Circle In Lakota
The word circle has many meanings. According to dictionary.com, it has approzimately twenty definitions. Two meanings are: a closed plane curve consisting of all points at a given distance from a point within it called the center and a series ending where it began, especially when perpetually repeated. These previous two definitions are coherent in Lakota religion. One of the most profound symbols in the Lakota culture is the circle. Being keen observers, the people realized the circle appears on many things no matter where you look in the world and beyond. The sun is round. The moon is round. The earth is round. The seasons follow each other in a perpetual circle. Thes examples are abundant throughout te seven rites, which Joseph Brown
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Being round, it symbolizes the whole universe and the sound (pulse) of the srum represents the throbbing at the center of the universe (69). The sun is also represented here as the "sun wise" direction, hence sun dance. In the sun dance they paint a black circle on their faces in order to remember Wakan Tanka, just like the circle has no end (92). The Lakota religion also uses objects in their rites that they prpepare before going into the difeerent lodges. When scouting for a place to erect the lodge, they chose the spot, return to camp, and immediatley circle around the place where it is to be built, in a clockwise manner (73). In this example, Kablaya (the first "sun-dancer"), explains the meaning of the object use. "You should prepare a necklace of otter skin, and from it there should hang a circle with a cross in the center" (71). Kablaya also mentions that in doing so, the cross and circle represent the four Powers of the universe and four ages. Another object includes round rawhide circles that represent the sun and earth (also round), and the heavens (sky), in which the men wear on their chest. At the center of the first rawhide circle should be a blue round circle, which represents Wakan-Tanka, and the earth represented by the red circle. Lastly, one blue circle is for the heavans (72). I would also like to mention her that, in the sun dance there is an altar. In the center of the lodge is the pole where a pinch of dirt (earth) is lifted up and some is placed evenly around the pole in a circle, which represents all that is sacred and in the universe
Being round, it symbolizes the whole universe and the sound (pulse) of the srum represents the throbbing at the center of the universe (69). The sun is also represented here as the "sun wise" direction, hence sun dance. In the sun dance they paint a black circle on their faces in order to remember Wakan Tanka, just like the circle has no end (92). The Lakota religion also uses objects in their rites that they prpepare before going into the difeerent lodges. When scouting for a place to erect the lodge, they chose the spot, return to camp, and immediatley circle around the place where it is to be built, in a clockwise manner (73). In this example, Kablaya (the first "sun-dancer"), explains the meaning of the object use. "You should prepare a necklace of otter skin, and from it there should hang a circle with a cross in the center" (71). Kablaya also mentions that in doing so, the cross and circle represent the four Powers of the universe and four ages. Another object includes round rawhide circles that represent the sun and earth (also round), and the heavens (sky), in which the men wear on their chest. At the center of the first rawhide circle should be a blue round circle, which represents Wakan-Tanka, and the earth represented by the red circle. Lastly, one blue circle is for the heavans (72). I would also like to mention her that, in the sun dance there is an altar. In the center of the lodge is the pole where a pinch of dirt (earth) is lifted up and some is placed evenly around the pole in a circle, which represents all that is sacred and in the universe