Star Stories, part 30: Sky Spirits (The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars)
- zhaawano
- Apr 29, 2020
- 7 min read
Updated: Feb 13
Updated: Namebini-giizis/Makwa-giizis (Suckerfish Moon/Bear Moon )- February 17, 2023
Boozhoo! Biindigen miinawaa nindaadizooke wigamigong; enji-zaagi'iding miinawaa gikendaasong. Ningad-aadizooke noongom giizhigad! Hello! Welcome back in my Storytelling Lodge where there is love and learning. Let's tell a sacred story today! Part 29 in the series...
~~ OUR SCIENCE IS IN OUR STAR STORIES ~~
Recently, I came across an article online, titled "Relearning the Star Stories," that made a lot of sense to me. It essentially argued that there's a belief that science is purely rational and unaffected by culture, a notion prevalent in Western thought, but this is not accurate. "Science itself is not actually separate from culture. It originated from a specific culture, which is Western European." The author was spot on. The current understanding of science has been shaped by Western European history and its cultural biases. Western science has much to gain from our ancient worldview and sacred narratives, especially our star stories.
So, what lessons can we draw from our sacred narratives?
Turtle Island cultures have maintained an oral tradition for tens of thousands of years. Many of our traditions and sacred stories stem from real observations made centuries ago, yet they continue to be preserved in our oral traditions. Our Indigenous stories not only depict natural events and phenomena but also connect that knowledge to our daily lives as Native Peoples. Medical research indicates that our brains are designed to learn and remember more effectively through stories. Our science is embedded in our storytelling; it is very likely that, since the first Anishinaabeg came from the Sky World, our earliest stories were star stories.
First, I want to explain the significance of the stars to our People. After that, I'll describe the zirconium-and-gold wedding ring sets shown in the images below. Together with two illustrations I made in February 2023, these elements add depth and meaning to the story being shared today.
The stars and planets, known as Anangoog, have always been considered our oldest relatives. Following them are Giizis, the Sun, and Dibik-giizis, the Moon. Our study of the stars and other celestial bodies, referred to as Anang Gikendaasowin, is closely linked to our animistic view of nature and our mutual connection with the land we inhabit. This knowledge is reflected in various aspects of our culture, including our understanding of aandakiiwinan (seasonal changes), nandawenjige (hunting), maamawinige (gathering activities), manidookewinan (our ceremonies), and, importantly, our aadizookewin (storytelling).
The title of the ring set depicted above is Giizis gaye Dibik-giizis gaye Anangoog: “The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars.” Both the title and the shiny black color of the zirconium used in the rings symbolize the night sky and the Great Spirit Nation residing there, led by Gimishoomisinsaan Giizis (Our Grandfather Sun Star), Wezaawigiizhigookwe Nookomis Dibik-giizis (Yellow Sky Woman, also known as Sky Spirit Woman or Grandmother Moon), and anangoog (the Planets and Star Constellations).
For the rings, I incorporated gold inlay to represent the moon and the sun; this involved hammering round rivet wires of white and yellow gold into the titanium ring shanks. The starry realm is depicted with smaller red gold rivet wire; in the men’s ring, waaban-anang, the morning star, is placed behind the sun, while the ladies’ ring features ningaabii-anang, the evening star, rising behind the moon.
Ningaabii-anang, a seasoned aadizookaan (supernatural grandfather) visible in the western sky at night, and Waaban-anang, a young medicine man who appears in the east just before dawn, are counterparts of a single star known as "Venus" in European Western culture. The Grandfathers are seen as opposites. The former, a patron for all women and used for nighttime navigation, symbolizes age and wisdom; the latter, for many Anishinaabeg, a sign of hope for biidaaban (the coming of a new dawn), symbolizes youth and knowledge. Together, they represent the enduring conflict between opposing yet complementary forces and experiences in the Universe and human life.
The two Grandfathers unite to create a single star, referred to by our People as giizhig-anang, the Day Star, which many non-Native people recognize as Venus. Together, they represent the winds, clouds, stars, and all other natural phenomena associated with the eastern and western directions. Alongside the sun and the moon, they illuminate the souls and spirits of two lovers both day and night, filling their hearts with goodness and imbuing their minds with consciousness and wisdom…
Ahaaw wingad-aadizooke noongom giizhigad! Alright, now I'll share with you a sacred story...
~~ THE STORY OF THE SUN AND THE MOON AND THE EARTH ~~
Many moons ago, when the World was not yet born, there was only something, a Great Mystery that perhaps comes close to what we would call a Dream.
This Dream, or Vision, was filled with a vast sky filled with many stars and the day-sun and the night-sun, and beneath it was the earth in the form of a giant sea turtle.
One day this Dream, or Vision, was materialized into rock, water, fire, and wind.
These substances were born spontaneously, seemingly out of nothing, and into each was breathed a sacred life breath that is often called GICHI-MANIDOO (Literally: Great Mystery, or sum of all Mysteries).
So it is understood that from these four sacred substances, each gifted with a different soul and spirit and nature and shadow, was created Cosmos, or Order. This brand new Order was filled with the day-sun, the stars, the night-sun, and the earth, and all these beings were animated by this vital life force named GICHI-MANIDOO.
Into the day-sun GICHI-MANIDOO breathed the powers of light and heat and rays to warm the earth.
Into the night-sun GICHI-MANIDOO breathed the powers of light and the power to watch over the earth and all her children at night.
Into the earth GICHI-MANIDOO breathed the power of growth and healing, and on and beneath her surface were formed hills, mountains, plains, valleys, lakes, rivers, streams, bays, wells, ponds, and even underwater streams. These waters were given the twin powers of purity and renewal. The wind was given music-making qualities and it was infused by the same power of breath of life as GICHI-MANIDOO's.
Then plants and animals (and birds, insects, and fish) were created and, then, finally, the Anishinaabeg…
Once the Great Nation of the Anishinaabeg was placed on the borders of the Great Salt Sea in the
When the Great Nation of the Anishinaabeg was situated along the edges of the Great Salt Sea in the East, it seemed that everything was in its rightful place, and all appeared to be sufficiently imbued with the sacred breath known as GICHI-MANIDOO, this sacred essence that created beauty, harmony, and order.
At that moment, the Great Laws of Nature were established. These laws connected every living being within the grand order of the newly-formed Universe. The Great Laws of Nature managed the seasons and all patterns of existence, overseeing the position and movement of physical bodies (sun, moon, earth, stars) and the four sacred elements (rock, water, fire, and wind), maintaining and protecting the rhythm and continuity of birth, growth, decay, and rebirth, ensuring they all functioned and coexisted interdependently.
The realization of this Dream or Vision, frequently referred to as the Great Mystery, led to the creation of the new Cosmos and brought forth BIMAADIZIWIN; life as we understand it.
Giiwenh, thus is the story of the Sun and the Moon and the Earth.
~~ THE STORY OF THE MORNING STAR AND THE EVENING STAR ~~
Wayeshkad, at the dawn of time, GICHI-MANIDOO, the Great Mystery, after creating the Sun, Moon, and Earth, envisioned into being wendaanimag noodinoon, the Four Directions: Giiwedin the North, Waaban the East, Zhaawan the South, and E-bangishimog the West. The star named Nigaabii-anang was designated to the region of the world known as E-bangishimog, along with the winds and time associated with the western direction. Consequently, the Western, or Evening, Star was endowed with significant influence over life on earth, to be wielded with care and wisdom to ensure everlasting harmony.
One unfortunate day, after many periods of perfect harmony among the North, the East, the South, and the West, a conflict emerged between Nigaabii-anang and the Spirit of the East.
While today Waaban-anang, the Eastern/Morning Star Spirit overseeing the East, possesses knowledge and medicines as extensive and potent as those of the Western/Evening Star and the other two quarters of the earth, this was not always the case. Initially, since Waaban-anang had not yet been fully recognized as a medicine man, Nigaabii-anang was designated to serve as Waaban-anang's Elder and mentor!
The rivalry between the two formidable stars is believed to have begun when the proud and determined Waaban-anang, after years of learning under Nigaabii-anang's guidance, decided he was ready to practice his own medicine without his mentor's oversight. However, when Nigaabii-anang informed his rash and fiery student that his knowledge and skills were still incomplete, lacking the wisdom, moderation, and patience required for the crucial tasks of teaching healing and extending life, Waaban-anang provoked him with a challenge, daring him to demonstrate his abilities.
The clash that occurred between the Morning Star and the Evening Star that day became a symbol of the enduring human struggle between youth and age, as well as between knowledge and wisdom. Even though today neither star holds more power than the other, and despite the Morning Star and the Evening Star having reconciled long ago, Dawn and Evening persist in their battles, representing the perpetual conflicts and dualities within the human soul and society as a whole...
Mii sa ekoozid. Miigwech gibizindaw noongom mii dash gidibaajimotoon wa’aw aadizookaan. That concludes the story. Thank you for listening today, for letting me share this traditional tale with you. Giga-waabamin wayiiba, I look forward to seeing you again soon.
> Read the first part of the Star Stories series: Fisher Star Lives in the Sun.
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