Golanv Circle
Moon Day
Magick & Medicine

First Fire - Water Spider
”Dils’dohdi”

In the beginning there was no fire.

The world varied from cold to extremely cold, which was deadly to most Animals if they could not find shelter before the sun set. The Thunders —or Thunder Beings,
Ani’-Hyun’tikwalaski,
who lived high up in Galun’lati, sent their Lightning and ignited a Fire into the bottom of a hollow Sycamore tree which grew on an island far from the mainland.

The Animals knew it was there, because they could see the smoke rising out of the top of the burning tree. When the Wind was just right, they could smell the smoke very distinctly. 

The Animals could not visit the Fire because the island was surrounded by a great distance of Water.  But, the Animals desired the Knowledge of this Fire.

One day, all of the Animals decided to hold a Council to decide what to do.

Keep in mind, this was an extremely long time ago, when things were very different in Creation. Every Animal that could fly, crawl, walk or swim was anxious to go after the Fire.

It was new to them but they could sense its power.

They each attended the meeting of Animal Council to decide which of them would go on this long arduous Journey.

Golanv, The Raven, offered to go first, and because it was so large and strong the Animal Council thought it’s efforts would surely be a success. So, Raven was sent.

The strong bird flew high and far across the Water and alighted on the burning Sycamore tree, but while it was wondering what to do next; the heat had scorched all the feathers black.  This frightened Golanv so it came back without the Fire.

Next to try was a little Screech-owl (Wa’huhu’). It too had volunteered to go, and had in fact reached the place safely. But, while the small bird was looking down into the hollow tree, a blast of hot air came up and nearly cauterized out its eyes. The bird had managed to fly home as best it could. Arriving back at the mainland where the other Sacred Animals were, it learned it was going to be a long time before it could see well again.  To this day, Ally Screech-Owl has eyes that are red! 

After settling Screech Owl from its injury, the Hooting Owl (U’auku) and theHorned Owl (Tskili’) went one by one to try, but by the time they got to the hollow tree the Fire was burning so fiercely that the smoke nearly blinded them too. 

The ashes carried up by the Wind made white rings around their eyes. They had to return home without the Sacred Fire.  Even with all their rubbing, they were never able to get rid of the white rings from the ash around their eyes.

Time passed and no more of the birds would venture out. 

The Council continued to implore a desire to acquire Sacred Fire from the Sycamore tree.

The next Animal Ally to come forward was the little Uksu’hi snake. This is a nonvenomous snake that most of us now call “the black racer”.  The little snake told the others that it would go through the Water and bring back some of the Fire.

It swam across to the island and serpentined through the grass to the tree, and went in by a small hole at the base of the Tree.  The heat and smoke were just too much for Uksu’hi , too, and after dodging about blindly over the hot ashes until almost on fire itself, it managed by good luck to get out again from the same hole.  The little snake’s body had been scorched black, and it has ever since had the habit of darting and doubling on its own track because of the trauma of this Experience. It moves always as if trying to escape from close quarters of an unseen flame.

After Ally Snake’s return, the Great Blacksnake, Gule’gi, “The Climber,” offered to go for the Sacred Fire. It slithered into the cold water and swam over to the distant island. With not a moment’s rest, it climbed up the Tree on the outside, as the blacksnake always does, but when it placed it’s head down into the only available hole — the smoke choked it so much that it fell into the burning stump. Before the great snake could climb out again, it was charred as black as the Uksu’hi. It carefully returned to the mainland to tell the others of the occurrence.

The Animals held another Council, as they were still cold and could continue to smell the Fire and see the smoke. For them, there was still no fire, and the world was becoming colder. 

Birds, snakes, and four footed animals, all had some reason now for not going again, or even going at all.  They had all grown fearful of being burned, or singed, when they ventured near the burning Sycamore.

After a silence feel across all of the animals, Kanane’shi Amai’yehi (the Water Spider) said it would go.

Do not confuse this spider with the “Water Walker” that looks like a mosquito, but the other one, with black downy hair and red stripes on the body. The tiny, beautiful, creature we call “Dilsdohdi” volunteered to go.

Dilsdohdi can run on top of the water or dive to the bottom with but a breath.  There would be no trouble for the little spider to go over to the island, but the question was, “how could it bring back the Fire?” “I’ll manage that,” said the Water Spider; so it spun a thread from its body and wove it into a tutsi bowl, which was fastened on the little spider’s back. Off it went, crossing over to the island and through the grass to where the Fire was still burning at the Sycamore Tree.

Ally Water Spider placed one small coal of Fire into the tutsi bowl, and walked carefully back across the water to the waiting Animals.

This is the story of how Fire came to be with the Tsalagi. (Cherokee)

Moon Day G71

General - Journal - Book of Shadows

SUBMISSION: G71 MOON DAY MYTH - FIRST FIRE (Due by Sunday)
Spend some time interpreting the myth.
What may all of it mean?
What kind of symbology do you see?

Please answer the Interpretation in TWO PARAGRAPHS or more.
BONUS: Find the Correspondence to TWO Plant or Animal Allies, any culture or Practice.
What are those properties?

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