Winter Solstice and Full Moon Ceremony – Manito-Debiki Giizoons (Little Spirit Moon) – December 21-22, 2015
Welcoming the New Life – Winter Solstice and Full Moon Ceremony – Manito-Debiki Giizoons (Little Spirit Moon) – December 21-22, 2015
Turtle Lodge, Sagkeeng First Nation, Manitoba, CanadaStarts December 21 with Potluck Feast at 6 pm, Full Moon & Winter Solstice Ceremony, and culminates December 22 with Giveaway and Potluck Breakfast Feast at 9 am. We will be spending the night in ceremony inside the Turtle Lodge.
Invitation from the Turtle Lodge
All are invited to attend the Winter Solstice and Manito-Debiki Giizoons (Little Spirit Moon) Full Moon ceremony at Turtle Lodge, taking place from Monday December 21 (6 pm) to Tuesday December 22 (9 am), 2015. Potluck Feast December 21 at 6 pm, and ceremony starts at 7 pm. All are invited to bring their bundles. Final Potluck Breakfast Feast and Giveaway December 22 at 9 am – please bring a dish to share for the feasts and a gift for the Giveaway..“Traditionally the Original People have always gone into ceremony to celebrate what is considered the longest night – the Winter Solstice. The Winter Solstice gives birth to the New Sun through the longest night of the year. It is during that longest night that we honour our way of life. We follow the New Sun across the sky as it watches over us. It is a time when we would honour our ancestors and what they have left for us. The turtle leaves us a trail to follow, and we are all given a chance to walk that trail. The Winter Solstice is a time when we honour the Trail of the Turtle.
Added to this year’s Solstice will be the honouring of the Full Moon, which reaches its fullness December 25.”
Full Moon Ceremony – Manito-Debiki Giizoons (Little Spirit Moon)
Having commenced in the Spring (May) of 2014, the Turtle Lodge is now conducting Full Moon ceremonies each Full Moon of the year, to acknowledge and honour Nookomis (Grandmother Moon), to share Women’s teachings and teachings of the current Moon, and to share in a Potluck Feast.
For each and every Full Moon, the Women lead and conduct a Full Moon ceremony. For this particular ceremony, Women on their moon time are welcome and encouraged to attend. Our Men are also welcome to attend, for their support as Fire Keepers and Protectors of the Peoples – especially for our Children and Women. Food and cloth offerings are made to the Sacred Fire, and Water is lifted for the Peoples. The Water, once spoken to by a Woman, is then Sacred and Healing Water.
The Full Moon ceremony will begin at dusk on each of the Full Moons of the year. Everyone is welcome to attend and support this ceremony at the Turtle Lodge. The dates of the Full Moons of this year are shown below. We ask that you come for 6 pm, bring a dish to share for a Potluck Feast, yellow cloth and a tobacco offering for the ceremony.
Ogokiinooniiwen-Thirteen Moons
Anishnabe peoples follow the 13 Moons in determining on how to live and maintain Life. Living a balanced Life is about being aligned with Nature, adhering to Ancient Laws and abiding by Natural Time (Lunar cycle).
Life on Earth is connected to the Nookomis (Grandmother Moon). She stabilizes our Earth’s orientation and position, regulates the Waters, and determines the cycle of fertility and birth of Anishnabes. Nookomis helps us with healing and rejuvenation, and she is strongly connected to human Life, especially the Women. Anishnabe Knowledge Holders share the teaching that every phase of the Grandmother Moon provides direction and answers to our life stages: Child, Youth, Adult and Elder.
Anyone dealing with addictions can overcome their addiction by working with the 13 Moons. This applies to addictions to drugs and alcohol as much as to addictions to materialism, or the impacts of colonization and residential schools.
Our Sacred Stories say that Nookomis is the daughter of Mother Earth. Nookomis’ 13 Moons and Phases point to the ideal times for planting, harvesting, hunting, gathering, and ceremony.
The following are Anishnabe names and cycles of the 13 Moons:
1. Manito-Debiki Giizis – Spirit Moon: Identity and Purification.
2. Makwa- Debiki Giizis – Bear Moon: Vision questing and courage
3. Aandego- Debiki Giizis – Crow Moon: Voice and Seeds of Creation.
4. Maango- Debiki Giizis – Loon Moon: Water cleansing, healing and new life
5. Waabigoowene- Debiki Giizis – Flower Moon: Healing medicines and Spirituality
6. Ode’Minikewe- Debiki Giizis – Strawberry Moon: Relationships and Heart
7. Miinikewe- Debiki Giizis – Blueberry Moon: Change, Family and kindness
8. Manoominikewe- Debiki Giizis – Wild Rice Moon: Harmony, balance and future.
9. Waatebagaawe- Debiki Giizis- Leaves of Color Moon: All Nations, path in life – red road
10. Binaakwe-Debiki Giizis – Falling Leaves Moon: Gifting, giving and letting go
11. Gashkadin- Debiki Giizis –Freezing Moon: Power of Spirit, sacred teachings and songs
12. Manito- Debiki Giizoons- Little Spirit Moon: Health and eternal instructions
13. Gitchi Nokoomis Debiki Giizis – Great Grandmother Moon (13th moon): Life and understanding
Miigwech to Niizhoosake (Anishnabe Grandmother Sherry Copenace) for the Knowledge she has shared with the Turtle Lodge regarding the Thirteen Moons.
