@BlessingsDeers
@_Barry
Cracked open Seven Arrows today, the first few pages of artwork was worth the price alone. 
Thank you my Friend
@BlessingsDeers
@_Barry
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You get used to it. Sometimes you don’t see the sun for days. Most people don’t know that Alaska was divided up into spheres of influence for various Christina groups to “civilize.” Sheldon Jackson is one guy to look up for this.
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Get through to page 81 and then get back to me. No skipping ahead, it’s the story, the journey there!
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The tribal history and tradition of the origin of the spider totem: “The Osages divided themselves into gentes (clans). Each gens (clan) chose a symbol for life - one that was strong, beautiful and courageous - of which they and their future generations would be proud. However one of the gens was negligent in choosing a symbol, so that when they began their search all but the coyote, skunk and a few other undesirable animals were
taken. Therefore this gens’ members went out on the trails to search for a symbol they could use.
As the leader walked along, he walked into a spider web. Clearing it from his face he said: “You little black thing, why do you build your house over the trails and cause us to run into them?” The spider said: “For what are you searching that you cannot see where you are going?” and the leader said, “We are looking for a symbol for our gens, so get out of our way.”
The spider then said, “ Why not take me as a symbol for your gens?” The leader put his hand over his mouth so that the spider could not see him laughing, while his people behind him tittered. Then he asked the spider: “Why do you think you would make a good life symbol
for a gens of the great Osages?” The spider answered: “Where I am, I build my house and where I build my house, all things
come to it.”
(adapted from the Osage Nation Museum web site: http://www.osagetribe.com/museum/info_sub_page.aspx?subpage_id=2)
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Got to page 11.
Really good.
Liked the part about the 12 Shields
Lots of Sychs.
Thank you for this
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One of my two favorite books of all time. The other, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
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Really looking forward to reading this one too.
The part with the 4 directions, and the persepctives of seeing the world (bear vs eagle, etc) resonated deeply with me my firend. This is why I preach Astrology from the roof tops for anyone looking to advance on the Spiritual Path.
The Part about Vision Quest really hit home too. So Buddhist, no!?!??!?:
Is not about the ‘Vision’, its about understanding your ‘Sight’
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Spirit of the Trees: People of the Cedar (Northwest tribes)
The Spirit Medicine of Cedar
Did you know this about the Lakota and Bison?
Not about Zen. Not about motorcycles.
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I am ok with that
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“A long time ago when the Cherokee people were new upon the earth, they thought that life
would be much better if there was never any night. They beseeched the Ouga (Creator) that it
might be day all the time and that there would be no darkness.
The Creator heard their voices and made the night cease and it was day all the time. Soon, the
forest was thick with heavy growth. It became difficult to walk and to find the path. The people
toiled in the gardens many long hours trying to keep the weeds pulled from among the corn
and other food plants. It got hot, very hot, and continued that way day after long day. The
people began to find it difficult to sleep and became short tempered and argued among
themselves.
Not many days had passed before the people realized they had made a mistake and, once
again, they beseeched the Creator. “Please,” they said, “we have made a mistake in asking that
it be day all the time. Now we think that it should be night all the time.” The Creator paused at
this new request and thought that perhaps the people may be right even though all things were
created in twos… representing to us day and night, life and death, good and evil, times of
plenty and those times of famine. The Creator loved the people and decided to make it night all
the time as they had asked.
The day ceased and night fell upon the earth. Soon, the crops stopped growing and it became
very cold. The people spent much of their time gathering wood for the fires. They could not see
to hunt meat and with no crops growing it was not long before the people were cold, weak, and
very hungry. Many of the people died.
Those that remained still living gathered once again to beseech the Creator. “Help us Creator,”
they cried! “We have made a terrible mistake. You had made the day and the night perfect, and
as it should be, from the beginning. We ask that you forgive us and make the day and night as it
was before.”
Once again the Creator listened to the request of the people. The day and the night became, as
the people had asked, as it had been in the beginning. Each day was divided between light and
darkness. The weather became more pleasant, and the crops began to grow again. Game was
plentiful and the hunting was good. The people had plenty to eat and there was not much
sickness. The people treated each other with compassion and respect. It was good to be alive.
The people thanked the Creator for their life and for the food they had to eat. The Creator
accepted the gratitude of the people and was glad to see them smiling again. However, during
the time of the long days of night, many of the people had died, and the Creator was sorry that
they had perished because of the night. The Creator placed their spirits in a newly created tree.
This tree was named a-tsi-na tlu-gv {ah-see-na loo-guh} cedar tree.
When you smell the aroma of the cedar tree or gaze upon it standing in the forest, remember
that if you are Tsalagi {Cherokee}, you are looking upon your ancestor.
Tradition holds that the wood of the cedar tree holds powerful protective spirits for the
Cherokee. Many carry a small piece of cedar wood in their medicine bags worn around the
neck. It is also placed above the entrances to the house to protect against the entry of evil
spirits. A traditional drum would be made from cedar wood.
Does the author believe this? Well, lets just say that there is a piece of cedar in my medicine
pouch and I wear it always. The Creator did not make the people because of loneliness, but
because the Creator wanted to show generosity and love to the people. Accept the blessings
and the gifts given and always give thanks for them.
Cantrell, Doyne, Western Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri - A History - A Heritage.
2009. (Pgs. 122-123)
Cedar is one of the most important Native American ceremonial plants, used by many tribes
as an incense and purifying herb. Cedar is especially associated with prayer, healing, dreams,
and protection against disease. Many Salish tribes consider the cedar tree a symbol of
generosity and providence, and had special rituals regarding the felling of cedar trees. Cedar
is commonly used as part of sweat lodge ceremonies, and is also one of the herbs frequently
included in medicine bundles and amulets. Cedar leaves and bark are used as medicine plants
in many tribes as well.
Native American Indian Cedar Medicine, Meaning and Symbolism from the Myths of Many Tribes”
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