The organised religion and its quasi-imposed belief fear induced systems are not really organic natural ideas of inhabitants of a native land. It is because they are inorganic synthetic ideas which are based upon Judaic old literature. Natives of the entire Earth were many times more religious. They are infused with a pure sense of spirituality that played the significant role in guiding their lives. Norse Pagan, Neo Germanic Pagan, Russian, Ancient India, Persia, pre Islamic civilisations of Arabia, ancient lands of Pacific Asia including Japan, Formosa & most South and North America – they all believed in the purity of soul and the great spirit. However, they never needed to define or fear it.
Cherokees and Native Tribes
The Cherokees and other Native tribes held the belief that signs, visions, dreams, and powers were gifts of the spirits and that the material world was intertwined with the spirit world. There are thousands of great stories that tell us how peaceful and compassionate the lives of the Cherokees and other Native tribes were for thousands of years till the arrival of Europeans in their land.ย The academics have been investing all their valuable and earnest efforts in painting the natives as savages and inhuman. However, the reality speaks the opposite. The savages were the Europeans who just abused and used pretexts with the objective of plotting genocide of more than 100 million people.
Little People
Spiritual beings can be materialised in the form of animal or human and are considered as an inseparable part of daily life.ย A group of spiritual beings are regarded as Little People and they can only be seen when they wish to appear in front of people. When the Little People authorise themselves to be seen, their appearance seems to be very much like any other Cherokees. However, they appear to be very small and have long hair. The Little People can be helpful but one should be cautious while interacting with them. It is because there is a high possibility of facing deception while dealing with them. It is not common to talk about gaining experience of dealing with the Little People. Instead, you could rely on the stories of incidents about someone else’s experience. It is said that you will become vulnerable to confusion and abnormality in your day-to-day life if you bother the Little People too often. Although they are equipped with healing powers and helpful hints, the Little People are not to be disturbed.
Great Spirit
The Great Spirit is as same as Param Ishwar Shakti or Vishnu for whom Hindus have high regard. The Great Spirit is viewed as the source of ubiquitous energy around the Universe. The Cherokees and almost all Native tribes show reverence for the Great Spirit because they referred to Him as Unetlanvhi, or “The Creator”, who presided over all things associated with the material world and created the Earth. The Great Spirit is regarded as omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. The Unetlanvhi was said to have created the Earth for her children. The Wahnenauhi Manuscript referred to God as Unahlahnauhi, me (Maker of All Things) and Kalvlvtiahi (“The One Who Lives Above). It signifies that Cherokees and Native people residing in North America hold high regard for Deities.ย In most myths, the Great Spirit is not personified as the entity or being with human characteristics and physical human form.
The spiritual elders guided The First Natives in understanding the essence of peace and love that was pervasive in ancient Hindus and Persian Civilization. Nordics had high regards for learned teachers, who played the noteworthy role in guiding people so that they can understand the essence of devotion towards Deities.
The Great Spirit is revered as Wakan Tanka among the Sioux tribes. On the other hand, The Great Spirit is regarded as Gitche Manitou in Algonquian tribe. The Great Spirit is regarded as a conception of universal spiritual force, or Supreme Being, which is prevalent amongst some Native American and First Nation cultures. The Great Spirit is considered as an anthropomorphic celestial deity. As per the belief of Native Tribes, it personally ruled the entire globe and intervened in a regular manner in the matters associated with human affairs. He is revered as the God of creation, history and eternity.
There are many different prophets of the Great Spirit. Despite being made up of a variety of myths, each prophet is driven by the same goal. Each prophet aims to ensure the restoration and preservation of a way associated with diminishing Native American life. The Great Spirit guides individuals and their communities with the lessons, which are propagated through the prophets. The Great Spirit is manifested through multiple Native American Tribes. That is why each story regarding the Great Spirit is different. They are regarded as the products of various cultures. Some prophets call for war, while others call for peace. Certain prophets call for acculturation between the Native Americans and whites, while others call for complete segregation. In this way, the variety of opinions and perceptions can be evident. The Cherokee believed that spirits preside over every aspect associated with their primitive lives. They have given a variety of names:
Uktena: A horned serpent
Tsul ‘Kalu: Spirit of the Hunt, A slant eyed giant
Oonawieh Unggi (the oldest wind): Spirit of the Wind
Kana’ti (The Lucky Hunter): The Great Hunter
Selu (maize): The Corn Woman
Nรปรฑnรซ’hรฏ: The Spirit People
Tlanuwa: A Giant Raptor
Evil
There is no universal evil spirit corresponding to Satan in Cherokee Theology. An Asgina has been regarded as any sort of spirit. However, it is usually regarded to be a malicious one. Uya or Uyaga, is an evil earth spirit. It is invariably opposed to the forces associated with righteousness and light. Nun’Yunu’Wi and Kalona Ayeliski (Raven Mocker) are considered as an evil spirits monster who preys on humans. These spirits preyed on dying. They would torment their victims until they died. After that, they would eat the heart of victims. Kalona Ayeliski is invisible, except to a medicine man. However, the only way to protect a potential victim was to have a medicine man who knew how to drive Kalona Ayeliski off, since they were scared of him.
The Native Americans of North America had a very advanced civilization that was bulldozed and forcibly subdued by the occupying invaders from Europe who shed gallons and gallons of blood of millions of native tribes and communities. This process was conducted under the guise of invasive Christianity just like the Muslims who invaded others’ lands with the objective of stealing, destroying and imposing their belief on non-believers.
Resources
http://religion.wikia.com/wiki/Cherokee_mythology
http://www.cherokee.org/About-The-Nation/Culture/General/The-Traditional-Belief-System
http://www.ilhawaii.net/~stony/lore132.html
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-twoworlds/1839
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherokee_mythology
Native American Beliefs And Religion
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