Cochise
loved his land marked by the west stronghold located on the Dragoons; the east
stronghold centering on the Chiricahuas, and sacred Mount Graham to the northwest
of the Chiricahuas centering on the city of Stafford as well as Apache Pass
Road, and the Dos Cabezas Mountains. These were the four sacred mountains of
his people. Another favorite mountain spot was the Peloncillo located in
southeastern corner of Arizona not too far from Skelton Canyon where Geronimo
and Naiche, Cochise’s son, surrender to Grey Fox Crook in March 1886 only to
bolt again leading to Crook’s resignation. These Mountain Fortresses located in
an ocean of desert offered Cochise and his people tremendous protection against
their Indian/Spanish/Mexican/ American enemies as well as plenty of game and
plants to live on. Rising 10,000 feet above sea level characterized by canyons,
streams, huge rock formations, made it well nigh impossible for Cochise’s
enemies to pursue an attack or take him by surprise. The Chokonen landscape was
loaded with stories, wisdom and history of encounters, battles, mistakes,
failures, and successes that held many lessons and wisdom for a young man being
groomed for leadership. Cochise breathed deeply these stories and would rely on
these messages to guide and lead his people into the future For Cochise the
Sacredness of the Mountains was connected with the Spirits who roamed there called
Gaans who protected the Apaches from their enemies and brought them abundance.
Gaans participated in all of their major ceremonies and celebrations, and were
beautifully marked and clothed in elegant regalia including Eagle feathers,
wands, wooden head dresses, and painted Black Masks. Cochise saw the Gaans has
significant teachers who introduce him into the deep spiritual mysteries of
interconnectedness, wholeness, oneness and duality embodied in the Medicine
Wheel. The Medicine Wheel taught Cochise that everything in life was
mysteriously connected with everything else, like dropping a pebble into a
pond, and watching the concentric circles spreading out ad infintium until you
can see them no more. Life too moves magically and has unforeseen consequences!
Wholeness, to be fully human, requires living from the heart, and not the head,
which was so common among the Mexicans /Pindah, and explains why they lived in
square framed house trying to fence everything under the rubric of private
property. Cochise laughed to himself, and wondered how these strangers could
think that they could imprison the Spirit through fences? Maybe like lassoing the wind! The Gaans also
remained Cochise that life was essentially a spiritual journey leading back to
Ussen; that each season, spring, summer, fall and winter was interwoven and Sacred.
The wise realize that the decision of spring will only come to fruition in
autumn, and one has to exercise prudence in the flush of young adulthood so as
not to be too rash or impulsive. Cochise too recognized the importance of
duality, the danger of the dark side to balance. Cochise had a terrible temper
and throughout his life had to learn how to master its explosiveness as it
could jeopardize not only himself and his family, but more important his Band
and People.
