Have you ever wondered why the weather is so unpredictable in the Great Lakes region? The answer may lie in the ancient legend of the Thunderbird and the Great Lynx, two powerful beings that rule the sky and the water. According to the lore, the Thunderbird is a supernatural being that creates thunder and lightning by flapping its wings and flashing its eyes. Meanwhile, the Great Lynx, also known as Mishipeshu or underwater panther, is a water monster that rivals the Thunderbird. It lives in the deepest parts of lakes and rivers, where it can cause storms.
Also from lore that persists till today, the Thunderbird and the Great Lynx are engaged in an eternal conflict over the control of the upper and lower realms over the Great Lakes surrounded by the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and the province of Ontario in Canada.
The following text is the script for the video:
Welcome to my channel. I illustrate strange encounters and weird experiences using A.I. assisted images.
This video covers two legends from Native American mythology in the Great Lakes area, namely, the Thunderbird and the Great Lynx. These legends still persist today. Please enjoy!
The Thunderbird and The Great Lynx
In the Great Lakes, there’s a Native American myth of epic battles between the Thunderbird
and the Great Lynx.
They represent the forces of nature, and their battles are a symbol for the balance of power in the world.
It is said that confrontations between these two supernatural forces
created destructive storms over the lakes and flooded nearby fields.
It is also said that the thunderbird and the great lynx continue their fights today.
The Thunderbird
The thunderbird is a well-known creature in North American mythology. It is almost as famous as bigfoot.
It has been categorized as a cryptid. For those unfamiliar with the term, cryptids are animals that science has not recognized yet.
As a cryptid, the thunderbird is said to be a very large bird of prey with wingspan up to 100 feet. Reports have been plenty throughout the ages. But verifiable recordings are elusive.
As a supernatural creature from Native American mythology, the thunderbird is said to have control over weather and can bring rain. It is also said to be a symbol of strength, power, and protection.
The color of the Thunderbird's feathers varies depending on the tribe. Some tribes say that the Thunderbird's feathers are white,
while others say that they are blue,
black, or
red.
The Thunderbird is often depicted with a lightning bolt in its beak, which is said to represent its power over the weather.
Besides the Great Lakes, the Thunderbird has been spotted in other parts of the world such as The Southwestern United States, The Amazon rainforest, The Himalayas, Australia, Africa and Asia.
The Great Lynx
The Great Lynx is the archenemy of the Thunderbird. It seems to me that it is not as well-known as the Thunderbird, yet, at least in the Great Lakes stories, the two are often mentioned together as they are engaged in an eternal conflict.
The Great Lynx is known as Mishipeshu in Ojibwe culture. The Ojibwes are a Native American tribe in the Great Lakes.
And I’ll also refer to Mishipeshu from here on.
In Ojibwe mythology, the Mishipeshu is said to be a water spirit. It is described as a large cat-like creature with the head and paws of a giant cat, the horns of a bison, the scaly body of a snake, and a spikey back and tail.
Mishipeshu is said to speak in a roaring hiss that emulates the sound of rushing water.
It is said to live in the depths of the Great Lakes, and feared by many for its power and ferocity.
Just like the Thunderbird, the Mishipeshu can control the weather to create storms and floods. Mishipeshu is also said to be a guardian of the Great Lakes, and it is said to protect the waters from those who would harm them.
Their Battles: Thunderbird vs. Great Lynx
In the stories, the Thunderbird and the Mishipeshu are locked in a never-ending battle for balance of nature.
The lore is told in many different versions, but the basic plot is always the same.
The Thunderbird is a benevolent creature that protects the people and the land,
while the Mishipeshu is a malevolent creature that brings destruction and death.
The two creatures eventually meet in battle, and the Thunderbird is victorious. The Mishipeshu is defeated and driven back into the depths of the water, and the Thunderbird is hailed as a hero.
Just for kicks, I asked Bard, Google’s ChatGPT, to tell a fictionalized story of an epic battle between the Thunderbird and the Mishipeshu.
Here goes:
The Thunderbird and the Mishipeshu had been enemies for as long as anyone could remember.
The Thunderbird was a large bird with a wingspan of up to 200 feet, while the Mishipeshu was a giant water serpent.
The Thunderbird was a benevolent creature that protected the people and the land,
while the Mishipeshu was a malevolent creature that brought destruction and death.
One day, the two creatures met in battle over a large lake. The Thunderbird flew high above the water, while the Mishipeshu slithered underwater.
The Thunderbird unleashed a powerful storm, with thunder and lightning and heavy rain.
The Mishipeshu lashed out with its tail, creating huge waves and whirlpools.
The battle raged for days, and neither creature was able to gain an advantage. The storm grew more and more powerful, and the waves crashed against the shore of the lake.
The people who lived in the villages near the lake were terrified. They had never seen anything like it before.
Finally, the Thunderbird struck a fatal blow to the Mishipeshu. The bird's talons pierced the serpent's heart, and the Mishipeshu died.
The storm ended as quickly as it had begun, and the waves receded.
The people of the villages were overjoyed. They had been saved from the Mishipeshu's wrath.
The Thunderbird flew away, victorious.
The people of the villages built a shrine to the Thunderbird, and they celebrated its victory over the Mishipeshu.
The battle between the Thunderbird and the Mishipeshu was a reminder that good will always triumph over evil.
