HERE YOU WILL LEARN THE WAY OF THE WOLF AND HOW IT WAS CONSIDERED A SPIRITUAL GUIDE TO THE NATIVE AMERICANS. YOU WILL LISTEN TO THE TEACHER AND NOT BE AFFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS. WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU LEARN.
LEAVE YOUR MARK AS A GUIDE AND A TEACHER. CARRY YOUR WISDOM INTO THE FUTURE AND TEACH OTHERS.
The Traditional Cherokee Belief
In a search for order and sustaining that order, the olden
Cherokee devised a simple, yet seemingly complex belief system.
Many of the elements of the original system remain today.
Although some have evolved or otherwise been modified, the traditional
Cherokee of today recognize the belief system as an integral part of day-to-day life.
Certain numbers play an important role in the ceremonies of the Cherokee.
The numbers four and seven repeatedly occur in myths, stories and
ceremonies. Four represents all the familiar forces, also represented in the
four directions. These directions are east, west, north and south.
Certain colors are also associated with these directions.
The number seven represents the seven clans of the Cherokee,
and are also associated with directions. In addition to
the four cardinal directions, three others exist.
Up (the Upper World), down (the Lower World)
and center (where we live, and where 'you' always are).
The number seven also represents the height of purity
and sacredness, a difficult level to attain. In olden
times, it was believed that only the owl and cougar had
attained this level, and since then, they have always
had a special meaning to the Cherokee. The pine, cedar,
spruce, holly and laurel also attained this level. They play
a very important role in Cherokee ceremonies. Cedar is
the most sacred of all, and the distinguishing colors of red
and white set it off from all others. The wood from
the tree is considered very sacred,
and in ancient days, was used to carry the honored dead.
Because of these early beliefs, the traditional Cherokee have a special
regard for the owl and cougar. They are the honored ones in some
versions of the Creation story. They were
the only two who were able to stay awake for
the seven nights of Creation. The others fell asleep.
Today, because of this, they are nocturnal in their habits and both
have night vision. The owl is seemingly different from
other birds, and he resembles an old man as he walks.
Sometimes, the owl can be mistaken for a cat with
his feather tufts and silhouette of his head. This resemblance
honors his nocturnal brother, the cougar. The owls'
eyes are quite large and set directly in front
like a persons, and he can close one independent of the other.
The cougar is an animal whose has screams which resemble
those of a woman. He is an animal who has habits
that are very secret and unpredictable.
The cedar, pine, spruce, laurel and holly trees have
leaves all year long. These plants, too, stayed awake seven
nights during the Creation. Because of this, they were given special
power, and they are among the most important plants
in Cherokee medicine and ceremonies.
KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR NEW ADVENTURE'S. REMEMBER WE SEE THROUGH NOT JUST TWO EYES BUT THROUGH A THOUSAND EYES.
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