Legend of the Cedar Tree

A long time ago when the Cherokee people
were new upon the earth,
they thought that life would be much
better if there was never any night.
They beseeched the Ouga (Creator)
that it might be day all the time
and that there would be no darkness.
The Creator heard their voices and
made the night cease and it was day all the time.
Soon, the forest was thick with heavy growth.
It became difficult to walk
and to find the path.
The people toiled in the gardens many long hours
trying to keep the weeds pulled from
among the corn and other food plants.
It got hot, very hot, and
continued that way day after long day.
The people began to find it difficult
to sleep and became short tempered
and argued among themselves.
Not many days had passed before the people
realized they had made a mistake and,
once again, they beseeched the Creator.
"Please," they said, "we have made a mistake in asking
that it be day all the time.
Now we think that it should be night all the time."
The Creator paused at this new request
and thought that perhaps the people may be right
even though all things were created in twos...
representing to us day and night,
life and death, good and evil,
times of plenty and those times of famine.
The Creator loved the people and decided to
make it night all the time as they had asked.

The day ceased and night fell upon the earth.
Soon, the crops stopped growing and it became very cold.
The people spent much of their time gathering wood for the fires.
They could not see to hunt meat and
with no crops growing it was not long before
the people were cold, weak, and very hungry.
Many of the people died.

Those that remained still living gathered
once again to beseech the Creator.
"Help us Creator," they cried!
"We have made a terrible mistake.
You had made the day and the night perfect,
and as it should be,
from the beginning.
We ask that you forgive us and make the day and night
as it was before."

Once again the Creator listened to the request
of the people.
The day and the night became,
as the people had asked,
as it had been in the beginning.
Each day was divided between light and darkness.
The weather became more pleasant,
and the crops began to grow again.
Game was plentiful and the hunting was good.
The people had plenty to eat and there was not much sickness.
The people treated each other with compassion and respect.
It was good to be alive.
The people thanked the Creator for
their life and for the food they had to eat.

The Creator accepted the gratitude of
the people and was glad to see them smiling again.
However, during the time of the long days of night,
many of the people had died,
and the Creator was sorry that
they had perished because of the night.
The Creator placed their spirits in a newly created tree.
This tree was named a-tsi-na tlu-gv {ah-see-na loo-guh} cedar tree.

When you smell the aroma of the cedar tree
or gaze upon it standing in the forest,
remember that if you are Tsalagi {Cherokee},
you are looking upon your ancestor.

Tradition holds that the wood of the
cedar tree holds powerful protective spirits for the Cherokee.
Many carry a small piece of cedar wood in their
medicine bags worn around the neck.
It is also placed above the entrances to the house to
protect against the entry of evil spirits.
A traditional drum would be made from cedar wood.
Does the author believe this?
Well, lets just say that there is a piece of cedar
in my medicine pouch and I wear it always.
The Creator did not make the
people because of loneliness,
but because the Creator
wanted to show generosity and love to the people.
Accept the blessings and the gifts given
and always give thanks for them.