There is nothing quite as loving and peaceful as the sound of the hauntingly beautiful music of a Native American flute drifting through the cool evening air to rest in the heart of a young woman. The sound of the love notes gently flowing through the woodlands from the flute of the young man courting his beloved was magical and endearing. The notes fell on the right ear, for the young girl knew which music was hers and recognized the notes of her own young man, for it was his inner song . The music was formed in his heart and the flute sent it out to his beloved. It was a spiritual ritual of love, honor and dedication.

The Dakota have a beautiful myth of a young man who was brave in battles and hunting the buffalo, but very shy about speaking what was in his heart, and could not tell the young girl he wanted to marry how he felt. In a dream, while sleeping by a stream in the woods, he was told by the Elk Men about a flute that all the animals helped to make, how woodpecker made holes in it with his beak and that all the voices of the birds and animals were in it. He was told that the flute would speak the words of love that his voice could not. When he awoke, the spiritual flute was lying on a bed of sage near the spring. When he returned to the hill above his camp he played the flute and the music spoke to the girl he loved. She knew that the music expressed the words he could not say, and it went straight to her heart, "I love you."

The Native American flute has a history of over twenty five hundred years. The Seneca call it "Ya-oh-da-was-ta". Not only was it played for speaking of love but also for some celebrations and even today for ceremonies and weddings. Often it is played in the early morning to welcome the new day or played just because it is so peaceful and spiritual and soothes the soul. To listen to this music is to travel to another place, another time, where there is only peace and serenity.

Flute playing has made a remarkable and longed for comeback after being almost lost to time in the early days of strict and unfair reservation rules and "laws". We are fortunate indeed to be able to have the opportunity to enjoy some of the most spiritual music in the world. It is believed by some that the Native American flute was first made by the Anasazi, The Ancient Ones. Regardless of it's origins, it truly is the one musical instrument that belongs to the indigenous Peoples of North America. No one is positively sure about the Anasazi creating the first flutes, but it is wonderful to believe that the sound of this spiritually inspired instrument of love would have drifted through the pueblos of such an ancient and honored people and their culture. There are many flute makers today who make astonishingly beautiful wooden flutes, some customized with totems of your choice. No two flutes are alike for each has it's own song to sing that comes from the heart of the one who plays it. I myself am going to order one from a flute maker who also plays the most beautiful music I have ever heard.

If you are wondering what gift to give to your beloved this Valentine's Day, try giving him or her the romantic and beautiful music of the Indian Love Flute. Both of you will truly enjoy it.

I found a wonderful site for Native American style flutes at Waking Spirit:

Vance Pennington - Flute maker, flute making teacher and teacher of the
'Development History' of the Native American flute. Flute maker to players of all levels and selected performing and recording artists.

Visit Waking Spirit's Flutes Web site at http://www.waking-spirit.com and at
http://www.wakingspiritflutes.com