Traditions

Old Traditions

Check in from time to time for new stories about Old Traditions.

     The Lesson

A Cherokee elder is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil--he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, ego, and superiority. The other is good--he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. This same fight is going on inside you--and inside every other person, too." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win? " The Cherokee elder simply replied, "The one you feed."

The Circle of Medicine

2000 BC

Here eat this root.

1000 AD

That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer.

1500 AD

That prayer is superstition. Here, drink this potion.

1940 AD

That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill.

1985 AD

That pill is ineffective. Here, take this antiobiotic.

2007 AD

 That antibiotic doesn't work anymore. Here, eat this root!

Great Spirits's Garden

"We are all flowers in the Great Spirit's garden. We share a common root, and the root is Mother Earth. The garden is beautiful because it has different colors in it and these colors represent different traditions and cultural backgrounds."
- Grandfather David Monongye -

Cherokee Prayer Blessing

May the Warm Winds of Heaven
Blow softly upon your house.
May the Great Spirit
Bless all who enter there.
May your Mocassins
Make happy tracks
in many snows,
and may the Rainbow
Always touch your shoulder.

The History of Medicine according to Cherokee Legend

The Old Ones say that at one time all of Creation spoke the same language. The plants could communicate with the finned ones, the four-leggeds could speak with the trees, the stones could talk with the wind, and even the most dependent, most pitiful part of creation, the two-leggeds, or as we have come to call ourselves, the humans, could also speak with the other parts of creation. All existed in harmony. The plants, the animals, and the elements of the Four Directions (all existence) all knew that if the two-leggeds were to survive, they would need help.

The animals gave of themselves, willingly sacrificing, so that the humans could have food. They knew that their skins were much better suited to survival than that of the humans, so they allowed their skins to be taken and used for clothing and shelter. The Finned ones, The Fliers, and the Crawlers also allowed themselves to be used by the humans, to insure their survival. The Plant people, the Standing people (trees), and the Stone People (rocks) freely gave of themselves so that the humans had what they needed for food, clothing, and shelter. An agreement was forged that the two-leggeds would ask permission for these gifts, give thanks for the sacrifice, and take no more than they needed. And so, it was good.

But then, the two-leggeds started growing in numbers, and began to feel themselves more important than the rest of creation. They began to believe that the Web of Life revolved around them, ignoring the fact that they were just one small part of the Circle. The two-leggeds began to kill without asking for permission. They began to take more than they needed. They ceased to give thanks. All parts of the agreement were broken.

The great Animal Councils banded together to determine what they should do to right these wrongs. They needed to protect themselves from destruction and eradication. And so, it was decreed by the council, if one of their clan was killed by the two-leggeds and thanks was not given for the sacrifice, the Chief Animal Spirit would afflict the disrespectful killer with a devastating disease.

The plants were distressed and said to the animals, "They wrong us, too. They dig us up, trample us, burn us out, and don't even listen when we try to tell them what we can do to help them. Yet, we feel compassion for the two-leggeds. Man struggles to realize his place in the web of creation and he cannot learn if he is wiped out by disease. Man needs our help, so for every disease you animals bring to them, we, the Plant People will give them a cure. All the two-leggeds have to do is ' listen' when we talk to them."

At Nuwati Herbals, we pray for guidance before we make our products. As we walk the Medicine Path, we listen to the plants. We give thanks to the plants for their sacrifice that allows the two-leggeds to survive. We thank Creator for creating the plants, and we thank Mother Earth for making them grow.

We are proud to bring you...

Natural Remedies from the Medicine Cabinet of Mother Earth.
 

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Nuwati Herbals makes no medical claims and our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, or heal medical conditions. Women who are pregnant or nursing or persons with known medical conditions should consult their physician before taking any herbal products.