasoned, "Eternal Blue Heaven granted you your own gifts. Crane, you are the mistress of dance. Owl, you are the master of hunting. Raven, you are the mistress of the Veils. Envy can blind us to our own value in the world. My friends, we can admire each other but we must honour and love who we are first."

Crane, Owl and Raven realised just how foolish they had been, regretting the envy they had directed towards Peacock. Each bird realised their own worth in the world, but it was too late – they would never see their gifts, or the gifts of their friends, again. Eternal Blue Heaven, a harsh teacher but a forgiving father, was satisfied that each bird had learned his lesson. By His grace, Crane, Owl and Raven had their eyes returned and their sight restored.

Peacock, as a reward for his compassion, was given ribbons decorated with eyes to add to his tail. They serve as a reminder to us all that we can admire what others have, but must honour what we ourselves have too – envy must not be allowed to blind us to our gifts.