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CHEROKEE MEDICINE WRITINGS
THE ORIGIN OF STRAWBERRIES - A CHEROKEE CREATION STORY
by Susan Bates
When Creator made the first man and woman, they lived together happily for a time. But after awhile they began to get on each other's nerves and started to quarrel. Finally, the woman had had enough so she set off walking toward the east where the sun lives.
The man sat alone and brooded for awhile. Then he began to get lonely for the woman. He thought of all the good times and laughter they had shared and the good food she had fixed for him to eat. He decided to follow her. But the woman had a good start and she walked steadily ahead, never looking back.
"Are you still angry with the woman," Creator asked the man?
"No," the man replied.
"Do you want her back?" Creator questioned.
"Yes, very much," answered the man.
Creator never asked the man why the lovers had quarrelled. Who was right and who was wrong didn't matter. Healing the two hearts was what was important.
So Creator thought about how to turn the woman around. He put a patch of huckleberries in her path, but she walked around them. Next he caused a thicket of ripe blackberries to grow along her path. She didn't give them a second look.
She walked through beautiful orchards, ripe with all manner of fruits, but she ignored them all, so intent was she on leaving the man behind.
Creator knew he had to come up with something more spectacular to get her to stop. He created a patch of sweet, red strawberries and put them right in the middle of her path. The woman had never seen such a beautiful fruit so she stopped and picked one. It tasted so delicious that she sat down in the middle of the path and began to eat. Once she stopped to eat she forgot to be mad at the man and her heart became sad that they had parted. She gathered a basket of the sweetest, red berries she could find and turned her face toward the west and began the journey back to love. Her husband met her half way and they went home together.
Still today the Cherokee revere their woman ... refusing to fix the blame for all the world's woes on her because Eve ate an apple. Cherokee first man and woman were reunited because she took the time to eat a strawberry.
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If you want to fully understand who you are as a Cherokee, I can't stress strongly enough the importance of studying your own Creation stories for they will tell you the laws Creator gave your people to live by. You can find many of them in James Mooney's Myth's Of The Cherokee and in Selu, Seeking The Corn Mother's Wisdom by Marilou Awiakta.
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" In ages past, our old ones were the storytellers. This was the way things were passed along to the generations that followed. For this reason the aged people made it a point to remember every detail so they could relate it at a later time. They were the word and picture carriers making history and spirtual values alive and important. In recent times we have made our old ones think they are not so important. We spoof their stories and make them feel foolish. The truth is that we are ignorant of what is precious and how to 'a da li he li tse di -- appreciate age. Rigidity can creep in and set even the young mind if there are no soft memories, no laughter, no times too deep for tears. Age is grace -- a time too valuable to waste."
A Cherokee Feast of Days - Daily Meditations, Joyce Sequichie Hifler
Susan Bates
Hill & Holler Column
October 3, 2001
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan Bates. Visit Susan's website, Native American Journal, dedicated to helping people rediscover their heritage. She has helped thousands of people reconnect with their beloved ancestors and features insider tribal news. The Native American Journal is a truth-seeking, truth-telling website honoring everyone's path and preparing all for the Great Earth Changes. The Native American Journal supports Leonard Peltier, the Dineh, and Mother Earth.
E-Mail: susanbates@webtv.net
Website: http://members.tripod.com/-susanbates/nativeamericanjrnl-index.html
(We are all related)
WORDS FROM 'TWEEN
We are very grateful to know Susan as our friend, and now we have the opportunity to share her words of wisdom and messages from the ancestors, with you, Dear Reader. Please join us in welcoming Susan to 'tween, stop by her website or send her an email. |
