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The Legend Of The Cedar Tree
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> The Legend
Of The Cedar Tree
By
Power Source.com
A long time ago when the Cherokee people were new upon the earth,
they thought that life would be much better if there was never any
night. They beseeched the Ouga (Creator) that it might be day all
the time and that there would be no darkness.
The Creator heard their voices and made the night cease and it
was day all the time. Soon, the forest was thick with heavy growth.
It became difficult to walk and to find the path. The people toiled
in the gardens many long hours trying to keep the weeds pulled from
among the corn and other food plants. It got hot, very hot, and
continued that way day after long day. The people began to find
it difficult to sleep and became short tempered and argued among
themselves.
Not many days had passed before the people realized they had made
a mistake and, once again, they beseeched the Creator. "Please,"
they said, "we have made a mistake in asking that it be day
all the time. Now we think that it should be night all the time."
The Creator paused at this new request and thought that perhaps
the people may be right even though all things were created in twos...
representing to us day and night, life and death, good and evil,
times of plenty and those times of famine. The Creator loved the
people and decided to make it night all the time as they had asked.
The day ceased and night fell upon the earth. Soon, the crops
stopped growing and it became very cold. The people spent much of
their time gathering wood for the fires. They could not see to hunt
meat and with no crops growing it was not long before the people
were cold, weak, and very hungry. Many of the people died.
Those that remained still living gathered once again to beseech
the Creator. "Help us Creator," they cried! "We have
made a terrible mistake. You had made the day and the night perfect,
and as it should be, from the beginning. We ask that you forgive
us and make the day and night as it was before."
Once again the Creator listened to the request of the people.
The day and the night became, as the people had asked, as it had
been in the beginning. Each day was divided between light and darkness.
The weather became more pleasant, and the crops began to grow again.
Game was plentiful and the hunting was good. The people had plenty
to eat and there was not much sickness. The people treated each
other with compassion and respect. It was good to be alive. The
people thanked the Creator for their life and for the food they
had to eat.
The Creator accepted the gratitude of the people and was glad
to see them smiling again. However, during the time of the long
days of night, many of the people had died, and the Creator was
sorry that they had perished because of the night. The Creator placed
their spirits in a newly created tree. This tree was named a-tsi-na
tlu-gv {ah-see-na loo-guh} cedar tree.
When you smell the aroma of the cedar tree or gaze upon it standing
in the forest, remember that if you are Tsalagi {Cherokee}, you
are looking upon your ancestor.
Tradition holds that the wood of the cedar tree holds powerful
protective spirits for the Cherokee. Many carry a small piece of
cedar wood in their medicine bags worn around the neck. It is also
placed above the entrances to the house to protect against the entry
of evil spirits. A traditional drum would be made from cedar wood.
Does the author believe this? Well, lets just say that there is
a piece of cedar in my medicine pouch and I wear it always. The
Creator did not make the people because of loneliness, but because
the Creator wanted to show generosity and love to the people. Accept
the blessings and the gifts given and always give thanks for them.
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