The Wakan Circle

Cherokee Prophesies~

Excerpts from a talk at the 1986 Continental Indigenous Council, Fairbanks, Alaska

By ~Lee Brown, Cherokee ~

"The stone tablets of the yellow race of people are kept by the Tibetans. If you went straight through the Hopi Reservation to the other side of the world, you would come out in Tibet. The Tibetan word for sun is the Hopi word for moon, and the Hopi word for sun is the Tibetan word for moon."

There was the cycle of the mineral, the rock. There was the cycle of the plant. And now we are in the cycle of the animal coming to the end of that and beginning the cycle of the human being. When we get into the cycle of the human being, the highest and greatest powers that we have will be released to us. At the beginning of this cycle of time, long ago, the Great Spirit made an appearance and gathered the peoples of this earth together, and said to the human beings, "I'm going to send you to four directions, and over time I'm going to change you to four colors, but I'm going to give you some teachings, and you will call these the Original Teachings; when you come back together with each other, you will share these so that you can live and have peace on earth, and a great civilization will come about.

During the cycle of time, I'm going to give each of you two stone tablets. When I give you those stone tablets, don't cast them upon the ground. If any of the sisters and brothers cast their tablets on the ground, not only will human beings have a hard time, but almost the earth itself will die."

And so He gave each of us a responsibility, and we call that the Guardianship. To the Indian people, the red people, He gave the Guardianship of the Earth. We were to learn during this cycle of time the teachings of the earth, the plants that grow from the earth, the foods that you can eat, and the herbs that heal so that, when we came back together with the other sisters and brothers, we could share this knowledge with them. Something good was to happen on the earth. To the South He gave the yellow race of people the Guardianship of the Wind. They were to learn about the sky and breathing and how to take that within ourselves for spiritual advancement. They were to share that with us at this time. To the West He gave the black race of people the Guardianship of the Water. They were to learn the teachings of the water, which is the chief of the elements, being the most humble and the most powerful.

he concept of trees being sacred crosses many cultural lines and throughout recorded history. From prehistoric times til present time, trees have provided shelter and heat and oxygen. Humans as well as animals have long been dependent on all species of trees. Medicine is also derived from the bark and leaves of many trees. Certain trees point to sources of underground water by the direction of their roots. Shade from a tree has saved countless lives from the burning sun. Many animals and some cultures of humans reside in trees, it is their home. On some islands in the pacific which flood on a regular basis, the people climb the trees for safety until the waters recede. Many women have given birth in trees during the storms and floods. Mother earth protects and nurtures the top soil with tress. The roots assist in holding the soil in place. The leaves are used in pagan rituals as essential earth elements.

Tree Calendar: Birch: December 23-January 20 Rowan: January 21- February 17 Ash: February 18-March 17 Alder: March 18-April 14 Willow: April 15- May 12 Hawthorn: May 13- June 9 Oak: June 10- July 7 Holly: July 8- August 4 Hazel: August 5- September 1 Vine: September 2- September 29 Ivy: September 30- October 27 Reed: October 28- November 24 Elder: November 25- December 22 The oak tree was the primary focus of worship and reverence because it was believed to be a God incarnate. The staff, made from trees, is a symbol that whoever carried it was an emissary of the gods. Trees are symbols of life, regeneration and sacred knowledge. The roots of the trees extend into the earth. This area is called the Underworld. This is where some Gods and our ancestral spirits dwell. The branches of the trees grew toward the sky, as if reaching outward to the deities. The messengers of the deities which are birds, sat on the branches for rest and shelter. The trees with all their aspects, is considered sacred and with magical properties. The spirits of certain trees are called upon to bind evil spirits and those individuals with negative energy. The tree embodies the sacred connection of all things in the universal circle of life. As the branches wave in the four winds, they give praise to each direction which symbolizes a spirit. Each spirit brings forth winds and transmits sacred energy as we journey down our path in life. The creator planted a sacred tree for all the people. That they would have love, healing, wisdom and strength in their lives. The fruit of the sacred tree yields kindness, tolerance, faith and knowledge. We honor Mother Earth and all her plants and animals by not wasting or taking for granted her resources. The center of life is a sacred fire fueled by the trees

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