Anishinabe
Of The Water
The official website of the Sharbot Mishigama Anishinabe AlgonquinFirst
Nation Membership.
THE STRAWBERRY
THE GREAT SPIRIT OF THE
STRAWBERRY
The Strawberry teaches every one about the Trinity of Womanhood, the
Great Mothers of All Women, and symbolises the Heart of Love, and Hope
of All Nations. Teaching the rites and elevation of Girls to Women, the
Strawberry teaches us to be like Our Mother, the Earth, and
demonstrates her Love as abundant, ever flowing, life-sustaining and
everlasting.
This is a spiritual writing and is meant to be read a minimum of four
times. This is the wisdom of the Spirit of the Strawberry; Our Mother,
the Earth's message of love, to help all the Daughter's of Earth, to
Grow Greater.
The Strawberry
The Strawberry Leaf symbolises the Trinity of; The Earth; the Heart of
Creation, the Moon; Daughter of Earth and the First Woman; the Grand
Mother of All Mankind. Through these three Great Female Spirits; the
Daughters of Mankind were brought Fourth, to become the Mothers of
Nations and through this Trinity, the spirit of Womanhood was made
'Continual'. Women giving birth to Women in Heart, Mind, Body and Soul.
The short growing season of the strawberry plant illustrates, how
fleeting childhood is. The petite white flowers signify the innocence
of childhood, and the dropping of these petals, the loss of that
childhood innocence signified by the development of the white berry.
The white berry represents the physical blossoming of Child Adolescence
and the formative knowledge of adolescence. Though the white petals of
innocence are lost, their replacement by a white berry signifies that
virtue is prized and passed on. When this white fruit begins to become
flushed with red, it represents the hot flushes of confused feelings,
the maturation of unfamiliar feelings, the sexual immaturity that
agitates the adolescent. The adolescents urgent need to satisfy these
urges, makes it imperative that this new adult, be taught the virtues
of abstinence. The red fruit of the Strawberry(this is where the Anglo
Saxon word "Streowberrie" which means "strewn on the ground" comes
from) appears to be droplets of new blood coming up through the ground
from the Womb of Earth. Thus exposing the once hidden white seeds of
the berry.
These tiny white seeds (the seeds are the true 'fruit' and are called
achenes) symbolise the Abundance of our fertile Mother, the Earth, just
like the starting of a Woman's Menses tells of her ability to bring
forth life, and the sign of a Girls elevation into Womanhood. This Time
of Change is signalled annually by the Appearance of Strawberries(the
Strawberry Moon), beginning the annual rites of passage for Girls
changing into Women. The bright red colour of the Strawberry reminds us
of the Heart of Earth, and the colour of Her conviction of Love, the
vein in which we as Human Beings chose to live. The Strawberry
symbolises the Love of our Mother the Earth, the Abundance of Life and
the Fertility of Womanhood. The Strawberry teaches us to become like
Our Mother, the Earth and to carry Her conviction of Continual Love.
Women bring forth life, by giving birth to the Children of Earth and
are to teach them the continuity of love, through the understanding of
the Trinity of Womanhood. By teaching the Female Children of Earth, to
take on the Spiritual aspects of the First Woman, they teach their
daughters to become like the First Woman, who is the physical
manifestation of the Spirit of the Daughter of Earth, the Doter Moon.
The Moon, who for her adoration of Earth, was given all of the Spirits
of Earth to call Her own, earning Her the title of the Mother of All
Mankind, and all the beings that relate to man how to live in harmony
with the rhythm and flow of All Life in the Universe. The Native
American expression 'All My Relations' is related to this ideal.
Through the Moon's rhythmic effect on the Waters of All Life on Earth,
she assists all beings on the Earth, to bring forth life. She became
the First Mid-wife, whose intervention, on behalf of All Life on Earth,
assisted her Mother with the birth of her Brother the Northern Star.
She helped in the enfolding of Life, by moving the Sea, to cause the
ebb and flow of life, bringing balance and harmony into Her Mother's
life, assisting the Earth, in the birth and raising of Her Children.
Born through the kneading of Earth by the Sea of Consciousness, She, a
Rose of Earth, was elevated and lifted into the Universe by the Power
of Her Father, the Sun. She chose to follow in the wake of Her Father's
footsteps, reflecting His Light, to give direction to the Children of
Earth. Like Her Father, she is born in the Sea of Consciousness
(knowledge) and sets in the Sea of Tranquillity (peace), a Pearl of
Wisdom enthroned in the Sea of Tranquillity. A pearl of wisdom; she was
the pebble that was thrown into the Sea of Tranquillity, which caused
waves of consciousness, to touch its varied shores. She is the Sage of
the West, Sea Star of the Earth, God Mother and Great Aunt to the
Children of Earth. The Moon is the Great Mother of the women's Rites of
Passage into Womanhood and Grand Mother in the rites of Motherhood and
the Great Aunt of the rites of Sisterhood. A Keeper of Time and a
Protector of the Night, she is the reason why all the Women of Earth
honour, celebrate and participate in Women's Ceremony during the Four
Phases of the Moon.
The Strawberry Plant, honours the Earth, the Moon and the First Woman
and carries their teachings for the Children of Earth, so they may be
forever reminded of the Love of this Trinity of Mothers.
The growing season of the strawberry plant is very short and depending
on the demographics, can be between 13-19 days in length. Starting life
from a small, brown, tear-shaped seed, the Strawberry plant grows a
short, strong, woody root stalk, hairy green stems topped with three
sharp-toothed leaves and the plants glory; delicate, five-petaled white
flowers on top of a green crown, that when pollinated turns into sweet,
juicy, red, heart-shaped fruits. The whole of the Strawberry Plant or
Heart Berry carries the teachings of the fertility of women and the
rites of passage into womanhood and the extended family or expansion of
the Nations. These teachings are carried out on three levels of
Consciousness; a spiritual level, a conscious(mind and heart) level and
a physical level.
The quick growth actively demonstrates one of the strongest,
life-forces in the Plant Kingdom. This life force is even evident in
the cold winds of Winter, for when you dig under the deep snows, you
will find the three, deep-green leaves peeking up at you, reminding you
of the Creators' promise of renewal and the continuation of life after
death. This small and wondrous messenger, reminds you that Spring will
return and the Strawberry Plant will once again flourish, bringing the
blessings of Hope and Abundance. This nourishment for the Soul becomes
the nourishment and vitamins needed for the physical Body during the
long, dark days of Cold.
The three leaves of the Strawberry also brings us one of the very first
teachings; the teaching of our Tribal origins. Each of the three
leaves, reminds us that all the Tribes of Earth, were set up with
three/tri/tres Head Beings, that cared for the Heart, Mind and Soul of
their People. These Chief beings, knowing that all life was Sacred,
that All Life was Related, were never swayed from their convictions of
Love, and upheld the Sacred Laws, the Laws based on the flow of
Universal Order, making sure that All Members in their Tribe Respected
and held All Life Sacred. The three leaves symbolised those the Chief
Beings followed; their Father, the Sun, the Sol/Soul of the Creator,
His Heart and Other; our Great Mother, the Earth and the Moon, the
Minder and Sol/Soul that all the Children of Earth share in and flow
through. The three leaves also remind us of a Triune God, the Great
Spirit; the Creator God, His beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit that
flows through the Family of God, the Body of Oneness. The leaves remind
us All of the Great Circle of Life and the Sacred Path we are All to
Walk.
The Circle of life begins in the East, through the doors and passages
of the Fourth Eyes of all the Female Spirits. The Female Spirits,
taking after their Mother, the Earth, give birth to our Physical
Bodies. We are only Bodies until Our Father, the Creator in whose image
we are made breaths His Great Spirit into us, making us the Spiritual
Beings we are. It is our Father that gives us Life, allowing us to
share in the Breath of Life; the gift of God, given to all the
Flowers/Flow-ers of the Tree of Life. Knowing that you are Spirits
flowing through a body, you know you continue flowing along the River
of Life, making choices, reaching for your destiny, the stopping place,
your physical death; the death of your Body. Reaching for Light you
remember that you are Spirit like your Great Father, that life is
everlasting, and you are being reborn into the next world, and will
continue in this circle of life. The Strawberry, prolific and
plentiful, like the Earth, who continually gives Bodies for our Spirits
to flow through, reminds you that life is everlasting.
From the Budding Moon until the Strawberry Moon, you will see the
strength of the small Strawberry Plant, quickly reaching out to embrace
Maturity or their full flowering. Children like Flowers have a natural
innocence and purity, of which we are reminded when we see the pure
white flowers of the Strawberry. These virginal blossoms, are symbolic
of the Earth's virtuous Conviction of Love. Flowers are the Sexual
organs of a Plant announcing to all their readiness for pollination, so
they may fulfil their purpose, to perpetuate life. Like the innocent
blossoms, our young girl-children, grow quickly in beauty, reaching for
Maturity, their bodies changing and developing the organs necessary for
mating. These young virgins are cherished, instructed and honoured in
all Tribal teachings during this Natural Transformation.
During the Budding Time, the young girl, growing towards maturity, can
be recognised as her body takes on a new shape, much like the new shape
that starts to form on the stem, signalling to all that a change is
starting to occur. At this signal usually by the thirteenth year a
girl, begins her more formal teachings, and in tribal tradition, her
Spiritual Guides/Teachers, start the instructions necessary for her
transformation and natural elevation.
All women older than her, in the tribe, have a responsibility to take
more time to instruct her in the knowledge she will need, to be a good
woman and mother. Having gone through this transformation and elevation
themselves, remembering the new thoughts and stirrings, the older women
know that these young-girls-soon-to-be-women, will want to experience
the taste of love from a man. It is the Women who teach the virginal
girl, the importance of control and abstinence, teaching her the
reasons to stay pure, teaching her about virtue. Virtue is the inherent
power and authority of property, naturally given to women. The Women
teach the young girls the teachings of property and management of their
future households and territory rights. During this transformation time
the girl-soon-to-be-woman is taught about faith, hope and love, for
these are the gifts that will soon spring forth from her womb. It is in
everyone's best interest that she be instructed well for the many
challenges ahead, for she will soon become a Mother of their Nation.
The more upright and moral the Primary teachers, the Mothers of the
Nation, the more Powerful, Beautiful and Great the Nation.
The actual flowering time, is when the body announces to All , through
the first Moon, or first show of Menstrual Blood, that the girl, the
virgin, has now developed fully and will be able to bare fruit from her
womb. She is now a Woman! Naturally elevated by the Creator and a
blessing to the Earth!
There are many ceremonies that take place at this time and the
girl-turned woman, is guided by her close female relative(s). Usually,
on the first moon, the young woman separated from others, is instructed
in the sacred rites of womanhood, she is told of the joining of Man and
Woman and instructed how to care for herself during her cleansing time.
She is made to understand the fullness of her power of change and is
fully instructed in her new moon-time responsibilities. She is taught
how truly powerful a woman and her thoughts can be. It is a woman's
thoughts that are the first thoughts taught to all people, for the
woman is the first or primary teacher; the primary teacher of all
children, male and female. She is the first teacher of the future
generations and it is her thoughts that align the future. The new young
woman is taught to hold only good thoughts, thoughts that will
strengthen and bring beauty to the Nation and the Future. She is made
to understand that as a future Wife she will be cooking for her family
and it is only her thoughts that enter into the food she prepares. For
as everyone knows it is the Spirits of Fire and Water that cook food.
She is taught that as the body flushes and cleanses each month, with
the ebb and flow of the Moon, the Woman's power ebbs and flows too. All
of the woman's power(thought or knowledge, is power) is flowing out
from her during this time and she needs to be aware how this power can
affect others. It is for this reason, that woman naturally separate
themselves from others, for they would never want to cause another, an
ill or harmful thought. They do not cook and they do not usually attend
ceremonies other than the Full Moon Ceremonies, for they are busy in
the Moon Lodge. They concentrate on their realignment with the Earth,
Moon and Sun. Their Mind, Heart and Body, are regenerating and their
Spirit is realigned through instruction from other women in the lodge
and/or through instruction from the Great Spirits. All these things are
taught to the new young woman.
During this first moon-time rite she is instructed to keep very busy,
doing a variety of tasks, that will demonstrate to All Spirits, that
she is ready and willing to be a strong, hard working member of Her
Tribe, one that is caring and loving, one that will benefit the Family
and All Oneness. She, in all felicitousness, demonstrates all the tasks
she has learned during childhood instructions; teachings that were
preparing her for this time, teachings that a woman and future mother
needs to know. She shows she is worthy of elevation and new status in
her tribe. When all is done, there is a public feast and ceremony that
announces to all the Tribe that a new Woman walks among them. This
newly named woman leaves all her childish thoughts and relationships
behind her.
Later, at the larger Gatherings of the Nations, it is announced to All
through ceremony and celebration(dance), that elevation and
transformation has occurred; just as the Strawberry Moon announces to
all the Strawberry Fruit is ready to be picked, a girl turned woman, is
ready to be wooed, ready to find a mate and ready to bring forth fruit
from her womb, that will add beauty to their Nation. This is a day of
Pride for all Women in the Nation, for they have a new Sister!
A young woman may choose to participate in a Strawberry fast. During
the year long fast she demonstrates her ability to gather food for her
family, she is able to demonstrate to her new 'Sisters' her speed and
skill at filling her baskets with fruit and not her belly, as the
children are want to do. She shows control. She shows that she will
benefit the people and not burden them in laziness and weakness.
Further, this "First Fruits of Earth" initiation, teaches the new woman
to exercise control and abstinence. Overtime the woman abstains from
eating the sweet strawberry fruit, saving all her fruits(drying them),
she demonstrates her ability to herself and others, the control
necessary to abstain from the Sweetness of the First Fruits of Love and
the Sweetness of Sexual Encounter, saving herself for her Other. This
willing sacrifice makes her offering of first fruits to her tribe and
one day to her mate, all the more sacred and sweet. All the berries
that are gathered throughout the year are shared with All the People
and this new woman is respected by her Nation, for they all know she
can be depended upon and can control herself. She is a part of their
Pride.
The loving Mother Earth, teaches all her Children the lessons they will
need through-out their lifetime, as all good Mothers do. In giving Her
Children the Strawberry, Our Mother teaches us to be Great Mothers like
her.
Once the Strawberry Flower is fully open and displayed for all to see,
its tempting scent is carried by the spring breezes, calling forth the
Spirits that will be necessary for its pollination. Once pollinated,
the petals of youthful innocence drop away and the fruit of the
Strawberry begins to grow, replacing the small white flower with a
small white berry, growing from a corolla. The corolla or crown once
again reminds us of the elevated position of the woman-turning-into-a
mother. For once a woman gives birth to a child she will become the
Mother-of-a-Nation. From Her a Nation will spring forth, and she is the
Heart of that Nation, a Queen/Kwe-en, and is to be treated as such, by
all. That is why we honour our new mothers and treat them with the
utmost of respect and care. We offer these Mothers-to-be the first and
finest foods, so their seed will grow strong insuring the strength of
the People.
The small white berry reminds us that this woman, although she has lost
her child innocence, her virginity, she still maintains her virtue. For
walking in a Sacred Way, remembering the teachings that were taught to
you in love, keeps you upright and good, which is the making of anyone
virtuous. This small berry, nourished by its family, the Spirits of the
Sun, Earth, Moon, Wind and Rain, will grow plump and full and on
reaching maturity, will become a deep red, the colour and symbol of
love and care. In this way the Strawberry teaches all women with full
bellies, to be proud when they are 'blooming' with their new loves and
future children.
The Strawberry Seed, that grows into the Berry, can only get plump with
the help of rainwater. It is only after the first Moon Time, that a
Woman holds the sacred waters; the water that brings forth Life. This
hidden water, the Life Giving Waters, is the Gift of the Earth to All
Her Dotters/Daughters. This Water carried in the Blood, acts like the
spark to life, to start the Seeds to grow and that make the berries and
bellies full. This transformation and growth of the berry is the most
important aspect of the symbolic teaching of this Strawberry. As a
young girl develops, her womb changes growing first, filling with
water, the berry is white, and as hormonal changes occur, like the
colour of the berry changing to pink, this flush of colour, is like the
flushes of new feelings springing forth in the girls body. The womb
starts to prepare becoming more fertile, preparing the bed that life
bringing seeds will need to grow in. When the womb is full and ready
for seeds to grow, it is announced by the Drops of Blood that begin to
flow, the beginning of the new Woman's first Menses. The new, red
Strawberries are tender, but bravely exposed to the eyes of All
passer-by's, appearing as the fresh droplets of blood shed by the
Earth, in Womanhood. These berries, represent the droplet's of the
Blood of Earth, and are not hidden in Shame by the Earth but are
displayed in Pride for all to see, teaching Women to be proud of their
new and elevated status.
The mature Heart-shaped Strawberry, known as the Heart Berry to many,
is covered with numerous tiny seeds, surrounding the outer layer of the
berry. The Strawberry is one of a few fruits on the Earth, that has
seeds displayed for all to see, showing the trusting nature of a Mother
of Great Faith. These berries, Children of Earth(erdberre/earthberry in
German), are not hidden from view and are easily seen, for their bright
colour, as red stands out, calling for all to notice; that these
berries were given special purpose and they carry a great message. All
messages of Love are important and not to be missed. The Earth has
taught the Strawberry, who teaches us, to know our children's worth and
to rely on the Promises of Our Father, the Creator, by believing Him
when he says "I will provide all things for you and I will protect
you." The Earth, taught this lesson of Faith so well to the Strawberry
that the Strawberry bears her seed, unlike other Mother's. The
Strawberry displays her potential children openly, for all to see and
does not hide them. She exposes the potential of the greatness they
possess. In this way she honours Her Mother the Earth, and teaches us
why she was elevated above other fruit, to carry the teachings of
womanhood and first rites. She is confident in Love and carries her
Hope, her Seed, with Great Faith.
The structure of the Strawberry is used to teach Women the
connectedness and extending of family, through the potential brought to
light in the new rites of womanhood. When you cut a Strawberry in half
you will see the white veins of virtue extending out to each small
seed, always keeping them connected to an inner circle, that symbolises
the greater circle of life, your extended family. The full
understanding of this teaching of love is best understood when sharing
and tasting the First berries of Earth. When the Spirit of the
Strawberry entwines with your Spirit you can taste Love and you recall
in Spirit all the teachings held within this Sacred Fruit.
To Thank our Mother the Earth, for her gifts and teachings of Love and
Fertility, we are to take the first plump, ripe Strawberry that we
desire to eat, and we sacrifice our desire, and in prayer and
thanksgiving we return that special Strawberry back to the Earth. By
planting the Strawberry, through the Spirit of Giving, we demonstrate
our love for Our First Mother, the Earth and our thankfulness to the
Strawberry Plant for sacrificing Her Children for our Growth.
We also show we understand immortality; remembering some of the first
teachings of the Strawberry Plant, once more recalling that we as
Spirits, like the Strawberry, live forever in Oneness with 'All our
Relations'. We remember that it is through sacrifice and for-sight, as
we plant this Sacred Berry, that our future, our Children, will remain
strong and the future generations will have Strawberry Medicine to
share in also. This sacrifice rededicates the strongest and most
beautiful fruits back to Earth. We share in all things, empowering all
things to grow greater in Love. As we continually remember and nurture
the next Seven Generations of Life, they too, will one day remember our
sacrifice and love and the circle will never be broken. This small but
very important Strawberry Ceremony lets you demonstrate love, for love
is a thought-filled-action that takes All Life into account for seven
generations. For it is in the seventh generation that life is
physically manifest. Sharing, Faith and Love are the greatest gifts of
Life!
This is also the time when we begin our Summer cleanse, allowing our
bodies to adjust to the new rhythm of the Earth. For four days,
starting in ceremony shared with family or tribe, we eat Strawberries,
to cleanse the blood and clean our major organs. (Some people are
allergic to Strawberries, check with your practitioner first) Some
people use Strawberry juice for this ceremony, but all share in the
Traditional Stories and teachings at this time to remind everyone of
the special gift given to us by Our Mother, the Earth, the First Woman.
The Red Juice of the Strawberry is said to represent the Blood which
flows through every Body, through all the Veins of the Children of
Earth. This red blood connects us all to the Heart of Creation, the
Earth. The colour of Love and Caring; Red Blood clearly shows that we
are One Family under the Sun, the Sol/Soul of God. We flow in the vein
of our Mother, the Heart of Creation. A vein is a line or tube that
carries blood to the Heart. This Red Juice symbolises we all share and
are born from the same Mother, the Earth. This blood-line shows the
Inter-relatedness of All Life, the Oneness of the Family of God, the
Flowers/Flow-ers of the Tree of Life.
This Oneness is further demonstrated by the runners(symbolising the
umbilical cord from Mother to Child), the offshoots that develop from
the Main Mother or Strawberry Plant. The Strawberry Plants are
connected above the Earth and below the Earth, ever entwined in Her
Love. The Strawberry Plant having learned all things from Her Mother,
the Earth, teaches her children all lessons necessary for survival, and
then as all good mothers know, the time comes when the children need to
branch out and continue to grow on their own. Wanting her children to
stay close, the children move out, but not too far, always connected,
allowed to call out to their Mother, for further advice, if need be.
They can now start families of their own. The Strawberry Mother will
stay connected to her children if she can, but as a Great Mother knows,
she raised them in Love, and they strong and fortified by her Life
Teachings of Love, have developed strong convictions, and are firmly
rooted in Faith, the foundation which will forever, keep them Strong.
The Strawberry knows that should her Hope, her children ever be torn or
taken from her, they are strong and will survive.
Medicine Teachings
