as told by Kari Glass
Long before humans occupied the North, the Spirit of Aurora Borealis created the Arctic Zodiac. To do this, she invited all creatures to participate in a winter race to determine who would be assigned to each of the twelve cycles.
Before the race, clever Eagle and playful Otter were best of friends. Both vulnerable to icy winds and anxious to finish first, they devised a plan to navigate the formidable frozen Chukchi Sea upon strong Muskox, who had generously agreed to carry both on its back. Midway into the race, however, Otter roguishly ruffled and plucked one of Eagle’s feathers, startling Eagle, who slipped and fell off Muskox into a deep ice crevice. Then, as Muskox and Otter neared the North Pole, Otter leaped forward to claim first place in the race, right in front of unsuspecting Muskox, who obligingly accepted second place in the Arctic Zodiac.
After Muskox came Lynx. Panting, he explained that although it was difficult to cross the glacial ice, his powerful strength allowed him to reach the Arctic Circle in time to land in third place. Just as Lynx caught his breath, Snowshoe Hare suddenly arrived, having nimbly hopped between icebergs to become the fourth animal of the Arctic Zodiac.
Next to arrive was Whale, which was quite curious - why should such a swift creature fall so short of first place? Whale explained that she had been delayed at an ice hole rescuing a falling starfish while giving directions to the lost creature. Aurora Borealis was impressed by Whale’s noble act, and was pleased to give her fifth place in the Arctic Zodiac.
As soon as she had done so, the creatures heard a galloping sound, and Moose ran into view. Before he could place sixth, however, Salmon, who had hidden in Moose's large palmetto antlers, suddenly jumped ahead off Moose into sixth place. The startled Moose thus took seventh place.
Shortly, Dall Sheep, Bear, and Raven arrived. They had helped each other. Raven had found a sled, and Dall Sheep and Bear took turns pulling the other across the frozen ice pack while raven, who sometimes rested on one of their backs, guided them all the way to the Pole. Aurora Borealis was very pleased by their cooperative spirit and promptly named Dall Sheep the eighth creature; Bear, the ninth; and Raven, the tenth in the Arctic Zodiac.
After a while Wolf arrived. He hadn’t been able to resist the temptation to play on the frozen sea. His explanation for being late, however, was something else. He explained earnestly that he had paused to give himself a good grooming before arriving. Just after Aurora Borealis declared Wolf eleventh and was about to call it a night, a squeal was heard from a small seal. Seal had gotten hungry during the race, stopped to feast, and then promptly fell fast asleep. Continuing the race after waking from her nap, Seal barely made it in time to place twelfth to become the final animal in the zodiac cycle. Straggling in later, Eagle sadly didn’t make it into the Arctic Zodiac. Bitterly, he blamed Otter for his loss, which is why eagles ever after have preyed upon young otters.
The Arctic Zodiac Race culminated with a spectacular celebration on Winter's Solstice, when the frozen Arctic icescape begins the shift from darkness towards dawn. Each year ever after, the Spirit of Aurora Borealis suspends undulating cosmic currents of dancing colour upon the dark frozen stillness of the winter landscape in recognition of the twelve winners of the Arctic Zodiac Race.
Artist contact: kari@cablerocket.com / kari glass design
