Cherokee spiritual beliefs
Unlike some other religions, in the Cherokee belief system, humans do not rule or have dominion over the earth, plants or animals.
Plants, animals, and other features of the natural world such as rivers, mountains, caves and other formations on the earth all have spiritual powers and attributes.
Theda Perdue and Michael Green write in their book The Columbia Guide to American Indians of the Southeast,[4]"These features served as mnemonic devices to remind them of the beginning of the world, the spiritual forces that inhabited it, and their responsibilities to it."
Perdue also outlines the ways that Cherokee culture persisted through multiple attempts by Christian missionaries to convert them.
[4] Fire is important in traditional Cherokee beliefs, as well as in other Indigenous cultures of the Southeastern United States.
[5] In his book Where the Lightning Strikes: The Lives of American Indian Sacred Places, anthropologist Peter Nabokov writes:[6] "Fire was the medium of transformation, turning offerings into gifts for spiritual intercessors for the four quarters of the earth.
To the traditional Cherokee, the concept of balance is central in all aspects of social and ceremonial life.
Author John Reid, in his book titled A Law of Blood: The Primitive Law of the Cherokee Nation, writes:[7] "All human diseases were imposed by animals in revenge for killing and each species had invented a disease with which to plague man.
To prevent this from happening the hunter must follow traditional protocols when hunting, to honor the animal and spiritual world and continually maintain balance.
Animals began exploring the earth, and it was the Buzzard that created valleys and mountains in the Cherokee land by the flapping of his wings.
Similarly, the only trees able to remain awake for the seven days were the cedar, pine, spruce, holly, laurel, and oak.
Kanáti consistently brought animals home when he went hunting, and one day, the boys decided to secretly follow him.
Like other creatures, the plants decided to meet, and they came to the conclusion that the animals' actions had to be too harsh and that they would provide a cure for every disease.
The priests pray to the thunder and he visits the people to bring rain and blessings from the South.
It was believed that the thunder beings who lived close to the Earth's surface in the cliffs, mountains, and waterfalls could harm the people at times, which did happen.
The council of Birds, Insects and small animals met next and they decided that humans were too cruel, therefore they concocted many diseases to infect them with.
The first written account of the Cherokee fire origin story was recorded by the Westerner James Mooney.
Phidippus johnsoni, the red-backed jumping spider [16] is most likely the actual spider who inspired the character in this Cherokee legend as it is endemic to the original Cherokee homelands and has the body features and colors described in the legends as well as the ancient bone etchings of the character.)
The Cherokee revere the Great Spirit Unetlanvhi (ᎤᏁᏝᏅᎯ "Creator"), who presides over all things and created the Earth.
[17] The Unetlanvhi is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, and is said to have made the earth to provide for its children, and should be of equal power to Dâyuni'sï, the Water Beetle.
The Wahnenauhi Manuscript adds that God is Unahlahnauhi (ᎤᏀᎳᎿᎤᎯ "Maker of All Things") and Kalvlvtiahi (ᎧᎸᎸᏘᎠᎯ "The One Who Lives Above").
[23] U'tlun'ta (ᎤᏢᏔ "Spearfinger") is a monster and witch said to live along the eastern side of Tennessee and western part of North Carolina.
She has a sharp forefinger on her right hand, which resembles a spear or obsidian knife, which she uses to cut her victims.
[26] Uya (ᎤᏯ), sometimes called Uyaga (ᎤᏯᎦ), is an evil earth spirit which is invariably opposed to the forces of right and light.
