Welcome
to my visitor from Pembroke Canada
To
my website and blog looking for fire keepers and smudging.
Smudging
the correct way.
Smudging
Smudging
Smudging
has just been covered the other day,
Smudging
before entering the circle September 28, 2013
However
Fire Keeper has not been covered.
Fire
Keeper is the reason why I have been holding onto this for a little while and
praying about it before answering.
I
do that a lot because I want to get it right with my ancestors and Creator
before teaching.
We
must once again understand that my teachers were from around New York, New
England and parts Southeast.
While
it is true that my father Shechaim Zeak and my grandfather Shechaim Tallfox had
many visitors to our meetings, I have no knowledge of the Canadian natives Fire
Keepers and their ceremony, never had the opportunity to witness?
Also,
since I am writing on a blog being read by people from all over Indian country,
Native American country and the world, I feel that it is necessary to point out
that fact.
I
have also been to thousands of gatherings around Indian country and have
noticed that most gatherings do not have a fire; some have a fire almost as an
afterthought and a few have a fire along the lines of our Paw-paus gatherings.
It
is this last that I chose to write about.
My
people take a fire in or around a circle very personal.
You
see, we believe that a correctly placed fire at the correct time is a sign that
Kiehtan (Creator) has agreed to a visit with our gathering.
The
original powwows before first contact (Paw-paus) the fire was always off
to the west side away from distractions with room to do our
smudging/prayers.
In
those days smudging was with Kinnick – Kinnick Herbs, this is our tobacco.
Never, never, never use any chemical smoking tobacco,
never!
Our
powwows, not counting today's intertribal where the fire is placed into
the center of our circle.
Long
before any gathering begins the cleaning and clearing must be done.
After
the circle is cleaned and cleared correctly it is time to smudge.
Remember;
just as most tribal ancestors from southern areas, and as with our Paw-paus,
you start the smudging at the center starting in the east, north, west, south
and back to east, step wards toward the east two or three feet until the circle
is smudges at the east.
Also
remember that this is speaking ‘Intertribal’ because all ‘Sacred Circles are
over west of a circle.
Taking
the remains of the last fire and mixing it with Kinnick, Kinnick we
start the spirit smudging, light the fire in the center of the circle.
Light
the mix from the fire in the circle, extremely important, let the fire in the
circle go out on its own.
Smudge
starting at the east at the fire, smudge around and back to the east, take two
steps toward the east opening and smudge around the fire once again back to the
east each time getting closer to the east opening and out through your opening.
This
way all spirits good and bad will be forced out the opening of your circle.
Good spirits will return with Kiehtan.
Your
circle is now ready for the Firekeeper prayers for a blessing from Kiehtan
and a visit.
After
the fire is started (another posting) the Firekeeper and assistants
must keep the fire going for the length of the Paw-paus or powwow.
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