Symbols of Aboriginal Spirituality

DREAMCATCHER

It hung over someones bed to filter bad dreams through the web and dissipate it into the Universe.

EAGLE

Eagle is connected both to the spirit of the Great Mystery and to the Earth. Eagle is a powerful symbol of courage.

PIPES
There are different kinds of pipes and different uses for them. There are personal pipes, family pipes as well as pipes for large ceremonies. When the pipe was presented to the circle and then smoked, it was a symbol of the 'Straight Truth' that went directly to Great Mystery.

JOINING THE PIPE- Before joining the pipe, the stem and bowl are laid on a ceremonial blanket or held in the left and right hands respectively.

HOLDING THE PIPE- The bowl of the pipe is held in the left hand (closest to the heart). The bowl is cradled gently in the open palm. The stem is held near the top generally with an overhand grip when a pipe ceremony leader is praying in public, and in an underhand, palm up, grip for private ceremony.

LOADING THE PIPE- Native tobacco is normally used, and each pinch that is inserted into the bowl means something. The reason tobacco is used is because its roots go deeply into the earth, and its smoke rises high into the heavens carrying prayers. The tobacco represents both the seen and unseen worlds, and the connections that every living being within these two realms have as a huge and cohesive group. For example, the flying, crawling, swimming beings; four and two-leggeds; Mother Earths blood (water), air, fire, earth, star nation, planets, Ancestors, Stone and Tree families, and on and on. They all meet inside the bowl in a peaceful dance.

LIGHTING THE PIPE- The pipe should generally be lit with a wooden match or taper for it represents the fire of Creation meeting its children.

SMOKING THE PIPE- The pipe in the right hand should switch from an overhand to an underhand grip almost as if you are sipping water from the heel of the palm. The smoke is drawn down the stem and not inhaled. The smoke for a moment merges with the breath and at that moment, the sacred and the profane become one; it is then gently released into the air as a whole being and the smoke carries prayers and intentions to original Creator. When you have finished smoking, the right hand should return to an overhand grip and the pipe should be passed clockwise to the next person.

PASSING THE PIPE- The pipe is nearly always passed in a clockwise direction representing the travel of the sun. The pipe is passed with an overhand grip on the stem and a careful cradling of the bowl. The pipe is received with two open, upward palms, and then the bowl is cradled in the left hand while the right hand closes over the stem in an overhand grip.

POSTING THE PIPE- This means the pipe is set on an altar which could be a buffalo skull, 2 forked sticks, rock or ceremonial blanket. During the time the pipe is posted the conversation should remain spiritual.

BREAKING THE PIPE- When the pipe ceremony is finished the pipe is taken apart by holding the bowl in the left hand and stem in the right. The ashes are returned to the earth and blessed. The stem is turned away from your body one quarter turn then pulled straight out of the bowl. When not in use, the two parts are usually stored separately.

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