I collect angels. I believe in the heavens and I know that they have carried me through many difficult times in my life; I continue to collect them because they bring me a sense of peace and tranquility.
When I was little, I asked my grandfather about angels; I asked if the Cherokee believed them in the way I do. His answer always intrigued me. According to a Cherokee ancestor, he believed in a Creator. He was often called by various names such as the Great Spirit, the Great Mystery or other names. The Cherokee name Uuneelanvvhi, which translates as God, is most commonly called.
But they also believed that God had sent spirit helpers to help his people. Many came in the form of animals, and in the form of deer. Others in the form of men. My grandfather believed that the Cherokee were a version of angels.
Oddly enough, spirit helpers who come in human form do not always help those sent to them. Nor were these things necessarily human figures. For some were more like what my Irish ancestors would call “we the people.” Others can take the form of small beings of any size.
They preferred that the Cherokee spirit helpers were in nature, mainly because they were the natural elements themselves. When they chose to express themselves, it was often for boys or women. Many say that this is because the innocence of their children drew them, and the faith of women was often the strongest.
These helper spirits or angels, if you will, are most in need of them, but they do not always make it known. Others preferred to labor in the dark, to whisper words of encouragement and bring omens in their dreams.
Some believed that these were spirits who collected dreamcatchers from dreams, so that those who were pure in heart and spirit would not be disturbed by nightmares. A few also believed that through dreamcatchers sent positive thoughts and feelings to sweeten the dreams of those who fell into them.
Some helpers were also held among the people, serving, working and living alongside them until they fulfilled their role. After the provinces were completed, many disappeared while others remained and lived what seemed to be a normal human life.
My grandfather believed that all of us Cherokee were assigned spirit helpers at birth; in the same way that Christians believe that angels are guardians for the protection of each one of us. He believed that I had various spirit helpers as children. He said that I helped some people through my many healings – – rheumatism, cough, scarlet fever, etc. who supported me through many other trials of my life.
He insisted on taking care of me like baby parakeets, cats and dogs – they were very likely spirit helpers. When I asked why he believed this, he told me that he remembered the story when I was younger.
My first pet was a parakeet that I got four years ago. He immediately named him Luv. Here I will explain that I am accustomed to call many of my ancient concerns by the same name; no one else in the family except my grandfather clearly understood.
My parakeet, Luv, was accidentally released when the front door to my grandmother’s house was open. He, as usual, whatever his wings are, really flew into the cold air. My grandfather said I cried for two days; literally distressed. Although the bird was brought to buy me a new bird, I refused; saying I just want “Luv”.
Two days later, when I opened the door to outside and play, Luv flew back into the door and upstairs to his cage. According to my grandfather, he flew straight into the cage and immediately began to sound as if to let me know that he was sad that he left me.
He never flew again, though he must have had plenty of opportunity. but he himself remained, and he himself kept me. According to my grandfather, he will fly from his cage onto my shoulder and stay there for hours as if to comfort me with his presence.
My grandfather believed that I had recognized Luv’s spirit over the years when he came to me as other animals – most notably a canary and a cat. He believed in the cause of stressing the cares of the same name.
I guess the moral of this story is that regardless of our religions or even our ancestors, we should all welcome those spirits who offer themselves to help us. I was like a child, and I had my spirit to help me. As an adult I have my guardian angels.
Either way, all gifts are from a benevolent being who recognizes our need, sees our pain, and responds to lead us to do whatever we need to do. A very comforting feeling!
