Indian Tribes Lakota
December 2, 2013
Lakota Seven Sacred Rites
The Lakota are a Native American tribe of people with a rich history built upon spiritual rituals and the consecration of their traditions and legends. The legend that supersedes all others and led to all the Lakota traditions is that of the White Buffalo Calf Woman. The prophecy stems from a sacred peace pipe that was brought to the Lakota people approximately 2,000 years ago by the White Buffalo Calf Woman.
The legend tells of two warriors who were out hunting for buffalo. As they were hunting they saw something large coming toward them. It appeared to be a white buffalo calf, but when it approached them, it transformed into a beautiful young Indian woman. During this, one of the warriors was thinking impure thoughts about the woman. The Woman commanded him to come forward. As He did this, a black cloud came to rest above his head. The black cloud covered his whole body, and when it disappeared, all that was left of the warrior was his bones. Upon seeing this, the other warrior knelt and began praying emphatically. While He prayed the woman told him to tell his people that she would return in four days with a sacred bundle. So the warrior returned to his people and told them all that had happened. Four days later, a cloud came from the sky white a white buffalo calf sitting atop it. As the cloud came to earth the white buffalo calf again transformed into the young woman. In her arms she carried a sacred bundle containing the chanunpa, the sacred pipe. The White Buffalo Calf Woman spent four days with the Lakota people teaching them the meaning of the holy chanunpa, how to use it and how to pray.
The first of the ceremonies is the Inipi, which means ‘to live again’. Today we know this as a ‘sweat lodge’. This is a purification process used to prepare your body and spirit. Upon completion of the ceremony, participants leave behind all of their impurities in the sweat lodge. Black Elk, a Lakota elder
Lakota Seven Sacred Rites
The Lakota are a Native American tribe of people with a rich history built upon spiritual rituals and the consecration of their traditions and legends. The legend that supersedes all others and led to all the Lakota traditions is that of the White Buffalo Calf Woman. The prophecy stems from a sacred peace pipe that was brought to the Lakota people approximately 2,000 years ago by the White Buffalo Calf Woman.
The legend tells of two warriors who were out hunting for buffalo. As they were hunting they saw something large coming toward them. It appeared to be a white buffalo calf, but when it approached them, it transformed into a beautiful young Indian woman. During this, one of the warriors was thinking impure thoughts about the woman. The Woman commanded him to come forward. As He did this, a black cloud came to rest above his head. The black cloud covered his whole body, and when it disappeared, all that was left of the warrior was his bones. Upon seeing this, the other warrior knelt and began praying emphatically. While He prayed the woman told him to tell his people that she would return in four days with a sacred bundle. So the warrior returned to his people and told them all that had happened. Four days later, a cloud came from the sky white a white buffalo calf sitting atop it. As the cloud came to earth the white buffalo calf again transformed into the young woman. In her arms she carried a sacred bundle containing the chanunpa, the sacred pipe. The White Buffalo Calf Woman spent four days with the Lakota people teaching them the meaning of the holy chanunpa, how to use it and how to pray.
The first of the ceremonies is the Inipi, which means ‘to live again’. Today we know this as a ‘sweat lodge’. This is a purification process used to prepare your body and spirit. Upon completion of the ceremony, participants leave behind all of their impurities in the sweat lodge. Black Elk, a Lakota elder