Sacred Colors ( CHEROKEE )
Sacred Colors
James Mooney's History,
"Myths and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees" printed in 1900 states
that color symbolism played an important part in shamanistic system of
the Cherokees. Each one of the cardinal directions has a corresponding
color - each color has a symbolic meaning. Shamans used the knowledge
of these symbolic colors to invoke the spirit whose characteristics was
needed for his formulas.
The symbolic color system was as follows:
East = red = success; triumph
North = blue = defeat; trouble
West = black = death
South = white = peace; happiness
The Red Man, living in the East, is the spirit of power, triumph, and
success. The Black Man, in the West, is the spirit of death. The shaman
would invoke the Red Man to the assistance of his patient and consign
his enemy to the fatal influences of the Black Man. According to Thomas
Mails, in his book, "Cherokee People," the mythological significance of
different colors were important in Cherokee lore.
Red
Red was symbolic of success. It was the color of the war club used to
strike an enemy in battle as well as the other club used by the warrior
to shield himself. Red beads were used to conjure the red spirit to
insure long life, recovery from sickness, success in love and ball play
or any other undertaking where the benefit of the magic spell was
wrought.
Black
Black was always typical of death. The soul of the enemy was
continually beaten about by black war clubs and enveloped in a black
fog. In conjuring to destroy an enemy, the priest used black beads and
invoked the black spirits- which always lived in the West,-bidding them
to tear out the man's soul and carry it to the West, and put it into
the black coffin deep in the black mud, with a black serpent coiled
above it.
Blue
Blue symbolized failure, disappointment, or unsatisfied desire. To say
"they shall never become blue" expressed the belief that they would
never fail in anything they undertook. In love charms, the lover
figuratively covered himself with red and prayed that his rival would
become entirely blue and walk in a blue path. "He is entirely blue,"
approximates meaning of the common English phrase, "He feels blue." The
blue spirits lived in the North.
White
White denoted peace and happiness. In ceremonial addresses, as the
Green Corn Dance and ball play, the people symbolically partook of
white food and, after the dance or game, returned along the white trail
to their white houses. In love charms, the man, to induce the woman to
cast her lost with his, boasted, "I am a white man," implying that all
was happiness where he was. White beads had the same meaning in bead
conjuring, and white was the color of the stone pipe anciently used in
ratifying peace treaties. The White spirits lived in the South.
There are three additional sacred directions:
Up Above = yellow
Down Below = brown
Here in the Center = green
Cherokee Color Words
black: gv-ni-ge
blue: sa-go-ne-ge
brown: u-wo-di-ge
gray: u-s-go-lv sa-go-ni-ge
green: i-tse-i-yu-s-di
orange: a-da-lo-ni-ge
yellow: da-lo-ni-ge
red: gi-ga-ge
purple: gi-ga-ge-s-di
pink: gi-ga-ge-i-yu-s-di
white: u-ne-ga
silver: a-de-lv-u-ne-gv
James Mooney's History,
"Myths and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees" printed in 1900 states
that color symbolism played an important part in shamanistic system of
the Cherokees. Each one of the cardinal directions has a corresponding
color - each color has a symbolic meaning. Shamans used the knowledge
of these symbolic colors to invoke the spirit whose characteristics was
needed for his formulas.
The symbolic color system was as follows:
East = red = success; triumph
North = blue = defeat; trouble
West = black = death
South = white = peace; happiness
The Red Man, living in the East, is the spirit of power, triumph, and
success. The Black Man, in the West, is the spirit of death. The shaman
would invoke the Red Man to the assistance of his patient and consign
his enemy to the fatal influences of the Black Man. According to Thomas
Mails, in his book, "Cherokee People," the mythological significance of
different colors were important in Cherokee lore.
Red
Red was symbolic of success. It was the color of the war club used to
strike an enemy in battle as well as the other club used by the warrior
to shield himself. Red beads were used to conjure the red spirit to
insure long life, recovery from sickness, success in love and ball play
or any other undertaking where the benefit of the magic spell was
wrought.
Black
Black was always typical of death. The soul of the enemy was
continually beaten about by black war clubs and enveloped in a black
fog. In conjuring to destroy an enemy, the priest used black beads and
invoked the black spirits- which always lived in the West,-bidding them
to tear out the man's soul and carry it to the West, and put it into
the black coffin deep in the black mud, with a black serpent coiled
above it.
Blue
Blue symbolized failure, disappointment, or unsatisfied desire. To say
"they shall never become blue" expressed the belief that they would
never fail in anything they undertook. In love charms, the lover
figuratively covered himself with red and prayed that his rival would
become entirely blue and walk in a blue path. "He is entirely blue,"
approximates meaning of the common English phrase, "He feels blue." The
blue spirits lived in the North.
White
White denoted peace and happiness. In ceremonial addresses, as the
Green Corn Dance and ball play, the people symbolically partook of
white food and, after the dance or game, returned along the white trail
to their white houses. In love charms, the man, to induce the woman to
cast her lost with his, boasted, "I am a white man," implying that all
was happiness where he was. White beads had the same meaning in bead
conjuring, and white was the color of the stone pipe anciently used in
ratifying peace treaties. The White spirits lived in the South.
There are three additional sacred directions:
Up Above = yellow
Down Below = brown
Here in the Center = green
Cherokee Color Words
black: gv-ni-ge
blue: sa-go-ne-ge
brown: u-wo-di-ge
gray: u-s-go-lv sa-go-ni-ge
green: i-tse-i-yu-s-di
orange: a-da-lo-ni-ge
yellow: da-lo-ni-ge
red: gi-ga-ge
purple: gi-ga-ge-s-di
pink: gi-ga-ge-i-yu-s-di
white: u-ne-ga
silver: a-de-lv-u-ne-gv
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CHEROKEE MEDICINE WHEEL
The Lone Wolf Band of Cherokee Indians
Indiana's Cherokee people.
THE MEDICINE WHEEL
The Medicine Wheel represents the spirituality of the Cherokee as well as all other Native People.
Native People believe the wheel to be sacred because the Creator or Great Spirit created the Sun, the Moon, the Sky and Mother Earth round. Seasons come and go as in a circle. The Sun and the Moon revolve around Mother Earth in a circle, creating each day The circle represents all things in creation. Therefor we must see the circle as being sacred. The Cherokee as all other Native People dance in a circle to honor the circle of life and mother earth. Our drums are all made in circles. Our fires are made by placing logs in an “X” pattern which causes the fire to burn in a circular pattern.
The Medicine Wheel symbolizes the journey that each of us individually must take in our own life to find our correct and true path. The Medicine Wheel continues evolving and continues to bring new life lessons and the truth of the path you follow. The Medicine Wheel is round which represents the circle of life, from birth, to life as a child, life as a young person, life as an adult, life as an elder and finally death. You must honor and embrace each direction and that part of life and gain as much as you can and give as much as you can for a happy and fruitful journey.
The Medicine Wheel also teaches us about the path you take and the things you do in life can make the circle. If you do good for another, the circle will return good to you. But the same holds true for the bad things you do.
Within the Medicine Wheel is four primary sacred colors which represents our four sacred directions.
In the center of the Medicine Wheel is the sacred fire, which is the center of all things.
THE COLORS OF THE CHEROKEE
RED
Red was the symbolic color for success. Feathers, warrior clothing decorations, weapons and shields that were used against the enemy were colored red. Red beads were used to conjure the Red Spirit to insure a long life, recovery from illness, success in love and ball playing, or any other undertaking that would be benefitted by a magic spell. Red also represents the east. East is the beginning of all things. East is where we begin the spiritual aspect of our circular path and the growth of our personal spirit. East is where the sun rises. Red is associated with fire. The Red Spirits lived in the east.
BLACK
Black was the symbolic color for death. It is believed that the soul of the enemy was continually beaten about by black war clubs and the enemy was surrounded by black fog. In conjuring to destroy and enemy, the priest used black beads and invoked the black spirits from the west to tear out the enemies soul and carry it to the west and place it in a black coffin, buried in black mud with a black serpent coiled above it. The Black Spirits lived in the west.
BLUE
Blue was the color that symbolized failure, disappointment or unsatisfied desires. If it was said that a person “would never become blue” would mean that the person would be very successful and never fail at anything they did. The Blue Spirits lived in the North.
WHITE
White was the color that symbolized purity, innocense, peace and happiness. To be happy would be to say “I am white.” The sacred path of the Cherokee is the “White Path or White Road.” White beads were used to conjure happiness. A white pipe was used to ratify
.
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Just the "Blood"....Its "Living the way"......
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