The Lone Wolf Band of Cherokee Indians
Indiana's Cherokee people.
SPIRITUAL BELIEFS OF THE CHEROKEE
THE WAY OF THE CIRCLE
The “Way of the Circle” has been passed down from generation to generation and is represented in all the Cherokee stories, myths and legends and other forms of teaching.
When you arise each morning, give thanks to the Creator, to the four sacred directions, to Mother Earth and Father Sky and all your relations.
Remember that all things are connected.
All things have a purpose.
Honor others by treating them with kindness; always assume a guest is tired, cold or hungry. Provide them with the best of what you have to offer.
If you have more than what you need, then give the excess to another who is in need.
Your word is your honor, do not break your word unless permission is granted by the those you promise something to.
Always seek harmony and balance in all things.
Share with others.
Practice silence and patience.
Practice modesty in all things; boasting and loud behavior is not acceptable.
Always ask permission and give thanks for all received.
Always show respect and be aware of all things around you.
Do not stare at others, drop your eyes as a sign of respect, especially in the presence of elders, teachers or honored persons.
Always greet a friend in passing.
Never criticize or talk about anyone in a harmful way.
Never touch something that belongs to another without permission.
Always respect the privacy of others.
Never interrupt someone talking, it shows lack of patience, control and respect.
Listen with your heart.
Always remember that a smile is sacred.
Live each day as it comes.
Neither kill nor harbor angry thoughts.
Do what needs to be done now, not later.
CODE OF RIGHT RELATIONSHIP
(As spoken to the people by the Pale One)
1. Speak only words of truth.
2. Speak only of the good qualities of others.
3. Be a confidant and carry no tales.
4. Turn aside the veil of anger to release the beauty inherent in all.
5. Waste not the bounty, and want not.
6. Honor the light in all. Compare nothing; see all for its suchness.
7. Respect all life; cut away ignorance from one’s own heart.
**
GOING TO WATER
The waters of the river (“Long Man”) were always believed to be sacred to the Cherokee and believe that the water is a sacred messenger and commonly used for purification and other ceremonies.
There is two forms of “Going to Water,” and “Taking Them to Water.” In “Going to Water,” the Cherokee wade out into the waters of a clean running creek or river, face the east of rising sun, and dip themselves seven times in the water while reciting prayers. This was done every morning, summer or winter, regardless of the weather.
The other form was called “Taking them to Water.” This way the Cherokee simply dipped up the water by hand and spread it over the person’s head and body.
The rivers, streams or any other natural body of moving water, is considered a sacred sight, and the tradition of going to water still exists today.
KEEPING OF SACRED THINGS
The Cherokee people are very organized about there effects, especially spiritual items. It is believed that when these sacred items are not in use, they should be protected by being wrapped in deerskin, especially white deerskin, or some other material in the color, white indicating a spiritual thing.
Peace treaties. Spiritual items were wrapped in white cloth or deerskin.
The White Spirits lived in the South.
SPIRITUAL BEINGS
The Cherokee are strong in their beliefs of spiritual beings. Each and every day includes the existence and/or communications, or interactions with spiritual beings. The Cherokee believe that these spirits are very much a part of the natural world. It is known that in some point in time, each individual will have at least one spiritual encounter, while there are others who have continual interactions. Sometimes these spiritual beings are our contact with our ancestors. Some guide us through our lives, some help us in healing and protecting. Some are just the eyes and ears for those on the other side.
The most famous of these spirits are the legendary “Little People.” These are very small spirit people who are invisible to everyone unless they want to be seen. When they make themselves visible they appear to be very small Cherokee people with very long hair. The Little People reside in various places such as caves in the mountains, shelters made of rocks and sometimes in laurel thickets. They love drumming and dancing. They have been known to find lost children, or to help children who are experiencing troubled and sad times. The Little people have been known to be very mischievous and when dealing with them you must be very cautious and you must observe the traditional rules about them. They don’t like to be disturbed and when a person constantly bothers them, it is said that they can cause that person to be “puzzled” throughout their life. It is said that if a person sees one of the Little People, they are not suppose to talk about it, or tell anyone about it for at least seven years. Also it has been told that the Little People should not be talked about after sunset.
The Cherokee believe that when a person dies, his soul may be chosen to continue to live as a ghost in this dimension, and they will be given the ability to be seen when needed. Some people can see them and some cannot. Some people have the spiritual ability to see them more often than others and some even have the ability to interact with ghosts. Then there are others who has never seen a ghost and possibly never will. A ghost is sometimes called a “Guide.” Sometimes they will appear to a person when there is a need to communicate with the living world. Sometimes they appear just to visit and other times they may have messages of good or bad health for someone. And sometimes they appear to someone as their guide to help with the journey to the other side.
BELIEF IN GOOD AND BAD DEEDS
The Cherokee believe that if your life is of doing good unselfishly and without the desire of a reward, you will be rewarded with good things. However, if you have done bad then bad things will come to you. Again we must think of the Sacred Circle and the circle of life.
MEDICINE WAYS OF THE CHEROKEE
CHEROKEE MEDICINE PEOPLE
Medicine people are still today very active in the lives of the Cherokee people. Cherokee Medicine People can be either male or female. The Cherokee Medicine People are taught their practice for many years. They are required to learn and remember the ancient teachings that has been passed down for centuries by elder medicine people, who learned from their elders.
Much of the Cherokee medicine formulas has over the years been documented in Cherokee syllabary writing in books and ledgers. The writings in these books are closely guarded and those who have not be trained are forbidden to read the books. It is believed that the medicine will be no good if not read and spoken in the Cherokee language. However, a medicine man praying, who has been touched by the spirit, while praying or healing can talk in a tongue only he can understand, rather than the recognized Cherokee language.
CHEROKEE MEDICINE HERBS
The Cherokee People have been given the knowledge of healing practices and the herbs and created things that assist in medicine and healing by the Creator. The Cherokee believe that a cure and prevention for all illnesses have been placed right here on this earth by the Creator. He has left it up to us to find these cures and to use them properly.
A lot of the Cherokee medicine comes from a certain plant or a specially prepared mixture of a variety of plants. Some of the medicines can be used as an incense, mixed as a drink or used in a salve form.
Many of the original plants used for medicine in the ancient days are all gone now or extremely hard to find with the coming of the white man. But more and more Cherokee people today are trying to bring back these plants.
Caution is used In picking plants for use as medicine. We are taught to conserve as much of this gift as possible so as not to rob Mother Earth of her gifts. So when choosing plants we must first ask the plant’s permission, give it thanks and make an offering of tobacco or a
bead. Then when we pick a plant we must only pick every third plant. This allows the other plants to grow and make new plants. It is also important that if you locate a location of medicine plants, you keep that location a secret so that it will help protect that place.
Any person who tries to practice with herbal medicine must realize that some plants cannot be mixed with some other plants without causing a bad reaction. You must either consult a Medicine Person or become very educated on herbs.
The Medicine Person also relies on his internal healing powers which may be combined with his breath, saliva or physical touch, using his given life force. The Cherokee also use the powers of crystals in healing. Sage, Cedar, Pine and Eagle feathers are also a strong carrier of medicine in prayer.
In the medical practice of today, Cherokee people do still consult their Medicine People as well as modern doctors. Also in the medical practice of today, medical professionals are more and more using herbal remedies and physical healing that has been used by Native people for centuries.
HOT HOUSE
The Cherokee built a small wickiup in which hot rocks were placed. A Cherokee person who was ill would strip and enter the hot house. A solution was made from beaten wild parsnip root and would be poured over the rocks. Today water is used. The ill person would remain until they were in a profuse sweat and choking on the fumes and then they would exit the house and jump into a nearby stream.
The hot house is practically the same as the sauna of today. Unlike the Indians of the west, who use sweat lodges, the hot house of the Cherokee was never used for purification.
Return to the table of contents.
|