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Post by Owly on Sept 24, 2016 10:42:51 GMT -6
I have read in the book “The Way of the Sacred Pipe” by Jim Tree about a traditional Cherokee Ceremony performed in a flowing stream. He called the Ceremony "Going to Water" where he describes a cleansing and purifying Ceremony conducted by diping into the water seven times, once per each Direction, while being mindful of the Spirits of each Direction. The colder the water, the better. Can anyone who knows share more details about this Ceremony, as to if you dip naked, which Spirits you traditionally remain mindful of for each Direction etc? Anything more specific would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
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Post by Lone4eagle on Sept 25, 2016 16:44:55 GMT -6
I have read in the book “The Way of the Sacred Pipe” by Jim Tree about a traditional Cherokee Ceremony performed in a flowing stream. He called the Ceremony "Going to Water" where he describes a cleansing and purifying Ceremony conducted by diping into the water seven times, once per each Direction, while being mindful of the Spirits of each Direction. The colder the water, the better. Can anyone who knows share more details about this Ceremony, as to if you dip naked, which Spirits you traditionally remain mindful of for each Direction etc? Anything more specific would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance! Flowing bodies of water, were sacred to the Cherokee, especially the smaller streams. You would have to find or research water ceremonies, take a good look at them. Intentions are most important and being able to relate to a ceremony.
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Post by Lone4eagle on Sept 25, 2016 17:05:15 GMT -6
Couldn't find much by searching,a page with a translation. link-Going to Water Blessing (Translation)Prior to the advent of the Cherokee alphabet this "going to water" blessing was handed down orally. Each generation of learners knew this blessing by heart and used it daily, usually every morning at sunrise. The thought conveyed within the Cherokee language is very comprehensive and in essence is inclusive of our total earthly surroundings. The Blessing is our affirmation for each day to live our lives clean and pure with the use of all that has been given to us by our Provider of all. Translation
I s yi ya ne tla nv ( our Provider who has given all)
di ka lv gv di tlv (from the appearing way - East), u yv tlo di tlv (from the cold way -North).
wu de li gv di tlv (from the disappearing way -West), tsu ga na wu di tlv (from the warm way - South)
di tsa ne tse I (You Have Spoken)
di ga hi nv si da s di no (Your Messengers), do tsi s da wa du do ga (we are here to follow)
ani yv wi ya (the fully human-Native American), e lo hi a ni ga ti ya(World waiters-guardians/stewards)
ani wo di ge (the Brown) tsv ni yv wi (clans) di ka lv gv di tlv (of the appearing way)
u na nv di (place of seating- thrown ) ale (and/or) u na li ge nv da (place of care taking)
a di yv wi (human) a ni ka na da (the knowledgeable ones-Caucasian) sa go ni ge (blue)
tsv ni wa dv no(of vein) tsv ni yv wi (clans ) u yv tlo di tlv (of the cold way) u na nv di (place of seating)
ale (and/or) u na li ge nv da (place of care taking)
a ni yv wi (human) a ni da we ha (those of wisdom-Oriental) da lo ni ge (yellow) tsv ni yv wi (clans)
wu de li gv di tlv (of the disappearing way) u na nv di (place of seating) ale (and/or) u na li ge nv da (place of care takeing)
a ni yv wi (human) u na ta na da (those of big heart-African) gv na ge (black) tsv ni yv wi (clans) u na nv di (place of seating) ale (and/or) u na li ge nv da (place of care taking
nu wo ti (medicine) tsa dv nv wi s ta nv (that you have gotten ready) I s gi ne lv ( you have given us)
u no le (air) a ma (water) a tsi la (fire) e lo ga do hi (soil of the world)
yi gv di ( with) I s gi nv ga lv ho ga ( come cleanse us )
di gv hi io da (washed throughly) de ge se s di ( they shall be)
do gi ye lv ( our bodies) do ga da dv (our mind) do ga da do gi ( our hearts) do ga da we si sv (our accumulative wisdom)
wi hi yo ya wi hi ya wi hi ya ya wi hi yo aa ( no translation, ancient amen chant)
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Post by Owly on Sept 26, 2016 10:28:27 GMT -6
Flowing bodies of water, were sacred to the Cherokee, especially the smaller streams. You would have to find or research water ceremonies, take a good look at them. Intentions are most important and being able to relate to a ceremony. I have researched about this particular Ceremony, but the only thing I have found is that one is to enter facing the East inside the flowing stream and some cases where the Ceremony was performed. I have not found a source of anything more specific up to now regarding the performance of the Ceremony, for example where one faces per Direction, what one does after each dip and other specifics according to the Old Ways of the Cherokee so that it is done properly.
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Post by Lone4eagle on Sept 28, 2016 18:36:23 GMT -6
Flowing bodies of water, were sacred to the Cherokee, especially the smaller streams. You would have to find or research water ceremonies, take a good look at them. Intentions are most important and being able to relate to a ceremony. I have researched about this particular Ceremony, but the only thing I have found is that one is to enter facing the East inside the flowing stream and some cases where the Ceremony was performed. I have not found a source of anything more specific up to now regarding the performance of the Ceremony, for example where one faces per Direction, what one does after each dip and other specifics according to the Old Ways of the Cherokee so that it is done properly. Well, entering East, this direction was often used for the doorway of a dwelling place or Tipi amoung NAs. The directions go "sunwise" that would be clockwise in the northern hemisphere, followed by up and down for Mother Earth and Father Sky. In one of the Native American creation stories the Creator or Wakan Tanka used 4 colors of clay, brought up out of the water to create humans. The 4 colors of clay, Red-Native Americans, Yellow-Asians, Black-Africans, White-Caucasian. The tribes all have their chosen Medicine Wheel colors, maybe 1-2 colors substituted for the original creation color. Some modern NAs put them according to geographical logic also. Then certain bands want to have a separate identity by having their Medicine Wheel colors different from others. Anyway, the 4 colors of clay were brought up out of the water (in legend) by the tutle, so makes sense to go into the water for cleansing, not only physically but spiritually. Cereomies used over time were recorded by the Cherokee, they need to be translated and something is mentioned on the CNO (Cherokee Nation Oklahoma) the conditions for getting a loaned out book of ceremonies for training purposed. Apparently the Cherokee tribe doesn't want these ceremony secrets published or put out as public knowledge. The Lakota have been more open about some of their traditions. A Lakota priest (medicine man) could dip the braided sweet grass or an eagle feather in water, apply to the forehead of a person seeking spiritual cleansing. On dry land sage smudging sticks (or sage in sea shell holder, small clay bowl) were fanned by feather fan, toward a person for cleansing away negative feelings and emotions. The latter has been commonly used among most tribes before entering a sweat lodge or for ceremonies to promote unity.
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Tsesi
New Member
Posts: 2
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Post by Tsesi on Oct 1, 2016 4:16:09 GMT -6
I have read in the book “The Way of the Sacred Pipe” by Jim Tree about a traditional Cherokee Ceremony performed in a flowing stream. He called the Ceremony "Going to Water" where he describes a cleansing and purifying Ceremony conducted by diping into the water seven times, once per each Direction, while being mindful of the Spirits of each Direction. The colder the water, the better. Can anyone who knows share more details about this Ceremony, as to if you dip naked, which Spirits you traditionally remain mindful of for each Direction etc? Anything more specific would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance! Four and Seven are important numbers in Cherokee ceremonial tradition. The seven directions are the four cardinal directions plus below, center and above Repetitions of four or seven regarding various ceremonial actions are common and the use of four or seven is often interchangeable. What entities you regard when honoring the directions depends on which beings related to those directions that you have a relationship with. It is not always needed to call them either. Often, acknowledging the direction is plenty. If you are not crafting medicine for a specific purpose that calls for calling something to a direction or you are in ceremony to form a relationship with those called, it is unnecessary. That said, I often call the following: East - Red - Kunati South - White - Galoneda West - Black - Tsayi North - Blue - Yvnwi Gunahita Center - Just talk to the fire. Don't worry about above and below yet. Now, Yvnwi Gunahita is the Long Person, the spirit of the river. It would be odd to put him at the North when going to water because he is the central spirit of that rite. For the North, you could call Walelu as the hummingbird warrior. However, often in medicine formula when you aren't calling a specific character you are calling the embodiment of the directional essences/colors themselves. Such as, gigage'i asgaya "red man", gvhnage asgaya "black man" etc. or the ageyv, women. Couldn't find much by searching,a page with a translation. link-Going to Water Blessing (Translation)Prior to the advent of the Cherokee alphabet this "going to water" blessing was handed down orally. Each generation of learners knew this blessing by heart and used it daily, usually every morning at sunrise. The thought conveyed within the Cherokee language is very comprehensive and in essence is inclusive of our total earthly surroundings. The Blessing is our affirmation for each day to live our lives clean and pure with the use of all that has been given to us by our Provider of all. Translation
I s yi ya ne tla nv ( our Provider who has given all)
di ka lv gv di tlv (from the appearing way - East), u yv tlo di tlv (from the cold way -North).
wu de li gv di tlv (from the disappearing way -West), tsu ga na wu di tlv (from the warm way - South)
di tsa ne tse I (You Have Spoken)
di ga hi nv si da s di no (Your Messengers), do tsi s da wa du do ga (we are here to follow)
ani yv wi ya (the fully human-Native American), e lo hi a ni ga ti ya(World waiters-guardians/stewards)
ani wo di ge (the Brown) tsv ni yv wi (clans) di ka lv gv di tlv (of the appearing way)
u na nv di (place of seating- thrown ) ale (and/or) u na li ge nv da (place of care taking)
a di yv wi (human) a ni ka na da (the knowledgeable ones-Caucasian) sa go ni ge (blue)
tsv ni wa dv no(of vein) tsv ni yv wi (clans ) u yv tlo di tlv (of the cold way) u na nv di (place of seating)
ale (and/or) u na li ge nv da (place of care taking)
a ni yv wi (human) a ni da we ha (those of wisdom-Oriental) da lo ni ge (yellow) tsv ni yv wi (clans)
wu de li gv di tlv (of the disappearing way) u na nv di (place of seating) ale (and/or) u na li ge nv da (place of care takeing)
a ni yv wi (human) u na ta na da (those of big heart-African) gv na ge (black) tsv ni yv wi (clans) u na nv di (place of seating) ale (and/or) u na li ge nv da (place of care taking
nu wo ti (medicine) tsa dv nv wi s ta nv (that you have gotten ready) I s gi ne lv ( you have given us)
u no le (air) a ma (water) a tsi la (fire) e lo ga do hi (soil of the world)
yi gv di ( with) I s gi nv ga lv ho ga ( come cleanse us )
di gv hi io da (washed throughly) de ge se s di ( they shall be)
do gi ye lv ( our bodies) do ga da dv (our mind) do ga da do gi ( our hearts) do ga da we si sv (our accumulative wisdom)
wi hi yo ya wi hi ya wi hi ya ya wi hi yo aa ( no translation, ancient amen chant)That really isn't the greatest translation.... Remember, anything that mentions the four races in relation to the circle or medicine wheel is post colonization. It isn't traditional but a modern inclusion... and it doesn't really work for the Cherokee round. One of our colors is blue so unless the Blue Man Group is a race... It works for the Lakota round though which is one of the reasons it has been largely adopted as the Pan-Indian round. Flowing bodies of water, were sacred to the Cherokee, especially the smaller streams. You would have to find or research water ceremonies, take a good look at them. Intentions are most important and being able to relate to a ceremony. I have researched about this particular Ceremony, but the only thing I have found is that one is to enter facing the East inside the flowing stream and some cases where the Ceremony was performed. I have not found a source of anything more specific up to now regarding the performance of the Ceremony, for example where one faces per Direction, what one does after each dip and other specifics according to the Old Ways of the Cherokee so that it is done properly. Most ceremonies start facing East. You may also face the direction associated with Blue in your formula. That would normally be north. Going to Water was practiced by Cherokee at large and did not require the great detail that medicine people often had in their formula. There are of course more involved "Going to Water" rites. That said the general point is that you call up the spirit of the river its name,and then you let the water purify you. The river is the one doing the medicine. I have researched about this particular Ceremony, but the only thing I have found is that one is to enter facing the East inside the flowing stream and some cases where the Ceremony was performed. I have not found a source of anything more specific up to now regarding the performance of the Ceremony, for example where one faces per Direction, what one does after each dip and other specifics according to the Old Ways of the Cherokee so that it is done properly. Well, entering East, this direction was often used for the doorway of a dwelling place or Tipi amoung NAs. The directions go "sunwise" that would be clockwise in the northern hemisphere, followed by up and down for Mother Earth and Father Sky. In one of the Native American creation stories the Creator or Wakan Tanka used 4 colors of clay, brought up out of the water to create humans. The 4 colors of clay, Red-Native Americans, Yellow-Asians, Black-Africans, White-Caucasian. The tribes all have their chosen Medicine Wheel colors, maybe 1-2 colors substituted for the original creation color. Some modern NAs put them according to geographical logic also. Then certain bands want to have a separate identity by having their Medicine Wheel colors different from others. Anyway, the 4 colors of clay were brought up out of the water (in legend) by the tutle, so makes sense to go into the water for cleansing, not only physically but spiritually. Cereomies used over time were recorded by the Cherokee, they need to be translated and something is mentioned on the CNO (Cherokee Nation Oklahoma) the conditions for getting a loaned out book of ceremonies for training purposed. Apparently the Cherokee tribe doesn't want these ceremony secrets published or put out as public knowledge. The Lakota have been more open about some of their traditions. A Lakota priest (medicine man) could dip the braided sweet grass or an eagle feather in water, apply to the forehead of a person seeking spiritual cleansing. On dry land sage smudging sticks (or sage in sea shell holder, small clay bowl) were fanned by feather fan, toward a person for cleansing away negative feelings and emotions. The latter has been commonly used among most tribes before entering a sweat lodge or for ceremonies to promote unity. The Lakota ad Cherokee rounds are very different though. It is very secretive. I haven't outright given medicine formula here but I have given the directional colors and the entities worked with when pursuing this medicine path.
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