Golanv Circle
Moon Day
Magick & Medicine

Intermediate Practicum
First Fire - Water Spider
”Dilsdohdi”

In the beginning there was no fire. The world varied from cold to extremely cold, which was deadly to most Animals if they could not find shelter in before sunset. The Thunders —or Thunder Beings, Ani’-Hyun’tikwalaski, who lived high up in Galun’lati, sent their Lightning and ignited a Fire into the bottom of a hollow Sycamore tree which grew on an island far from the mainland.

The Animals knew it was there, because they could see the smoke coming out at the top of the burning tree, and when the Wind was just right, they could smell the smoke.  The Animals could not visit the Fire because the island was surrounded by a great distance of Water.  But, the Animals desired the Knowledge of this Fire.

One day, all of the Animals decided to hold a Council to decide what to do.

Keep in mind, this was an extremely long time ago, when things were very different in Creation. Every Animal that could fly or swim was anxious to go after the Fire. It was new to them but they could sense its power. They each attended the meeting of Animal Council to decide who would go on this long Journey.


Golanv, The Raven, offered to go first, and because he was so large and strong the Animal Council thought he could surely do the work. So, he was sent. He flew high and far across the Water and alighted on the burning Sycamore tree, but while he was wondering what to do next; the heat had scored all his feathers black.  This frightened Golanv so he came back without the Fire. Next to try was a little Screech-owl (Wa’huhu’). He too volunteered to go, and reached the place safely, but while he was looking down into the hollow tree a blast of hot air came up and nearly burned out his eyes. He managed to fly home as best he could, but it was a long time before he could see well.  To this day, his eyes are red!  Then the Hooting Owl (U’auku;) and the

Horned Owl (Tskili’) went one by one to try, but by the time they got to the hollow tree the Fire was burning so fiercely that the smoke nearly blinded them too. 

The ashes carried up by the Wind made white rings around their eyes. They had to return home without the sacred Fire.  Even with all their rubbing, they were never able to get rid of the white rings from the ash around their eyes.

Time passed and no more of the birds would venture out. 

The next Animal Ally to come forward was the little Uksu’hi snake. This is a nonvenomous snake that most of us now call “the black racer”.  The snake told the others that he would go through the Water and bring back some of the Fire. He swam across to the island and crawled through the grass to the tree, and went in by a small hole at the bottom.  The heat and smoke were too much for him, too, and after dodging about blindly over the hot ashes until he was almost on fire himself, he managed by good luck to get out again from the same hole.  His body had been scorched black, and he has ever since had the habit of darting and doubling on his track as if trying to escape from close quarters of an unseen flame.

After his return, the great blacksnake, Gule’gi, “The Climber,” offered to go for Fire. He swam over to the island and climbed up the tree on the outside, as the blacksnake always does, but when he put his head down into the hole the smoke choked him so that he fell into the burning stump, and before he could climb out again he was as black as the Uksu’hi.

The Animals held another Council, for still there was no fire, and the world was becoming colder.  Birds, snakes, and four footed animals, all had some reason now for not going again, or even going at all.  They had all grown fearful of being burned when they ventured near the burning sycamore, until at last, Kanane’shi Amai’yehi (the Water Spider) said she would go.

Do not confuse this spider with the “Water Walker” that looks like a mosquito, but the other one, with black downy hair and red stripes on her body. The beautiful creature we call “Dilsdohdi”. She can run on top of the water or dive to the bottom with but a breath.  There would be no trouble for her to go over to the island, but the question was, “How could she bring back the Fire?” “I’ll manage that,” said the Water Spider; so she spun a thread from her body and wove it into a tutsi bowl, which she fastened on her back. She then crossed over to the island and through the grass to where the Fire was still burning.

She put one little coal of Fire into her tutsi bowl, and walked carefully back across the Water.

This is the story of how Fire came to be with the Cherokee.

Moon Day G71

General - Journal - Book of Shadows

SUBMISSION: G71 MOON DAY MYTH - FIRST FIRE (Due by Sunday)
Spend some time interpreting the myth.
What may all of it mean?
What kind of symbology do you see?

Please answer the Interpretation in TWO PARAGRAPHS or more.
BONUS: Find the Correspondence to TWO Plant or Animal Allies, any culture or Practice.
What are those properties?

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