The Traditional Cherokee Belief System

The Traditional Cherokee Belief System 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 cardinal directions.
These cardinal directions are
east, west, north and south.
Certain colors are also associated
with these directions.
North is blue and represents lack
of peace and turmoill
East is read and represents
success and victory.
South is white and represents
peace and innocence;
West is black and represents
death and hardship.
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) yellow;
down (the Lower World) brown; and
center(where we live, and where
you always are) green.
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 f
rom other birds, and he resembles an
old man as he walks. Sometimes,B 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
who has screams which resemble
those of a woman.
He is 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.

Thank you for sending these words of wisdom.
Wish you knew who wrote them.
If any one out there knows
please let me know so I am able to
give credit to that person.
Thank you.

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