May 2013
"It's a Benner made by Bent Nielsen, Benner is his nickname. " -fishnbanjo
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Morta AEROBilliard from Neatpipes!
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"I was sent this beautiful Ceremonial pipe handmade by a descendant of the Cherokee Tribe. I smoked the Chanunpa (Lakota for sacred ceremonial pipe) using Red VA tobacco and performed the Ceremony of the Pipe offering tobacco to Mother Earth to the East, South, West and North, saying a prayer for those who gave their all in sacrifice on this earth and to the memory of the fellowship of the pipe."
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"Here is the Lakota Pipe Ceremony as I followed it, my prayers included what I stated in my initial posting as well. The directions are for multiple smokers and since I had none I simply smoked it to half way topping it with crumbled grape vine that I have from trimming.
The pipe holder stands holding the bowl of the pipe in his left hand, the stem in his right, pointing the stem to the East. He sprinkles a small amount of tobacco on the ground as an offering to Mother Earth and The East. As he loads a small pinch of tobacco into the pipe, he will say something like:
"The East is Red. The East is where the Morning Star rises, the Star of Knowledge. Red is for the Rising Sun which brings us a new day and another chance to learn. We thank the Great Spirit for each day we are allowed to live upon Mother Earth under Father Sky, Tunkashila. We pray for Knowledge, for from Knowledge comes Peace".
The pipe holder faces the South and again gives tobacco to Mother Earth, continues to load the pipe, saying something like:
"The South is Yellow. Yellow is for the color of Spring and the warm south wind, and the yellow hoop. While we load this pipe, we give thanks for our strength, growth, and healing that is brought forth from the south wind. We use this as a time of planting so that the seeds may grow into a new life."
The pipe holder faces the West and again gives tobacco to Mother Earth, continues to load the pipe, saying something like:
"West is Black. West is where the Sun sets. West is were the Spirit Helpers live and black stands for the Spirit World. We will all go to the Spirit World and we will all know one another and our deeds. We seek our spiritual wisdom in the West and pray for help from our Spirit Guides".
The same is done for the North:
"White is for the North. The White Giant covers Mother Earth with the white blanket of snow. White Buffalo Calf Woman, Ptecincala Ska Wakan Winan, came to us from the North. We stand here seeking endurance, and health from the North".
The pipe holder now touches the stem to the ground, saying something like:
"Green is the color of Mother Earth. We are all part of Mother Earth, each rock, each four legged, each two legged, all creatures, plants and minerals. We are all related. We respect our Mother Earth and protect her".
The pipe holder now holds pipe above his head with the stem up at an angle, perhaps at the Sun or Moon:
"Father Sky in union with Mother Earth are our true parents. Father Sky gives us energy for our lives and heats our bodies and our lodges. We are thankful for Father Sky".
The pipe holder now holds the stem straight up:
"Great Spirit, Creator of us all, Creator of all things, Creator of the four directions, Mother Earth, and Father Sky, we offer this pipe to you".
Now the pipe is lighted, and passed around the circle sunwise from east to south to west to north, returning to the east, each person free to offer a prayer or saying if they choose.
On completion of its journey around the sacred circle the pipe is capped with sage or bark, and separated, the stem from the pipe, set aside in its pouch until it is smoked again. The typical pipe pouch has separate compartments for the pipe and the stem so that they do not touch when not being used in ritual ceremony. " -fishnbanjo
