Post by wren on Jan 22, 2007 16:27:50 GMT -5
LENAPE SPIRITUALITY
Lënape spirituality, as is nearly all Native American spirituality, is not a one hour a week Sunday morning pigeon hole in their lives that they shelve the rest of the week. Their spirituality is their way of life, it pervades and is a part of everything they do. Kishelëmùkòng created all things and his spirit lives in all things, thusly all things are related and must be respected and honored. When one being sacrifices himself for the benefit of others, taht spirit must be recognized and thanks given to Kishelëmùkòng, the Spirit Beings, and the being for making the sacrifice.
The People were given the Tèlën òk nisha Lilenowòkànà (The 12 Laws) by Nanapush after he created the new world. These laws, or teachings, are the guidelines by which the People live their lives.
The Lënape, and most all Native Americans, do not believe in more than one creator. There is only one creator, and although different nations have different names for him, they nearly all recognize only one. That is no different than wapsini (white man's) religions wherein their God is known by Jehovah, Hosanna, Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, God, or any number of other names dependent upon the particular religion. The Lënape call the creator Kishelëmùkòng.
They also believe in a number of Spirit Beings, but they are not gods. They were created by Kishelëmùkòng to perform specific functions, and while they do have supernatural powers, they have only those which Kishelëmùkòng has bestowed upon them....they are not omnipotent as is Kishelëmùkòng. They are not at all unlike the Christian saints or angels.
LENAPE SPIRIT BEINGS
The following is a listing of the primary Spirit Beings of the Lënape people. Their names are followed by a brief summary of their powers - purpose, or what they are symbolic personifications of.
NANAPUSH............(aka Nanabush, Manabuzho, or Michabo)....."The Strong Pure One"......... Nanapush restored creation from a small patch of mud on a turtle's back after the great flood.........he also taught man all he needed to know to survive and gave us the tèlën òk nisha lilenowòkànà.
MESINGWE.............Mesingw is the guardian spirit of the animals......he helps the people find game on the hunt.........it is said that he is often seen riding on the back of a deer.........because of his frightful appearance he is used to correct children in that they are told that if they don't behave Mesingw will get them...........Mesingw's face is half black and half red..........
3 SISTERS.............(Corn - Squash - Beans)............the 3 Sisters are a special gift from Kishelëmùkòng and give us those 3 vegatables which make up a basic staple of the Lënape traditional diet........they are very fond of each other as evidenced by the fact the plants grow together in the same field.
KUKNA..............Mother Earth........Kukna is the mother to all beings and from her all life grows........Kukna gave us growth and healing.
NUX KISHUX............Father Sun.......Nux Kishux gives us light and heat.
NIPAHUMA...............Grandmother Moon.......Nipahuma gave of her powers of fertility and reproduction to create man.........Nipahuma is the mother of mankind.
MUXUMSA PETHAKOWE........Grandfather Thunder........Muxumsa Pethakowe was sent by Kishelëmùkòng to keep Nipahuma company.....he along with Nipahuma created man........Muxumsa Pethakowe is the father of mankind and protects mankind from Matantu and the Maxa'xak.
KICHICHAX' KAL.................the Great Toad...........(aka Bikanaki'hat)........Kichichax'kal was given the duty of ruling over the waters of the earth..........he was also given the power and authority to cause rain at his will..........he was killed by Maxa'xak which caused the great flood and the resulting destruction of the world.
MATANTU......................Matantu is the spirit of evil and destruction......he corrupted what Kishelëmùkòng created by creating evil opposites.....but by so doing he also creates balance in the world for good cannot exist without the evil, nor evil without good.
MAXA' XAK..................Maxa'xak is an evil spirit who lives in the form of a horned serpent............he caused the great flood and resulting destruction of the world by killing Kichichax'kal.............. the Lënape believe all snakes to be Maxa'xak.
THE FOUR DIRECTIONS
The Four Spirit Beings of Creation:
Rock, Fire, Wind, and Water
After Kishelëmùkòng had his vision of the creation, he created four Spirit Beings to assist him in fulfilling his vision and in creating the world. He placed each of these Spirit beings at different directions and gave each different powers, and gifts to give us. These four Spirit Beings are the Spirit Beings of all creation and are held in the highest of respect and reverence.
MUXUMSA LOWANEWANK.........Grandfather of the North...........he was placed there to control the power of the rock..........He gave forth solidity and physical form to Kishelëmùkòng's thoughts.......he gave us winter, ice, snow, cold, rocks, trees, our bodies, and all that we see around us.
MUXUMSA WAPANEWANK..........Grandfather of the East............he was placed there to control the power of the wind...........he gave forth breath and mind to Kishelëmùkòng's thoughts..........he gave us springtime, breath of life, birth, and new beginnings..........he brings forth light, our minds, creativity, knowledge, music, and songs.
HUMA SHAWANEWANK..............Grandmother of the South..........she was placed there to control the power of fire..........she gave forth spiritual life and growth to Kishelëmùkòng's thoughts..........she gives us summer, warmth, growth and maturity, our inner fire and spirit, and gives fire to the sun.
MUXUMSA WUNCHENEWANK.....Grandfather of the West..........he was placed there to control the power of water.........he gave forth a watery and softening influence to Kishelëmùkòng's thoughts..........he gives us autumn, death, our life's blood, the waters, healing, intuition, emotions, dreams and visions, and rain, he readies us for renewel.
*******************************************
INCIDENTALS TO LENAPE SPIRITUALITY
DREAM CATCHERS........Dream catchers were originated by the Lënape and were hung on a baby's cradleboard. The mother would hang them on the cradleboards while she was busy doing her chores so that the baby would be protected from bad dreams and evil while her attention was diverted. Over time, they gained popularity with other nations and are now used universally by most Native Americans. They are hung over the pillow, or head end, of a bed.
SWEETGRASS...........Sweetgrass is braided into long sheaths and burned. It has a sweet aroma and it is believed that the aroma gains Kishelëmùkòng's attention and favor. It is burned when praying or asking Kishelëmùkòng for a blessing of any kind. It also will drive evil away from the place where it is being burned. The sweet-smelling smoke is said to be the 'breath of the Earth Mother'.
TOBACCO..........Tobacco is the favorite of Kishelëmùkòng and the Spirit Beings, and was given to man by Nanapush. It is smoked before communicating to any Spirit Being, or to Kishelëmùkòng for it is believed that the tobacco smoke will carry your words to their ears. Tobacco is also smoked at any treaty negotiation, or other such official gathering or event as the smoking of tobacco also signifies the sacredness of the word. Noone would dare violate any agreement over which tobacco was smoked at the "signing" of.
(more information is available at www.geocities.com/wodwrght)
Lënape spirituality, as is nearly all Native American spirituality, is not a one hour a week Sunday morning pigeon hole in their lives that they shelve the rest of the week. Their spirituality is their way of life, it pervades and is a part of everything they do. Kishelëmùkòng created all things and his spirit lives in all things, thusly all things are related and must be respected and honored. When one being sacrifices himself for the benefit of others, taht spirit must be recognized and thanks given to Kishelëmùkòng, the Spirit Beings, and the being for making the sacrifice.
The People were given the Tèlën òk nisha Lilenowòkànà (The 12 Laws) by Nanapush after he created the new world. These laws, or teachings, are the guidelines by which the People live their lives.
The Lënape, and most all Native Americans, do not believe in more than one creator. There is only one creator, and although different nations have different names for him, they nearly all recognize only one. That is no different than wapsini (white man's) religions wherein their God is known by Jehovah, Hosanna, Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, God, or any number of other names dependent upon the particular religion. The Lënape call the creator Kishelëmùkòng.
They also believe in a number of Spirit Beings, but they are not gods. They were created by Kishelëmùkòng to perform specific functions, and while they do have supernatural powers, they have only those which Kishelëmùkòng has bestowed upon them....they are not omnipotent as is Kishelëmùkòng. They are not at all unlike the Christian saints or angels.
LENAPE SPIRIT BEINGS
The following is a listing of the primary Spirit Beings of the Lënape people. Their names are followed by a brief summary of their powers - purpose, or what they are symbolic personifications of.
NANAPUSH............(aka Nanabush, Manabuzho, or Michabo)....."The Strong Pure One"......... Nanapush restored creation from a small patch of mud on a turtle's back after the great flood.........he also taught man all he needed to know to survive and gave us the tèlën òk nisha lilenowòkànà.
MESINGWE.............Mesingw is the guardian spirit of the animals......he helps the people find game on the hunt.........it is said that he is often seen riding on the back of a deer.........because of his frightful appearance he is used to correct children in that they are told that if they don't behave Mesingw will get them...........Mesingw's face is half black and half red..........
3 SISTERS.............(Corn - Squash - Beans)............the 3 Sisters are a special gift from Kishelëmùkòng and give us those 3 vegatables which make up a basic staple of the Lënape traditional diet........they are very fond of each other as evidenced by the fact the plants grow together in the same field.
KUKNA..............Mother Earth........Kukna is the mother to all beings and from her all life grows........Kukna gave us growth and healing.
NUX KISHUX............Father Sun.......Nux Kishux gives us light and heat.
NIPAHUMA...............Grandmother Moon.......Nipahuma gave of her powers of fertility and reproduction to create man.........Nipahuma is the mother of mankind.
MUXUMSA PETHAKOWE........Grandfather Thunder........Muxumsa Pethakowe was sent by Kishelëmùkòng to keep Nipahuma company.....he along with Nipahuma created man........Muxumsa Pethakowe is the father of mankind and protects mankind from Matantu and the Maxa'xak.
KICHICHAX' KAL.................the Great Toad...........(aka Bikanaki'hat)........Kichichax'kal was given the duty of ruling over the waters of the earth..........he was also given the power and authority to cause rain at his will..........he was killed by Maxa'xak which caused the great flood and the resulting destruction of the world.
MATANTU......................Matantu is the spirit of evil and destruction......he corrupted what Kishelëmùkòng created by creating evil opposites.....but by so doing he also creates balance in the world for good cannot exist without the evil, nor evil without good.
MAXA' XAK..................Maxa'xak is an evil spirit who lives in the form of a horned serpent............he caused the great flood and resulting destruction of the world by killing Kichichax'kal.............. the Lënape believe all snakes to be Maxa'xak.
THE FOUR DIRECTIONS
The Four Spirit Beings of Creation:
Rock, Fire, Wind, and Water
After Kishelëmùkòng had his vision of the creation, he created four Spirit Beings to assist him in fulfilling his vision and in creating the world. He placed each of these Spirit beings at different directions and gave each different powers, and gifts to give us. These four Spirit Beings are the Spirit Beings of all creation and are held in the highest of respect and reverence.
MUXUMSA LOWANEWANK.........Grandfather of the North...........he was placed there to control the power of the rock..........He gave forth solidity and physical form to Kishelëmùkòng's thoughts.......he gave us winter, ice, snow, cold, rocks, trees, our bodies, and all that we see around us.
MUXUMSA WAPANEWANK..........Grandfather of the East............he was placed there to control the power of the wind...........he gave forth breath and mind to Kishelëmùkòng's thoughts..........he gave us springtime, breath of life, birth, and new beginnings..........he brings forth light, our minds, creativity, knowledge, music, and songs.
HUMA SHAWANEWANK..............Grandmother of the South..........she was placed there to control the power of fire..........she gave forth spiritual life and growth to Kishelëmùkòng's thoughts..........she gives us summer, warmth, growth and maturity, our inner fire and spirit, and gives fire to the sun.
MUXUMSA WUNCHENEWANK.....Grandfather of the West..........he was placed there to control the power of water.........he gave forth a watery and softening influence to Kishelëmùkòng's thoughts..........he gives us autumn, death, our life's blood, the waters, healing, intuition, emotions, dreams and visions, and rain, he readies us for renewel.
*******************************************
INCIDENTALS TO LENAPE SPIRITUALITY
DREAM CATCHERS........Dream catchers were originated by the Lënape and were hung on a baby's cradleboard. The mother would hang them on the cradleboards while she was busy doing her chores so that the baby would be protected from bad dreams and evil while her attention was diverted. Over time, they gained popularity with other nations and are now used universally by most Native Americans. They are hung over the pillow, or head end, of a bed.
SWEETGRASS...........Sweetgrass is braided into long sheaths and burned. It has a sweet aroma and it is believed that the aroma gains Kishelëmùkòng's attention and favor. It is burned when praying or asking Kishelëmùkòng for a blessing of any kind. It also will drive evil away from the place where it is being burned. The sweet-smelling smoke is said to be the 'breath of the Earth Mother'.
TOBACCO..........Tobacco is the favorite of Kishelëmùkòng and the Spirit Beings, and was given to man by Nanapush. It is smoked before communicating to any Spirit Being, or to Kishelëmùkòng for it is believed that the tobacco smoke will carry your words to their ears. Tobacco is also smoked at any treaty negotiation, or other such official gathering or event as the smoking of tobacco also signifies the sacredness of the word. Noone would dare violate any agreement over which tobacco was smoked at the "signing" of.
(more information is available at www.geocities.com/wodwrght)