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Healing Part IV

Native Americans Speak Out on Sacred Healing and Transformational Rituals

THE TWELVE MOONS

The Moon and The Spirit Path

Sacred Objects

December 22 to January 19

January 20 to February 19

February 19 to March 20

March 21 to April 19

April 20 to May 20

May 21 to June 20

June 21 to July 22

July 23 to August 22

August 23 to September 22

September 23 to October 23

October 24 to November 21

November 22 to December 21

Excerpts From - Dancing with the Wheel - Sun Bear, Wabun Wind, and Crysalis Mulligan

 

 

Sacred Objects , Sacred  Symbols, and Sacred Land

Medicine Shields

Medicine shields were used by Native American men for spiritual as well as physical protection. Physical safety was aided by the size of the shield, and the material used to make it, which was a hard rawhide from the hump of the buffalo. The rawhide was cured, making it dense, so that no arrow could penetrate it. Bullets from early flint rock rifles didn’t always go through the rawhide, although more powerful bullets did.

For spiritual protection, the shields were circular, and decorated with power symbols and objects of personal significance. They might draw a picture of an animal or an insect that they felt close to, for instance, a buffalo, an eagle, or an ant. This would come to the man in a vision or be given to him by someone else. The animal or insect would give the warrior further power and protection by allowing him to see where the enemy was. Sometimes parts of animals would be attached as well, such as eagle feathers. Smaller shields, known as replica shields, were made by the men too, and worn for spiritual protection from evil.

Native American artists Tchin explains the importance of medicine shields as power symbols: "I think all people understand the power of things. We understand that we, as human beings, are somewhat weak, and so we need other things to help us."

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Medicine Wheel

To understand the significance of the medicine wheel, we need to go back to a time when most Indian nations were constantly at war with each other. Tribes were obsessed with wiping out their "enemies." Then a dramatic shift in perception occurred, and a peace was realized, which lasted for a period of 150 to 200 years. This long truce was the result of a great Iroquois chief, (sounds like Agonawila), later to become Hiawatha, who urged the tribes to cease the madness of brother killing brother, and formed an alliance, which came to be known as the Confederation of Nations. The Confederation recognized that Indian peoples were more alike than different. Even though they spoke different dialects, they had the same basic belief systems and followed similar traditions.

An important part of this transformation was the medicine wheel, which was placed in front of every tepee, and decorated in special symbols, colors, and stones, to let people entering the tribe know about its inhabitants. The medicine wheel was a reflection of an individual’s strengths and weaknesses, and it gave people guidelines to follow for personal growth. It told people what they needed to learn and what they needed to teach. Everyone was ordered to work on themselves, or else leave the tribe. After several generations of this work, people lost the concept of blame and anger. This, in turn, resulted in the longest peace in modern history.

Brother Eagle Soaring, from Arizona, explains the powerful impact of the medicine wheel: "If I said to you, ‘Does anyone ever make you angry?’ you would say yes. But in reality, this is totally impossible. You choose to be angry by the way you process the event. This is something you were taught to do as a child. If you could imagine not one person in all of New York City having the concept of anger, that’s what it was like during that time period of no wars before the white man came."

The medicine wheel is a circle divided by a cross to create four directions--the north, east, south, and west. A forerunner to astrology, each person is represented somewhere within that circle, depending upon their birth date. That placement is associated with a special moon, power animal, healing plant, color and mineral, as outlined below. Though more complex in actuality, here Brother Soaring Eagle gives an overview of the special meanings the medicine wheel can have for individuals:

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North - Purity and Renewal

Moon: Earth Renewal Moon

Spirit Keeper of the North

December 22 to January 19

*** Blackfoot ***

DECEMBER - IS-STA-M-SII-WA - COLD MONTH

JANUARY - KAA-TOO-Yll - SNOW BLINDNESS


Animal:  Snow goose
Mineral:  Quartz crystal
Color:     White
Plant:      Birch tree
Clan:       Turtle
Element: Earth

 Characteristics:

The Earth Renewal Moon  is the first moon of the year and the first moon of Waboose, Spirit Keeper of the North. This moon begins at the time of the winter solstice when Father Sun returns from his journey South and begins to bring the warmth that quickens growth in the Earth Mother and all her children. The stone representing this moon is placed one quarter of the way to the East in the northern quadrant, moving clockwise. The mineral totem for the Earth Renewal Moon is the quartz crystal, the plant is the birch tree, and the animal is the snow goose. The color is white. The elemental clan influencing this position is the Turtle clan.

The Earth Renewal Moon teaches you to be as clear a receiver and transmitter of universal energy as the crystal, as important a communicator of the ancient knowledge as the birch tree, and as respectful of tradition and ritual as the snow goose. This is a position with the potential for great power. The Earth Renewal Moon teaches you to be fluid, yet proper in conduct as well as clear, adaptable, prudent, and wise. People in this position have keen vision, are good ceremonialists, and can take large steps in their personal evolution. Snow goose people need to guard against becoming blocked, against using their enormous power incorrectly, and against being so perfectionist they never have time for fun. 

 

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Moon: Rest & Cleansing Moon

January 20 to February 18

*** Blackfoot ***

JANUARY - KAA-TOO-Yll - SNOW BLINDNESS

FEBRUARY - SA-OM-MI-TSI-KSI-SOM -TREACHEROUS MOON



Animal:    Otter
Mineral:   Silver
Color:      Silver
 Plant:       Quaking aspen
 Clan:        Butterfly
 Element: Air

 Characteristics:

The Rest and Cleansing Moon  is the second moon of Waboose. The stone for this moon is placed midway between the northern and eastern stones. Silver is the mineral totem for the Rest and Cleansing Moon,  the quaking aspen is the plant totem, the otter is the animal totem, and silver  is the color. This position is influenced by the Butterfly clan.

People experiencing this moon are considered as valuable as silver, as light­hearted as the music of aspen leaves, and as playful as the otter. The otter position can help you truly to like people, yourself included, and to be more humanitarian in your views. This is a time when you can excel in communicating, in developing your intellect, and in romance. The Rest and Cleansing Moon can help you both to develop your psychic abilities and to uncover the clever, bold, humanitarian, and gentle aspects of your own being. Although otter people have the potential to be noble and loving, they need to guard against dreaming so much that none of their noble ideas ever become reality.

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Moon: Big Wind’s Moon

February 19 to March 20

*** Blackfoot ***

February - Sa-Om-Mi-Tsi-Som - Treacherous Moon

March - Sai-Ksi-O-Tsi-Tot-Toh-Pi - When the Geese Come


Moon:      Big wind’s moon
Animal:    Cougar
Mineral:   Turquoise
Color:       Blue and green
Plant:        Plantain
 Clan:         Frog
 Element:  Water

 Characteristics:

The Big Winds Moon is the last moon of Waboose, Spirit Keeper of the North. The stone representing this moon is placed three quarters of the way between North and East. The mineral totem for the Big Winds Moon is turquoise, the plant is the plantain, the animal is the cougar,  the colors are blue and green, and the elemental clan influence is that of the Frog Clan.

Turquoise can teach people in this position about the real meaning of value and about protection, the plantain can teach them about their healing abilities, and the cougar can teach them about mystery and the need to establish safe territory. The Big Winds Moon can help you discover your own natural medicine power and the depth of your psychic abilities. In this position you will learn about your deep sensitivity, your yearning for spirituality, your hesitation to express your true feelings, and your need for grounding on the earth. People experiencing the Big Winds Moon can be prone to moodiness and to melancholy. They need to learn to temper their sensitivity and to have a greater sense of reality.

 

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EAST - ILLUMINATION

 and WISDOM

Moon: Budding Tree’s Moon

Spirit keeper of the East

March 21 to April 19

*** Blackfoot ***

March - Sai-Ksi-O-Tsi-Tot-Toh-Pi - When the Geese Come

April - Ma-Tsi-Yik-Ka-Pi-Sai-Ki*S- Frog Month


Power Animal: Red Tail Hawk
Mineral:              Fire opal
Color:                 Yellow
Plant:                  Dandelion
Clan:                   Thunderbird
Element:             Fire

Characteristics:

The Budding Trees Moon  is the first moon of Wabun, Spirit Keeper of the East and occurs at the time of the spring equinox. The stone for this moon is placed one quarter of the way between the eastern and southern stones in the outer circle. The mineral totem for the Budding Trees Moon is the fire opal, the plant is the dandelion, and the animal is the red-tailed hawk. The color is yellow.

This position is directly influenced by the Thunderbird clan. The fire opal can teach people in this position about the need for water the emotions in tempering their fiery energy. The dandelion can show them the advantages of taking root as well as flying. The red-tailed hawk can demonstrate the joy of freedom and of a long, clear view. The Budding Trees Moon will teach you about energy, intensity, catalyzing change, fearlessness, and optimism. Being in this position will show you your leadership ability, the enormity of your own spirit, and the extent of your Clear  sightedness. People experiencing the Budding Trees Moon need to learn to channel their energies, contain their emotions, and be more patient with others.

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Moon: Frog’s Return Moon; New Waters Moon

April 20 to May 20

*** Blackfoot ***

April - Ma-Tsi-Yik-Ka-Pi-Sai-Ki*S- Frog Month

May - 0-TSI-KSS-TSI’O-TSI-TAI-TS-IH-PI - 

Power Animal: Beaver
Mineral:              Crysacola
Color:                 Blue
 Plant:                  Blue Commis
 Clan:                   Turtle
 Element:             Earth

Characteristics:

The Frogs Return Moon is the second moon of Wabun of the East. The stone for this moon is placed midway between the eastern and southern stones in the outer circle of the Medicine Wheel. The mineral totem for the moon is the chrysocolla, the plant is the blue camas, and the animal is the beaver. The color is blue and the elemental clan influence is the Turtle clan.

From the chrysocolla, people in this position learn to balance the earth and sky within themselves; from the blue camas, to sustain themselves and others; from the beaver, to make all environments as pleasant as possible. This is the position to explore when you wish to learn about stability, the value of hard work, luck, and your ability to create and maintain an orderly and beautiful environment. The Frogs Return Moon will teach you about perseverance, patience, stability, and practicality. People in this position need to guard against being too stubborn, overindulging, and holding back all their feelings.

 

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Moon: Corn Planting Moon

May 21 to June 20

*** Blackfoot ***

May - 0-TSI-KSS-TSI’O-TSI-TAI-TS-IH-PI - 
- When the Buffalo Plant is in Flower

June -MI-SOM-SOO-TA - Long Rain


Power Animal: Deer
Mineral:             Moss agate
Color:                Green and white
 Plant:                 Yarrow
 Clan:                  Butterfly
 Element:           Air

Characteristics:

The Corn planting Moon  is the third moon of Wabun, the Spirit Keeper of the East. The stone representing this moon is placed three quarters of the way between the eastern and southern stones in the outer circle of the Medicine Wheel. The mineral totem for the Corn planting Moon is the moss agate. The plant totem is the yarrow, and the animal is the deer. The colors are green and white, and the elemental influence is from the Butterfly clan.

The moss agate teaches people in this position to clearly see their link with the mineral and plant kingdoms. The yarrow teaches about both cleansing and strengthening. The deer demonstrates the beauty of grace and quick movement. This position teaches about beauty in yourself, in others, and in your environment and teaches about your own healing abilities. This position will point out any cutting edges in your personality, the necessity of balancing time and energy, and your ability to create. People experiencing the deer position need to learn to be more consistent, less suspicious, and more willing to show some of their own deep feelings

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South - Rapid Growth and Trust

Moon: Strong Sun Moon; Warming Sun Moon

Spirit Keeper of the South

June 21 to July 22

*** Blackfoot ***

JUNE -MI-SOM-SOO-TA - Long Rain

JULY - II-TOH-TOT-TO-TSI-MA-TA-PI-WA

WHEN PEOPLE MOVE CAMP TOGETHER


Power Animal: Flicker (large woodpecker)
Mineral:              Rose quartz, Carnelian agate
Color:                 Pink
Plant:                  Wild rose
Clan:                   Frog
Element:            Water

 Characteristics:

The Strong Sun Moon  is the first moon of Shawnodese, Spirit Keeper of the South, and occurs at the time of the summer solstice. The stone honoring this position is placed one quarter of the way between the southern and western stones of the Medicine Wheel. The mineral totem for the Strong Sun Moon is carnelian agate, the plant is the wild rose, and the animal is the flicker. The color is pink, and the elemental influence is from the Frog clan.

From the carnelian, people experiencing this position can learn about their strong heart connection; from the rose, about their ability both to heal and to inspire; and from the flicker, about their desire for self expression. The Strong Sun Moon teaches about the importance of the emotions and the need for a strong home base. People experiencing the energy of this position are intuitive and wild in some aspects of being, but conservative and home loving in others. The Strong Sun Moon will educate you about the law of relationship and about family, mothering, and nurturing. While working with the flicker you must guard against wallowing in all your emotions and about fearing to take any stand.

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Moon: Ripe Berries Moon

July 23 to August 22

*** Blackfoot ***

July - II-Toh-Tot-To-Tsi-Ma-Ta-Pi-Wa

When People Move Camp Together

August - Pak-Ki-Pis-Tsi'o-Taa'-T-Ts-Pi

When the choke Cherries Are Ripe


Power Animal: Sturgeon
Mineral:             Garnet, iron
Color:                Red
 Plant:                 Raspberry
 Clan:                 Thunderbird
 Element:           Fire

Characteristics:

The second moon of Shawnodese, Spirit Keeper of the South is the Ripe Berries Moon. The stone for this position is placed midway  between the southern and western stones in the outer circle of the Medicine  Wheel. Iron and garnet are the mineral totems for this moon, raspberry is the  plant totem, and the sturgeon is the animal totem. The color is red, and the  position is influenced by the Thunderbird clan.

Iron teaches people in this position about their strength and garnet shows  them their heart is the source of that strength. From the raspberry they learn about their sweetness and the thorns they project to protect this part of them selves from other people. The sturgeon show them their depth and their need  to teach. The Ripe Berries Moon teaches them how to work from the heart  center, how to demonstrate affection, how to face fears, and how to develop  leadership abilities. This moon helps develop courage and power. People experiencing the sturgeon energy need to guard against impulsiveness, arrogance, and a tendency to dominate any scenario.

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Moon: Harvest Moon

August 23 to September 22

*** Blackfoot ***

August - Pak-Ki-Pis-Tsi'o-Taa'-T-Ts-Pi

When the choke Cherries Are Ripe

September - II-Ta-Wa-Pi'-Ts-ko

When the Leaves Change Color


Power Animal: Brown bear
Mineral:             Amethyst
Color:                Purple
 Plant:                 Violet
 Clan:                  Turtle
 Element:           Earth

Characteristics:

The Harvest Moon  is the last moon of Shawnodese of the South. The stone honoring this position is placed three quarters of the way between the southern and western stones. The mineral totem for this position is the amethyst, the plant totem is the violet, and the animal totem is the brown bear. The color is purple, and the elemental influence comes from the Turtle clan.

The amethyst can teach people experiencing this moon about good judgment and justice; the violet, about their ability to penetrate to secret regions of the heart and soul; and the brown bear, about their capacity for creative curiosity. The Harvest Moon teaches about discrimination, fair decisions, good sense, perseverance, confidence, and the ability to analyze. The energy of this position is one of balance, rationality, and practicality. This is the place on the wheel that will help you truly understand the concepts of work and duty. In the brown bear place you need to guard against being overly critical of others, or cynical about life.

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West - Strength and Introspection

Spirit Keeper of the West

Moon: Ducks Flying Moon

September 23 to October 23

*** Blackfoot ***

September - II-Ta-Wa-Pi'-Ts-ko

When the Leaves Change Color

OCTOBER - SAI-Al-KSI-II-TOH-OMA-TO-OYII - 

WHEN THE GEESE LEAVE


Moon:                 Ducks flying moon; cooling sun moon
Power Animal: Raven
Mineral:              Jasper
Color:                 Brown
Plant:                  Mullein
Clan:                   Butterfly
Element:             Air

 Characteristics:

The Ducks Fly Moon  is the first moon of Mudjekeewis, the Spirit Keeper of the West and occurs at the time of the autumn equinox. The stone honoring this moon is placed one quarter of the way, moving clockwise, between the southern and western stones. The mineral totem for this moon is jasper, usually of the bloodstone variety; the plant is the mullein; and the animal is the raven. The color is brown, and the elemental clan influencing this moon is the Butterfly clan.

From the jasper, people experiencing this energy can learn how to draw both the earth and sun energy into their being and how to understand the messages of the heart. From the mullein they can learn about their abilities both to soothe and to irritate. From the raven they will gain understanding of their relationships with groups, and their ability to soar and dive. This is the position in which you can learn what balance truly is, even if you need to experience discomfort in order to do so. People experiencing the Ducks Fly Moon can rapidly go from one idea, concept, or mood to its opposite. This position can teach how to show physical affection and how to be comfortable both in earth and sky. People experiencing the raven energy must be careful not to be totally indecisive, and so changeable they confuse even themselves

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Moon: Freeze up moon - Cooling Sun Moon

October 24 to November 21

*** Blackfoot ***

OCTOBER - SAI-Al-KSI-II-TOH-OMA-TO-OYII - 

WHEN THE GEESE LEAVE

NOVEMBER - II-TOA-TS-STO-YII - 

WHEN THE COLD COMES

 

Power animal: Snake
Mineral:              Malachite, copper
Color:                 Orange
Plant:                  Thistle
Clan:                   Frog
Element:            Water

Characteristic:

The Freeze Up Moon (October 24 to November 21) is the middle moon of Mudjekeewis of the West. The stone honoring this time is placed midway between the western and northern stones in the outer circle of the Wheel.

Copper teaches people experiencing the Freeze Up Moon about how to focus their energies and malachite teaches them to be more sensitive to all energies. The thistle demonstrates healing abilities and versatility. The snake teaches adaptability and the capacity to silently travel to places others might fear to go. This is the position to learn how to travel between the different realms of creation and how to become a messenger for the spiritual aspects of life. The snake position will teach you about the extent of your own energy, your ability to create change, your inquisitiveness, your desire for truth, and your keen sight. When working with the Freeze Up Moon you must be careful to keep yourself grounded and not to become too suspicious of people.

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Moon phase: Long Snows Moon

November 22 to December 21

*** Blackfoot ***

NOVEMBER - II-TOA-TS-STO-YII - 

WHEN THE COLD COMES

DECEMBER - IS-STA-M-SII-WA - COLD MONTH


Power animal: Elk
Mineral:             Obsidian
Color:                 Black
Plant:                  Black Spruce
Clan:                   Thunderbird
Element:            Fire

Characteristic:

The Long Snows Moon is the last moon of Mudjekeewis and the final moon of the year. Moving clockwise, the stone representing this position is three quarters of the way between the western and northern stones of the wheel. Obsidian is the mineral totem, the black spruce is the plant totem, and the elk is the animal totem. The color is black and the elemental influence comes from the Thunderbird clan.

From obsidian, people experiencing this position can learn about their ability to perceive and mirror the thoughts and feelings of others. The black spruce teaches how to be soft and strong at the same time, and the elk demonstrates the power of beauty, majesty, and cooperation. This is the position in which to learn about your desire for justice, and your ability to live with the dualities of nature and life. The Long Snows Moon teaches about mental strength, deep fear of emotions, relationships, teaching, and communicating. People in the elk position are insightful, independent, fearless, determined, and open hearted. They need to guard against being overly argumentative and erratic in intimate relationships.

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