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Native American Sacred Hoop Visionquest
Glossary Terminology
Four Directions
The Four Directions (Four Powers,
Four Quarters) are four equally important ways of perceiving things in life and of pursuing knowledge. These are
the four cardinal points of the circle, each of which represent different power
essences of nature, seasonal rhythms, and stages of life.
These four directions
are North (Wisdom, White, Buffalo, Maturity, Strength and Stamina); East (Peace,
Gold, Eagle, Elder, Clarity and Illumination; South (Expansion, Green, Mouse,
Infancy, Wholesomeness and Expectation); and West (Nourishment, Black, Bear,
Youth, Introspection and Authenticity).
Giveaway
This tradition exemplifies and embodies the essence of sharing what one has with
others. For instance, a Giveaway may be hosted by a family during a Powwow to
celebrate a family member's formal entry into the dance circle. Craft gifts,
beadwork, and blankets are given to visitors and friends. The gift giving is
then followed by dancing and songs.
Making Relatives
This is a ceremony to promote peace that reflects the spiritual
connection between the Great Spirit and humanity. A strong blood bond is made
between two people to establish a relationship that is closer than kinship.
Similar to an adoption, once this ceremony takes place, the participants become
accountable for one another.
Medicine Wheel
This circle symbolizes all of
life and the lives of individual beings as they express the power of the world
through harmonious movements, and, as they are nourished by the spiral of
constant circular motion of the wheel of Spirit. Medicine Wheel traditions vary
from tribe to tribe.
An example of a medicine wheel is
one where the center of the wheel is bisected by two paths. The path from North
to South is the road everyone travells in life; while, the path from East
to West is the road individuals travel as they learn lessons, growing in Spirit.
Pipe Ceremony
This is a ceremony which an Elder
oversees. After the participants gather together in a circle, the Elder lights a
braid of sweetgrass to symbolize the unity of the many minds and hearts present
and smudges each person in the circle. Then the Elder puts four pinches of
tobacco in the bowl of the sacred pipe and offers a pinch to each of the Four
Directions.
Afterwards the pipe holder asks
the Spirits to come and join in the smoking of the sacred pipe and to pass the
participants prayers and requests on to Great Spirit and then the sacred pipe is
passed from person to person in the circle...
Continue on
Go back
Read Native American Articles
All are Kin Clans and Making Relatives,
Clans Giveaways and the Keeping of Souls,
Cosmology of Sacred Hoop Great Spirit,
Drumming Smudging and Sweat Lodges,
Glossary Terminology,
Goddesses Gods and Star Teachers,
Medicine Wheels and Four Directions,
Native American Indian Spiritual Beliefs,
Sacred Pipe Ceremony and Powwows,
Visionquests and Power Animal Totems,
Wakan Tanka and White Buffalo Woman
Visit other Beliefs Faiths Religions Traditions
Aboriginal Dreamtime,
Alchemy Alchemist,
Cosmos Astronomy,
Buddhism Buddhist,
Christianity Biblical,
Daoist Confucian,
Druidry Treelore,
Heathenry Ásatrú,
Hinduism Vedas,
Islam Sunnah,
Judaism Talmud,
Native American,
Paganism Wiccan,
Shamanism Shaman,
Shintoism Kami
Native American Sacred Hoop Visionquest Copyright © 2002-2008 Maureen Grace Burns, Blessings Cornucopia. All Rights Reserved.
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