From: Lahanna (Original Message) Sent: 6/13/2008 11:46 AM
Awehai





Strawberry Festival ( New York )



Themes:

Harvest; Tradition; Growth; Longevity; Community



Symbols:

Turtle; Seeds



About Awehai:

In Iroquois tradition, this Goddess reigns in the sky and the
heavens, watching diligently over family life and the community.
Mythology tells us that Awehai grabbed seeds and animals as she fell
from heaven, landing on the back of a great turtle. From here, Awehai
scattered the seeds and freed the animals, resulting in a growing,
fertile earth filled with beauty.



To Do Today:

This festival takes place nearly in my backyard, having been
instituted by the Iroquois Indians of Tonawanda, New York. Here
people come to the longhouse to enjoy ritual dancing, chanting, and
the sounding of turtle-shell rattles, a symbol of Awehai. So, if you
know any type of traditional ritual dances or chants, consider
enacting them outside as you scatter grass seed to the wind. This
will manifest Awehai's productivity in your life and in the earth.



Another custom is simpler ads a lot of fun: consuming strawberries in
as many forms as possible. In Iroquois tradition, these pave the
road to heaven, and eating them ensures you a long life and Awehai's
fertility. Share strawberries with a loved one to inspire Awehai's
community-oriented energy in your home, and consume fresh
strawberries to harvest her powers for personal growth.



By Patricia Telesco

Lahanna's Lair