My gourd carving incorporates pre-European contact and modern Cherokee designs. Below the gallery are explanations of some Cherokee mythology I often use in my creations.
Uktena and the Three Worlds
The Uktena is a legendary creature in Cherokee mythology, which the Cherokee both feared and revered. It is an amalgamation of three different animals representing the three world concept. The serpent body represents the lower world, the mammalian head or horns represent our world, and the wings represent the upper world. The Cherokee believed in maintaining a balance between the three worlds, a philosophy that the Uktena embodies.
Cherokee Clans
The Cherokee have seven clans: Deer, Paint, Long Hair, Wild Potato, Wolf, Panther, and Bird.
Today the clans are represented at traditional stomp dances by seven arbors around the fire.
Crossroads Gourd Description
This gourd represents my rich ancestry, combining Celtic and Cherokee symbology. The four winds symbol comes from pre-European contact mound builder artifacts. It is filled with Celtic knot relief including the trinity knot. This symbol has had many meanings through history, but the number three is also very important to the Southeastern Woodland people through the three worlds concept.
I love how similar the symbology is between the cultures, and I like to think they were drawn to each other through their shared experiences and common beliefs.
Explanation of the Cherokee Water Spider
The Origin of Fire (Traditional Cherokee story)
Long, long ago there was no fire and the world was very cold. Then the Thunders sent their lightning and put fire into the bottom of a hollow sycamore tree that grew on an island. The animals knew it was there because they could see the smoke, but they could not get to it over the water. They held a council to decide what to do. Every animal that could swim or fly was anxious to be the one to bring back the fire.
Raven offered to go first. Because he was so large and strong, they thought that he could surely do it, so he was sent. He flew high and far across the water and alighted on the sycamore tree. While he was wondering what to do next, the heat scorched all his feathers black. He was frightened and returned without the fire.
Then the little Screech Owl volunteered and reached the place safely. But, while he was looking down into the hollow of the tree, a blast of hot air came up at him and nearly burned out his eyes. He managed to fly back home, but his eyes are red to this day. Next went Hoot Owl and Horned Owl. By the time they reached the tree, the fire was so fierce the smoke almost blinded them. The ashes carried by the wind made rings around their eyes that are still there today, but they had to return without the fire.
Well, no more of the birds dared attempt this great feat, so the snakes decided to give it a try. The Black Racer Snake swam out to the island and crawled through the grass to the tree. He squeezed through a tiny hole in the bottom, but the heat and smoke were too much for him. After dodging about blindly over the hot ashes, he managed, by luck, to find the hole and crawl out again. But his body had been scorched black and, to this day, he darts about as if still trying to escape that first fire. The great black snake, the Climber, offered next. He swam over and climbed up the outside of the sycamore, as was his habit. Predictably, the smoke choked him and he fell into the trunk, burning himself black in the process. He survived but brought back no warmth.
Cold and dismayed, the animals held another council. All the birds, snakes and four-footed creatures came up with good excuses for not venturing back to the tree. Finally, the Little Water Spider said that she would like to try. (Now this was the little spider with black downy hair, who can run over the water or dive under it.) The other animals were relieved for a volunteer, but wondered how she would carry the fire back.
“Don’t worry,’ she said. “I will use thread from my body to spin a tusti (little bowl) and fasten it to my back.”
The animals watched in wonder as the Little Water Spider crossed the water, found the tiny hole in the bottom of the trunk, put one tiny coal into her bowl, and brought it back. Ever since, we have been warmed by fire and, more importantly, the smoke has carried our prayers to Creator. And the Little Water Spiders still carry the red marks on their backs, lest we forget their grandmother’s great accomplishment.
The Uktena is a legendary creature in Cherokee mythology, which the Cherokee both feared and revered. It is an amalgamation of three different animals representing the three world concept. The serpent body represents the lower world, the mammalian head or horns represent our world, and the wings represent the upper world. The Cherokee believed in maintaining a balance between the three worlds, a philosophy that the Uktena embodies.
Cherokee Clans
The Cherokee have seven clans: Deer, Paint, Long Hair, Wild Potato, Wolf, Panther, and Bird.
Today the clans are represented at traditional stomp dances by seven arbors around the fire.
Crossroads Gourd Description
This gourd represents my rich ancestry, combining Celtic and Cherokee symbology. The four winds symbol comes from pre-European contact mound builder artifacts. It is filled with Celtic knot relief including the trinity knot. This symbol has had many meanings through history, but the number three is also very important to the Southeastern Woodland people through the three worlds concept.
I love how similar the symbology is between the cultures, and I like to think they were drawn to each other through their shared experiences and common beliefs.
Explanation of the Cherokee Water Spider
The Origin of Fire (Traditional Cherokee story)
Long, long ago there was no fire and the world was very cold. Then the Thunders sent their lightning and put fire into the bottom of a hollow sycamore tree that grew on an island. The animals knew it was there because they could see the smoke, but they could not get to it over the water. They held a council to decide what to do. Every animal that could swim or fly was anxious to be the one to bring back the fire.
Raven offered to go first. Because he was so large and strong, they thought that he could surely do it, so he was sent. He flew high and far across the water and alighted on the sycamore tree. While he was wondering what to do next, the heat scorched all his feathers black. He was frightened and returned without the fire.
Then the little Screech Owl volunteered and reached the place safely. But, while he was looking down into the hollow of the tree, a blast of hot air came up at him and nearly burned out his eyes. He managed to fly back home, but his eyes are red to this day. Next went Hoot Owl and Horned Owl. By the time they reached the tree, the fire was so fierce the smoke almost blinded them. The ashes carried by the wind made rings around their eyes that are still there today, but they had to return without the fire.
Well, no more of the birds dared attempt this great feat, so the snakes decided to give it a try. The Black Racer Snake swam out to the island and crawled through the grass to the tree. He squeezed through a tiny hole in the bottom, but the heat and smoke were too much for him. After dodging about blindly over the hot ashes, he managed, by luck, to find the hole and crawl out again. But his body had been scorched black and, to this day, he darts about as if still trying to escape that first fire. The great black snake, the Climber, offered next. He swam over and climbed up the outside of the sycamore, as was his habit. Predictably, the smoke choked him and he fell into the trunk, burning himself black in the process. He survived but brought back no warmth.
Cold and dismayed, the animals held another council. All the birds, snakes and four-footed creatures came up with good excuses for not venturing back to the tree. Finally, the Little Water Spider said that she would like to try. (Now this was the little spider with black downy hair, who can run over the water or dive under it.) The other animals were relieved for a volunteer, but wondered how she would carry the fire back.
“Don’t worry,’ she said. “I will use thread from my body to spin a tusti (little bowl) and fasten it to my back.”
The animals watched in wonder as the Little Water Spider crossed the water, found the tiny hole in the bottom of the trunk, put one tiny coal into her bowl, and brought it back. Ever since, we have been warmed by fire and, more importantly, the smoke has carried our prayers to Creator. And the Little Water Spiders still carry the red marks on their backs, lest we forget their grandmother’s great accomplishment.