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Knowledge
The sorcerers of the Yaqui Indians of Mexico refer to the moth as a symbol of knowledge. In the book Tales of Power by Carlos Castaneda, the moth is such a central figure it is included as the major character on the cover of the book. It is revealed by Don Juan, a Yaqui sorcerer, "knowledge is a moth." He expresses metaphorically that "the moths are the heralds, or better yet, the guardians of eternity," for some reason, or for no reason at all, they are the depositories of the gold dust of eternity. He continues, "the moths carry a dust on their wings, a dark gold dust. That dust is the dust of knowledge." "Knowledge comes floating like specks of gold dust, the same dust that covers the wings of moths." "The moths have been the intimate friends and helpers of sorcerers from time immemorial." Don Juan adds, "Moths are the givers of knowledge and the friends and helpers of sorcerers."
The association of the moth with knowledge coincides with the Blackfoot Indian belief that the butterfly "is a little fellow flying about that is going to bring news to someone tonight." In addition, the Yaqui associates some danger with the moth and its knowledge. The Navaho Indian also feels that "moths and butterflies, especially moths, are very dangerous." The Yaqui feels the powder on a moth's wings is knowledge. The Navaho associates the powder on lepidopteron wings with insanity, the drive to commit incest and the power of an aphrodisiac and the power to run fast. The old adage "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing" is quite applicable here.
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