Please keep in mind that this is just what I have experienced throughout my life, and I am in no way saying I'm an expert. If I have added misinformation please let me know and I will edit the post. As the internet isn't the best source for this type of information I do apologise, I have done my best to give as much proper information as I could. I just hope I am showing how much I truly love and respect this aspect of my life.
So I know this post isn't exactly about a specific deity, instead it's about a culture. A culture that I have always felt very strong connections with. If I'm being honest, I don't know much about this culture, and I don't exactly trust the information that is out there most of the time (especially from the internet). The culture I'm speaking of is the Native American culture.
I would like to start with a bit about how I was introduced to the culture itself. Most of my memories are from a very young age, and I only remember bits and pieces so please bare with me.
As long as I can remember I've had a beautiful dream catcher above my bed. I don't remember anyone telling me what this lovely thing above my bed was for, it's almost as if I just knew what it was. The spider web like circle, with long thin pieces of fabric or string dangling down, attached to each string were beads and feathers. Every night I would look up and think the same thing, please help keep me safe from my nightmares. Of course that is exactly what it did. Later in life my mother had explained to me that a wonderful woman, who was also our neighbor, had gifted me the beautiful dream catcher. Eventually I came to learn more about the specifics of the dream catcher. I'm not going to go into a whole lot of detail in regards to this as I could probably write a separate post about each topic I bring up today. Essentially the good dreams will flow down the feathers to the one who is sleeping, where as the bad dreams will get caught in the net and burn up when the sun hits the dream catcher. To this day I still have one above my bed and in my window.
One of my other early memories of the culture was simply being with my mother while she visited a neighbor of ours who happened to be Native American. They would sit, drink tea, and talk. It wasn't so much the topic of conversation, as in all honesty I wouldn't be paying attention, it was more so looking around her home. This woman was incredibly kind, and had some beautiful art nicely placed around her home. I remember sitting in my mother's lap, just staring at her walls, what was on them, and wanting to know so much more about what was hung up. I wish I was able to get to know this woman so much more, but unfortunately I wasn't able to.
One big thing I remember when I was a child was walking through the woods. Now let me be clear I wouldn't be alone, and we lived in a very small place outside of a city, that was surrounded by forest and lakes, so walking through the forest was just something we did. Haha. I remember seeing this incredible, huge, and beautiful tipi. Once again it was like I just knew what it was, I don't remember anyone discussing with me things like this. I was drawn to it, I didn't want to leave without knowing more about what it was. Unfortunately we couldn't get near it as it was accross a river and the adult I was with wouldn't let us.
As I grew older there weren't as many instances in which Native American culture was brought to my attention until I hit highschool. As part of one of our field trips we were brought to a huge building. Inside this building was filled with many different booths and people. It was such an amazing experience, to see the culture up close. The beauty and the hard work that each person put into what they had created, and watching for a short time a Native American dance. I felt over joyed and excited.
Eventually, after highschool, I decided to study herbalism. While I was in school for herbalism they brought in a guest speaker. This person sparked something in me that I'll never forget. She had come to talk to us about the Native American medicine wheel. Not only was I drawn to the words she was saying, but everything she said brought me to the decision I have made in regards to how I want to spend my life. Helping others as a whole, and not just helping them in healing only one aspect of themselves.
During the process of learning little things hear and there about Native American culture I decided to talk to my aunt about our family history. This is the time where I felt I finally understood why I was so drawn to the culture. My aunt had told me that not only am I not the only person in our family who is drawn to the culture, but that my third great grandfather happened to be Native American himself. Over the years I have tried to find out more, unfortunately as at this time there is very little information on him I haven't been able to find out much.
However, a few pieces of folklore, or stories have been shared with me from a good friend of mine. Which I am extremely grateful for. Some of these stories/ mythology include: *for simplicity sake I'm not going to go into too much detail so please keep in mind that if you wish to know more, please research, and perhaps look at the links below*
💠Raven Mocker - I kinda like to think of Raven Mocker as the angel of death. Now once again I don't know a whole lot, but from what I understand Raven Mocker is a Cherokee myth. One in which the Raven Mocker comes to torment a dying man, until he dies.
💠the northern lights - are seen to be torches held by spirits who were tasked in helping the recently deceased find their way
- the lights were thought as a way to communicate with ancestors
Now I want to take a moment and remember all of the hardships that Native Americans have had, and still have to endure. Things have changed over the many years, but not nearly enough. History has been incredibly cruel to many people, and Native Americans being a part of that cruel history. I hope in time the world will find peace.
This is still a journey for me and I am hoping that one day I will be able to learn as much as I possibly can. For now I read books, I talk to those around me who know more about the culture, and I try to incorporate the culture into my craft, and my every day life as much as I can.
With the dream catcher shining in the sunlight, with my connection to the earth, water, and animals. With my connection to those who have passed on, and the will to learn, I hope to achieve my goals for healing others, and understanding my third great grandfathers culture. If anyone is willing to chat with me, or even send me in the right direction of valid information, I would be incredibly greatfull.
Have a great day everyone, and thank-you for letting me share my journey with you.
Websites used for the information in this post:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/cher/motc/motc120.htm
https://www.hurtigruten.com/inspiration/experiences/northern-lights/north-american-myths-and-legends/
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