Why They Pray With the Stones

Inside an enclosure secure is kept the sacred stone painted red and enriched with other items as hair. The primary container is made of a buckskin pouch worn around the neck, and sometimes other Helper stones are kept in the medicine bag hung from a tepee pole inside. These other sacred stones were to help in curing illness, predicting what will happen in the future, locating lost people or objects, and healing people spiritually. It is through intention and/or a dream that one finds his sacred stone, which is usually found on top of high buttes. When the stone is found, a unique, original song was created for it by the medicine man. That’s how sacred stone and its song is to be used together during ceremonies. The song is always sung with any request of the stones. Here, when someone is ill, prayers are said and tobacco amongst other things is offered. This way the stone communicates in fluent, original Lakota which usually only the medicine man understands.

The stone is solid like no other matter at hand, entirely original, and when heated with fire with sprinkles of water, it gives off steam as perspiration from a man when heated up. Thus it is from the stone’s breath that many men live.

Circular in shape, the sacred stone bears witness to many things. It is related to the sun, moon and earth not only in their roundness but also in their skan, their motion without beginning and without ending. It affirms eternal truths that together with Wakantanka, the Divine Spirit, everything is possible. The sacred stone draws you in that to honor creation is to honor the Creator, Wakantanka. Thus, the stone lives on without dying, seemingly indestructible.

These circular stones used in this way as described in the article should not surprise anyone. Other peoples have used wood carvings in many shapes and metal sculptures in varied configurations considering these sacred also. However, the round stones were formed naturally in some mysterious way and therefore sacred. The Lakota Medicine man had a name for the circular stone - Inyan Hoksila = Rockboy.

In the same way the day-sun is respected, its yellow eyes can see everything. Whenever it’s ready, it retreats. When day-sun does retreat, the night-sun in turn does look downward. The shape of the sun and moon and Grandmother Earth determined the hocoka, the sacred circles of Lakota life.

Also, the trees were respected in the same way. A long time ago a tree was seen walking and heard singing and thus was considered sacred. The one who saw this told the story in the following way:

“Sitting there observing the scene, I gazed at the one tree when taken aback, I heard singing from the trees and the one tree shuffled a ways. Looking intently I saw it was one of the large trees singing.” This he saw and heard and immediately he offered tobacco and also wrapped a ceremonial blanket around the sacred tree. And as high as he could reach he painted the tree with the sacred paints, praying on these words, “Have compassion for me, that I may live a long life.” And from that time on the tree is considered esteemed and cherished.

Spring water holes are the haven of some shielded beings. Hairy creatures all over their bodies, they never come out but live always at the bottom of the springs. Without eyes yet they could devour whatever came their way. From them the springs flow. Whenever they wished they moved locations underneath the ground. The old location has no more water but the new place gushes. The spring’s waters in the winter is hot and in the summer ice cold. One drank water from this place only with the proper respect. Without respect, drinking the water then would bring some illness upon one. It is because of this that one prays before taking any of its water. In times past they brought back one of the beings who lived in the springs and set it up in a tepee where waters sprang up and swirled around the lodge. Without warning it killed many of the people. They would feed the being but without moving it would devour the food. It never moved staying in a prone position. This is the reason why the wiwila hot/cold spring waters are valued and respected.

Conclusion

From the Pre- and Post-Modern tradition of the Titunwan Lakota Wisdom Keepers. Among many others consulted were Psa Kokipapi Garnett (Garnett Black Bear) and Unpan Hinziwin (Agatha Holy Bull).

Wicahpi Wanjila - Leroy C. Curley
03/04/2011