Path 1: Creator - The Creator is the center of your circle. It is what the Great Spirit has placed
inside of one of your personalities, such as your faith, values, awareness and change.
Path 2: Mother Earth - This path is the birth, nurturing and rebirth of ones self. With the expressions of ones emotions we allow our hearts to expand towards the light of truth allowing room for your heart to grow.
Path 3: Father Sun - This is the time for active growth, setting future goals. This is the path of coming into your own power. Conquering your own fears, by shining your own light you will lead others into seeing more clearly.
Path 4: Grandmother Moon - Grandmother says to trust your instincts. She gives you the gift of self-reflection. Listen to your inner rhythms.
Path 5: Pipe - Indian myth has it that in ancient times, when the land was barren and the people were starving, the Great Spirit sent forth a woman to save humanity. As she
traveled all over the world, everywhere her right hand touched the soil grew potatoes. And, everywhere her left hand touched grew corn. When the world was rich and fertile, she sat down to rest. When she was rested she arose, there grew tobacco. For thousands of years, tobacco has had a sacred purpose for many tribes It is used for prayer and to show respect, to heal and give spiritual protection. MOST of all the Keeping of promises.
Path 6: Sweat Lodge - The sweat lodge is also known as the medicine house. Traditionally it is used to purify ones spirit being inside and to chase out all the evil. It is also used used to
chase out sickness such as fever or a runny nose.
Path 7: Vision / Dream - A vision is a turning point taken at the time when a child becomes an adult. (Puberty) A vision quest can be taken anytime that one is confused or looking for answers. Here is where one discovers their missions in life. It also is a form of purification. A vision could includes long walks in nature, fasting, sleep depravation or being closed in a small room. Sometimes thoughts of craziness set in and to others it doesn't. A vision is when the birds, animals, Mother Earth or the
Great Spirit speaks to you giving you a lead in what direction to go.
Path 8: Dream Catcher - A spider was spinning his web in his own little space. It was right beside
the sleeping place of NOKOMIS (grandmother) Each day NOKOMIS watched the spider at work, quietly spinning away.
One Day while NOKOMIS was watching the spider her grandson came in. He then yelled, " NOKOMIS-IYA" (grandmother beside you). He stomped over to the spider, picked up a moccasin and went to smash the spider.
"No-keeg wa" the grandmother whispered in her secret voice, (no don't hurt him" with a puzzled face," NOKOMIS?, why do you protect the spider? asked the grandson Nokomis Smiled but, did not answer.
After NOKOMIS's grandson had left the spider went to Nokomis and thanked her for saving his life. The spider then said, "For many days you have admired my work, so, in return I will give you a gift".
The spider smiled an extra special SMILE. And moving away he went. soon the moon glistened on a magical silvery web, softly moving in the door flap. "See how I spin." He said, "watch and learn ." For each web will snare bad dreams, and only good dreams will come through the small holes. Use it so only good dreams could be remembered, the bad dreams will become tangled and fade away. The spider give Nokomis that extra special spidery smile then he quickly left. }{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}
Path 9: Talking Stick - The Talking Stick is a great Indian tool. It is used when there is a calling of councils. A talking stick allows members to speak their sacred point of view. The talking stick is passed from one member to another. The only member allowed to speak is the one with the stick. With every Talking stick there is an answering feather. When the holder of the stick asks a question the answering feather is passes until the question has been answered. Talking stick ornaments have their own meanings of different colors.
Red - Life
Yellow- Knowledge
Blue - prayer
White - is for Spirit
Purple - Healing
Orange - Kinship
The Answering feather also have their own meanings.
Eagle Feathers - High Ideas
Turkey - Peace
Owl - Good Medicine & to stop deception
from entering the space of the sacred council
Hides And fur have their own meanings.
Buffalo - Abundance
Elk - Physical fitness
Deer - Gentleness
Rabbit - Ability to listen better with big ears
Horse Hair - connection to the earth and the spirits of the wind
Snake Skins are Healing
Path 10: Drum - There are 5 kinds of drums.
Medicine drum is the most like the tambourine. A medicine man or woman can enter into a trance by listening to it from one of their students. While deep with in the trance they come into a clearing between two forests.
The clearing between the forest of the natural world and the forest of the spirit world. The medicine people went into trances seeking help from the Great Spirit for healing of the sick. Praying for a good hunt or a rain for their fields.
Ceremonial Drum - This drum was used for gathering of its people.
Sundance, Naming Ceremony, Vision Quest,
Floor drum or TOMTOM is almost always made from a hollow log, and there was always one found in every home - tipi it is the symbol of the heart beat
of every home, Found by the husband and gave to the wife.
Hand drums were used in times of festivals - good hunts, birthdays or weddings.
POW WOW drums are the biggest and deepest of all drums. It is said that
these drums contain the voice of the woman who brought the drum to the people.
Some Indians Believe it is the Heart of MOTHER EARTH.
Path 11: Story Teller - Story telling was left to the elders, they had a way of bring the past into the present in helping us make the most important decisions of the future.
Path 12: Medicine Bowl - It is time to develop your knowledge. It may also be time to develop your heart & your health, with the gifts of intuition, seeing, hearing. and observation. Sometimes it is best just by fallowing the coincidences that play into your life.
Path 13: Prayer- I open my heart with greatest of trust and belief that the great spirit will assist me on the path I am about to fallow. In honoring all things the gift of motherly nurturing.
