The Bohpoli: The Forest Whisperers of Choctaw Lore
In the dense, pine-scented forests of what is now Mississippi and Alabama, stories passed from one generation of Choctaw to the next spoke of tiny beings with ancient eyes, nimble feet, and voices that echoed through the trees like whispers on the wind. These were the Bohpoli—elusive spirits known as “throwers” for their mischievous habits, yet revered by medicine men and feared by those who dared mock the unseen. Their legend remains one of the most mysterious in Choctaw lore, rooted deeply in the tribe’s sacred relationship with nature and the spiritual forces that dwell within it.
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Whispers in the Trees
The Bohpoli are rarely seen, but often felt. They are said to dwell among the roots of ancient trees, between ferns and moss, in the twilight of the forest where few humans linger. Roughly two feet tall, these forest dwellers are known to throw pebbles or twigs at passersby—hence the name “Bohpoli,” meaning “the thrower.” They are not considered evil, but they are not entirely benign either. Their mischief is a warning, a reminder that the forest is not empty, and that every step taken beneath the canopy should be tread with respect.
Those who walk alone in Choctaw woods may hear laughter that seems to come from nowhere, the rustle of leaves when no wind stirs, or feel the distinct sensation of being watched. And yet, when they turn, nothing is there—only the whisper of branches and the sound of something small moving just out of sight.
The Kowi Anukasha
In some traditions, the Bohpoli are also called Kowi Anukasha, translated roughly as “forest dwellers.” While some oral stories draw a clear line between Bohpoli and Kowi Anukasha, others use the names interchangeably. These beings are intimately tied to the wild spaces of Choctaw land, guardians of herbal wisdom, watchers of the sacred, and occasional mentors to the spiritually gifted.
Shamans and medicine people often spoke of hearing Bohpoli before they saw them—if they ever saw them at all. The spirits would guide them in dreams, lead them to rare plants, or whisper names of cures lost to time. These were not hallucinations or illusions, but encounters with beings from an older world—a forest consciousness that chose whom it would speak to.
A Test for the Chosen
Among the most compelling tales of the Bohpoli is their role in selecting the next generation of spiritual healers. According to some Choctaw oral traditions, Bohpoli would choose a child between the ages of two and four, leading them into the woods without a trace. Panic would seize the village, and families would search fruitlessly, calling the child’s name through tears and torchlight.
But not all such disappearances ended in tragedy.
After several days, the child would return—unharmed, but changed. Quiet. Observant. Aware of things beyond their years. They would speak of dreams where they met three spirits deep in a forest cave. These ancient beings presented the child with three gifts: a knife, a bundle of dangerous herbs, and a pouch of healing herbs. Only one gift could be chosen.
Those who selected the knife often grew up angry or violent. Those who picked the dangerous herbs met unfortunate ends. But the child who chose the healing herbs? That child was marked. Watched. Guided. One day, they would become a medicine person, the spiritual center of their community. The Bohpoli had tested them—and found them worthy.
A Forest Pact
To the Choctaw, the Bohpoli are neither spirits of vengeance nor protectors in shining form. They are more complex than that. They are tricksters, guardians, guides, and tests. They serve the forest first and humans second. If approached with arrogance, they will confuse or mock. But if respected, they can offer insight beyond any book or scroll.
Some Choctaw elders speak of hearing the “knocking”—the tapping of sticks against tree trunks. It is said that when the Bohpoli are near, they announce themselves with a rhythmic tapping, as though the forest itself were speaking in a secret language. Those who understand it are considered blessed. Those who ignore it are simply watched… for now.
Symbols and Signs
Because they rarely show themselves, the Bohpoli often reveal their presence through signs. A neatly stacked pile of stones. A single feather left on a doorstep. Bark arranged in curious patterns. Choctaw families who discover these signs often pause their routines to acknowledge the forest spirits. A small offering of food or herbs may be left at the base of a tree. A prayer may be whispered. A story may be retold—because in the act of storytelling, the Bohpoli live on.
Their presence also blurs the line between the physical and the spiritual. Some believe they can walk between worlds—stepping from the dense forests of the present into the memories of the ancestors. They are time-walkers, protectors of the forgotten, and messengers of the hidden wisdom locked within the land.
Echoes in the Modern World
Today, many Choctaw descendants still believe in the Bohpoli, though sightings have become increasingly rare. Some say they retreat deeper into the shrinking forests. Others believe they have not vanished—but simply chosen to remain hidden, waiting for the right person to hear their call.
In Choctaw art, they are sometimes depicted as faint lights moving between trees, or as small figures with curious eyes, neither entirely human nor animal. In some representations, their hands are exaggerated, with long fingers used for touching bark or mixing salves. Others show them with animal features—owl-like faces, raccoon tails, deer legs—as if they were part of the forest itself.
Whatever form they take, they remain part of the Choctaw spirit—unwritten but remembered, unproven but undeniable.
Listening for the Bohpoli
To walk into the woods alone, to pause and listen between the rustles and the wind, is to risk hearing them. The Bohpoli are not interested in being found. They are interested in being acknowledged. In a world where noise reigns and forests vanish, perhaps the only way to hear the Bohpoli is to become silent long enough for them to whisper again.
Some say they still throw pebbles when they're amused. Others say their laughter echoes down the oldest trails when a child speaks to a tree. In the lore of the Choctaw, they are always near—watching, guiding, testing.
Whether you believe in spirits or not, remember this: in the Choctaw world, the forest is never empty. And its oldest inhabitants, the Bohpoli, are still listening.
