Star Stories, part 29: The Creation of the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon
- zhaawano
- Feb 16, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 8
(How It All Began: The Birth of the Solar System)
Namebini-giizis/Makwa-giizis (Suckerfish Moon/Bear Moon ) - February 16, 2023
THE DREAM
Long ago, before the World came into being, there was only a Great Mystery—or Spirit, if you will—that was akin to what we might call a Dream. This dream was filled with the spirit of Gichi-gizhewaadiziwin (immense loving kindness).
This Dream, or Vision, came to life in a Lodge, called Gichi-waawiyekamig ("Great Round Lodge"; the Universe).
This Great Round Lodge encompassed a vast sky. Over time, this Dream, or Vision, became rock, water, fire, and wind.
These substances appeared out of nowhere, each imbued with a sacred breath of life, affectionately referred to as GICHI-MANIDOO (meaning: Great Mystery, or the totality of all Mysteries). The sky was filled with countless planets and stars, including the day-sun star, around which orbited a planet resembling a giant sea turtle, now known as Omaamama-aki (earth).
THE BIRTH OF THE UNIVERSE
Thus, it is believed that Cosmos, or Order, was created from the four sacred elements—rock, water, fire, and wind—each possessing its own soul, spirit, nature, and shadow. This new Order was filled with the day-sun, innumerable stars, the earth, seven more planets, and thousands of exoplanets, all animated by the vital life force known as GICHI-MANIDOO.
The solar system was formed, guided by a Spirit Nation under the leadership of an ogimaa, or Chief, called Giizis, the day-sun...
GICHI-MANIDOO exhaled the energies of light, heat, and rays into the daytime sun to warm the earth.
GICHI-MANIDOO breathed the essence of growth and healing into the sea turtle earth, resulting in the creation of hills, mountains, plains, valleys, lakes, rivers, streams, bays, wells, ponds, and even subterranean water currents on and beneath her shield. These waters were gifted with the dual abilities of purity and renewal. The wind received the power to create music and was imbued with the same life-giving breath as GICHI-MANIDOO.
THE CREATION OF THE MOON
Yet, something was lacking, so a manidoo ogimaa (spirit chief) was dispatched to the sea turtle earth. This chief, dwelling in the belt of the Great Hunter Gaa-biboonikaan and called Aadawaa'amoo, steered his ishkode-jiimaan (flaming canoe), trailed by numerous arrows of fire shooting through space, swiftly toward the sea turtle earth. The chief's canoe collided with the sea turtle earth. At that instant, a manidookwe (spirit woman) was walking upon the earth, and as she rested, the ishkode-jiimaan struck the earth exactly where she lay. The impact shattered her body into countless pieces! Eventually, her body parts assembled in an orbit around the earth to form the night-sun.
The sea turtle's earth had brought forth a child called Dibik-giizis, the Night-Sun!
GICHI-MANIDOO endowed the Night-Sun with the powers of light and the capacity to protect the sea turtle earth and all her progeny throughout the night... it was beneath the soft radiance of the night-sun, or the moon as it is called today, that the essence of gichi-gizhewaadiziwin was most deeply manifested...
THE ORIGIN OF LIFE ON EARTH
GICHI-MANIDOO decided that the surface of the sea turtle's earth should be made habitable. Therefore, plants and animals (including birds, insects, and fish) were created, and in time, the first human species emerged...
Yet, something was still missing... the original species of Anishinaabeg were purely spirit and weren't functioning properly... A massive flood ensued, submerging the humans and most land animals. A female spirit named Giizhigookwe ("Sky Woman") descended from the night-sun and introduced a new species of human beings to the sea turtle earth. These newcomers possessed a spirit, a soul, and a body! They multiplied and became known as Anishinaabeg: Those Who Are Created Spontaneously. After accomplishing her mission, Giizhigookwe returned to the moon, where she continues to dwell and watch over her children at night...
Once the Great Nation of the Anishinaabeg was placed on the borders of the Great Salt Sea in the East, everything seemed to be in its rightful place, and all appeared to be infused with the sacred breath known as GICHI-MANIDOO, a divine essence that created beauty, harmony, and order.
THE GREAT LAWS OF NATURE
The Great Laws of Nature originated here, linking all living entities within the vast framework of the Great Round Lodge. These laws governed the seasons and all life patterns, regulating the location and movement of celestial bodies (planets, stars, constellations) and the four sacred elements (rock, water, fire, and wind). They maintained and safeguarded the rhythm and cycle of birth, growth, decay, and rebirth, ensuring their interdependent coexistence and operation.
In essence, the fulfillment of this Dream or Vision, often called the Great Mystery, resulted in the formation of the new Cosmos, giving rise to BIMAADIZIWIN; life as we know it.
Giiwenh, thus is the story of the Universe and the formation of the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth...
THE RINGS
The design and colors of the black zirconium ring set, Gizhewaadiziwin ("Loving Kindness"), symbolize the night sky and the Spirit Nation residing there, led by Omishoomisimaa Giizis and Nookomis Dibik-giizis (Grandfather Sun and Grandmother Moon, respectively). The earth revolves around the day-sun; the night-sun, while the day-sun rests, dances around the earth, casting her soft light upon it and all living beings, imbuing nature and all creatures with her gentle kindness.
The moon, sun, and earth are crafted using inlays of 14K red gold, 14K white gold, and 18K yellow gold, respectively, by hammering round rivet wires into the zirconium ring shanks.
The rings are part of the author/goldsmith's private collection and are not available for purchase.
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