The Sun Dance has been sad to be the most important rite for the Lakota. Many also do this in hopes to fulfill personal vows. Every year Lakota gather together and those who chose to participate dance, pledging to make offerings of their flesh in the hoes that strength would be given to their nation. The spirit is taken care of for one year to purify the soul (Powers, 2005). When a loved one dies, a mourner sets up a special place for the deceased’s spirit. The design on the shield was supposed to offer them special protection and guidance and were often directed to make the focus of their visions the central element of their shields.
The Lakota often made a special war shield following a vision quest. One person agrees to go on a vision quest and waits on a hill with nothing but a pipe and a blanket for four days in hopes to connect with spirits and gain knowledge and insight. All necessities for good health were included in this ceremony: earth, water, fire and air (Powers, 2005). Hot stones were placed in the middle of the dark lodge and water was poured over the burning red stones creating steam. They prayed for their loved ones’ spiritual and physical health through a ceremony inside the lodge. Using a sweat lodge that resembles the dome shape of the universe and the womb of a pregnant woman, the Lakota people prayed for health and well being for all. Lakota people today pray for the spirit who brought the pipe asking her to watch over their loved ones, feeding them and providing shelter (Dooling, 2002). A holy spirit brought the pipe to the Lakota people in the hopes of peace and spirituality.
#ONE SPIRIT LAKOTA HOW TO#
Only those with the intentions to do good may handle the pipe and hold the knowledge regarding how to use it properly. The sacred pipe has been passed down from generation to generation. These rites came to the Lakota people through the White Buffalo Calf Pipe. There are seven sacred rites the Lakota abide by. For them religion encompassed their entire being and was integrated in their daily lives. Overall they embrace religion in all aspects of their life. Lakota people cherish their oral stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. The stars tell stories of their creation and hold information pertaining to birth and the sun dance rituals. They turned to the stars, using naked eye observations, for guidance from the spirits. Lakota, a word meaning ‘allies or friends’ were religious people.