Three Risings of the Moon From Walkers Announcement

Walker wrote:

<< One thing, Den Father. It is well to know how to properly honor the spirits of the Sept. Some here, it seems, may not. Three risings of the moon from now, one will teach those who wish to know how to show their respect to the Queen and to the other spirits who make this Sept strong. Those interested may meet this one in the Umbra on Luna Island at moonrise. >>

*As the Moon Rises on Luna Island Dietrich Von Stauffel sits patiently*

Adam King, in Homid, is also waiting here. The date, by the way, is 12/29/13, near as I can tell.

Donny is here as well.

Walker awaits at the appointed time.

<< It is well that you have come. We will wait a time to see if any more arrive. >>

A small black and brown wolf/dog crossbreed waits with the others.

Syntos would arrive. Hands tuck behind his back, he watches in silence.

::comes in a little out of breath::
Sorry bout that, got held up.

J fallows jimmie in.

Walker looks...well, as pleased as Walker ever looks.

<< You have come to learn more about the spirits of the Sept, >> he says.  << This is commendable. One will tell you what one knows, so that you may come to know them better for yourself. Before we begin, does anyone have any questions they would like to ask? >>

J perkes up throws his hand in the air and looking like the might burst exclaims "I have so many question......... "

then dead pan with out missing a beat. "but none that are apropret right now"

Walker inclines his head in a wolfy nod. << One has heard the homids say that there are no stupid questions. This is, of course, not true; there are many stupid questions. It is wise to choose your questions with care. If nobody has questions, one will begin by speaking of the Maid. >>

<< Now, the Maid is the totem of the Sept, as you all know.  Her essence is that of the waters above us: powerful, and yet capable of sustaining life.  Ever-changing, and yet, always the same.  The Maid herself reflects these traits.  As those of you who have been here for more than a season know, Her aspect changes with the seasons.  Presently, She is in Her warrior aspect of the Frozen Queen; hard, cold, and unyielding as the ice in battle.  When the thaw comes, and life returns to the land, Her aspect will change. >>

<< Do not make the mistake of thinking that those qualities will vanish, though.  The Maid of the springtime can be as fearsome in battle as the Frozen Queen.  Her nature does not change with the seasons; She is always Herself.  Water is always water, whether it falls as snow or flows in the river.  It shows a different face to the world, but remains always true to its essential nature.  So it is with the Lady of the Falling Waters. >>

<< If you would do Her honor, learn the old ways, the ways of the people who once lived here.  The Three Sisters are pleasing to her as offerings: corn, beans, and squash.  Offerings of game are also appropriate, especially when offered according to the old rites and ways, and at the appropriate turnings of the seasons.  In the spring, offerings of flowers also find favor with Her. Tobacco is sacred, and when used appropriately, it is an important part of honoring the spirits of this land. The Maid is no exception. >>

<< She is a powerful ally, but She is not pleased by overfamiliarity.  Approach Her with respect, always, and never for trivial reasons. >>

The Lupus looks around.  << One would ask if there are any questions at this point? >>

Joseph speaks up. Hmm the old ways my Get friend well lets see. Every culture every tribe every place holds things dear to them. There called beliefs and traditions over time people forget them or just stop caring to make them important anymore. Some of us still hold on to our old beliefs and our old ways even though it has been tried to and has failed to take our beliefs away. I will give you an example of our old ways we believe that the simple strawberry is big medicine in other lands it might be water or the cow or a rose. now I will recite a old story told by my people since we don't have days and the story in its length would take days to tell properly I will tell it in a much shorter version.
(Joseph throws tobacco on the fire inhaling the smoke as it rises he offers a silent prayer to the spirits clearing his head he begins to speak first in his native language then into English)

Long, long ago, where we are now, there was no land, just water and creatures of the water. But, up above, there was a place called Karonhia:ke or The Sky World. Now, in The Sky World there were beings who were in some ways like human beings and in some ways they were different. The beings in Sky World had more powers than human beings have. For instance, they could make things happen just by thinking about it.

There was a tree growing in the center of Sky World. It was called the Tree of Life. On that tree grew many different kinds of fruit. Also, there were blossoms on that tree and those blossoms glowed. They lit up Sky World.

The beings in Sky World were told not to disturb that tree. But one day, a woman who was expecting a baby, asked for a drink of tea made from the roots of the Tree of Life. Her name was Atsi’tsiaka:ion which means Mature Flower. When her husband started to dig around near the bottom of the tree to get at the roots, the dirt caved in and some say that the tree fell down. This was terrible. The woman went to see what had happened. Some say that she lost her balance and fell into the hole. Some say that she knew she was destined to go through that hole and so she jumped. Some say that she was pushed. Nevertheless, she grabbed some seeds from the Tree of Life as she fell. Because she fell through the hole in the sky, many people refer to her as Sky Woman.


Down below, there was a flock of water birds flying through the air. Some say they were geese. Some say they were blue heron. Some say they were swans. One of them looked and up and saw Sky Woman falling. He spoke to the other birds and they decided to make a great blanket with their bodies and catch her on their backs. They caught her. They tried to bring her back up to Sky World, but she was too heavy and so they lowered her to the water below. A giant turtle said that they could put her on his back. That’s what they did. That is the reason some people call this place where we live, Turtle Island.

Sky Woman thanked the creatures, but she said that she needed dirt in order to survive. One by one, the animals dove down to try to get dirt from under the water. Finally, some say it was the muskrat. Some say that it was the otter. But finally, one creature was successful in bringing a few grains of dirt to Sky Woman. She placed the dirt on the back of the turtle. She stood up. She sang and danced in a counter-clockwise direction and when she did that, the turtle’s shell grew and the grains of dirt multiplied. She dropped the seeds from the Tree of Life and they started to grow right away. When she finished dancing and singing, there was land and plant life as far as she could see.




Some time went by and Sky Woman gave birth to a baby girl. The baby girl grew up. She was told not to walk toward the west, but one day, the daughter started to walk toward the west. As soon as she did so, a wind started to blow from the west and a cloud started to move toward the daughter. The daughter saw the outline of a male-being in the cloud. The daughter fainted. When she woke up, she found two crossed arrows lying on top of her stomach. She had become the bride of the Spirit of the West Wind. That’s who she had seen in the cloud and now she was going to give birth to twin boys.

Those boys were very special. After all, their grandmother was Sky Woman and their father was the Spirit of the West Wind. The boys could talk to each other while they were growing inside their mother and they didn’t always agree with one another.

When it was time for them to be born, the right-handed twin was born in the usual way. However, the left-handed twin decided to push his way out through their mother’s armpit. That’s how he was born, but it killed their mother. They buried their mother and from her head grew corn, beans and squash. Those are the staple foods of the traditional Haudenosaunee diet. They are called The Three Sisters. From her heart grew sacred tobacco which is used when there is a desire to communicate with the Creator. From her feet grew the wild strawberry which is known as The Big Medicine. Even in her death, the mother of the two boys was still making sure that they had what they needed to survive. She is called Mother Earth and to this day she still supports all of the people, animals and plants.


The twin boys grew up and went about the task of creating everything that is found in the natural world. They made rivers, flowers, animals and eventually they made the human beings. The left-handed twin became the keeper of the night and the right-handed twin became the keeper of the day. When they were done making their creations, everything was in perfect balance.

When Sky Woman passed away, her head was flung into the night sky. She is still there. She is called Grandmother Moon. She reflects light at night. She helps the people keep track of time. She controls the rise and fall of the waters. She keeps company with the stars and the left-handed twin, the keeper of the night. She regulates the monthly cycles of all of the female life which guarantees that new life will be born. She is the leader of all the female life.

Eventually, the human beings were made. They are supposed to be the caretakers. They are supposed to make sure that everything stays in balance. However, it is the human beings who keep forgetting what they are supposed to do. The human beings forget to take only what they need and to leave the rest for the future generations to experience and enjoy. The human beings are the ones who forget that everything in the natural world is connected and is part of the same web of life and so should be respected. It is hoped that all of the people of the world will someday remember and respect their original instructions and take good care of their Mother Earth.

(as he finishes his tale he relaxes and leans against a tree)

*nods politely to Chargin Bear* Thank you for the Tale of how the Earth came to be and how the three sisters, tobacco and strawberry came to be the sacred plants of the *pauses* I think I read that word even if I cant say it the People of the Longhouse???

I am not sure if Charging Bears story answers my Question Walker -Ryha the old ways would be the ways of the First Peoples of this land but how exactly would one do chiminage using the sacred plants.

<< How one performs chiminage, >> Walker replies, << Depends on the spirit in question. The first step to honoring a spirit is to understand that spirit. In the case of the Maid, offerings of thankfulness and praise at the base of the Falls are appropriate. In the case of Hinum, of the Thunders, he who is called Grandfather Thunder, it is proper to make offerings of tobacco, and to beseech him to hold off his wrath--to let the rain fall to nurture the crops, not destroy them. One shows proper deference to the Thunderer by dealing with his agents--the crows of the storm. They have little use for the Three Sisters, but prize offerings of flesh. >>

*nods slowly* So many different types of Spirits to learn about I quess hopping that I was done with school was a bit to much to wish for?

<< For Garou, the world is our school. We are not done with school until we die...and then, we merely rest and begin again. >>

Walker stretches his wiry frame and shakes himself. << Now, the Maid and the Thunderer are the most important spirits of this Sept, but there are many more. Are there particular spirits of whom you would hear one speak? >>

Adam raises a hand.

"Yes. I hold particular interest in the spirits of this region whom are known to take a particular interest in the deeds of the Garou of the Sept. When we offer rites of accomplishment and stories of glory honor and wisdom to the spirits, which of the local spirits pay the closest attention?"

The Lupus sniffs reflectively, pondering that question.

<< Difficult to answer. Divided, at times, the spirits are. The white wolf, the Fimbulwolf, will tell you much of the battles of Fenris' children...every blow, every fallen foe...but he will have nothing to say about the Child of Gaia who heals a wounded human, or the Bone Gnawer who feeds the starving. It is not in his nature to take an interest in those things. Rat will tell you in detail about a brawl with leeches in the sewers of the human city, but would have little interest in a riddle contest between Uktena and the spirits. Again, it is not in his nature. >>

<< If you would speak to the spirits who are always watching, always ready to trade information, seek out the ravens. They watch everything, but they will bargain sharply. Shiny baubles can attract their attention, but they will prefer to trade secret for secret. >>

<< This brings us to the topic of the spirits' favor. While all spirits differ, there are certain things that will generally win their favor, and certain things that will generally earn their wrath. It is important to know these things. >>

<< Service done to a spirit, or to that spirit's brood, will often win approval. Freeing a spirit from a wrongful binding, in a fetish or otherwise, will win favor with that spirit's brood. Dealing generously with spirits will win their favor. Always live up to the terms of your agreements with the spirits; if you do more than you promised, you will please them. If you offend a spirit, make amends; they have long memories. You can earn favor also by making amends for offenses against them by one of your ancestors, or one of your packmates. >>

<< As this world reflects the spirit world, so too what happens in this world affects the spirits. Expand the borders of a spirit's domain, and you will earn favor with them. Create a tribute to the spirits in this world, and this, too, will please them. >>

Walker pauses.

<< It is not difficult to please most spirits--but it is very easy to anger them. The most basic error is also probably the most common. One thing you should all remember: the spirits have their own tongue. Some can speak our language, but to force them to do so is ill-mannered, and will likely anger them. Gaia has given the gift of Spirit Speech to certain of her children for a reason--make use of it. Seek out a Theurge, if you would speak with the spirits, unless the need is desperate and there is no time to find a spirit-speaker. >>

<< Have a care in what you say about the spirits. They have ears everywhere. Insult a spirit, and you may find that the spirit's brood choose not to help you when the need arises. Always keep your promises...always. >> He looks around seriously. << Remember that our gifts are the result of a compact between Garou and spirit; we are what we are because that promise is honored. There is no surer way to anger the spirits than to deal dishonestly with them. Accept a Ban and fail to fulfill it, or promise chiminage and fail to deliver it, and your reputation with the spirits will suffer. >>

<< Always be mindful of the fact that the Umbra has a balance to it...a harmony. Do not disturb that harmony if it is not necessary. A Garou who blunders through the Umbra, awakening slumbering spirits on a whim, binding spirits unwillingly, or wantonly hunting and slaughtering englings simply because they can, is no better than a human who crashes through the forest shooting whatever he sees. >>


((OOC: For a more exact run-down of what actions net affinity and notoriety with the spirits, consult the Apocalypse Spirit Guide. Knowing is half the battle! ))

The Fostern looks around. << Are there any questions? >>