Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees:From a book compiled in 1898 of spells and formulas collected from actual Cherokee Shamans.

The buttons at left will take you to each chapter. This should
make it easier to find a topic. Spells, incantations and chants (Formulas) are
listed at the bottom.
Below is the original table of contents. Obviously, it can be difficult
to grasp the meaning of some titles. For example, the "formula" that
is called "To make children jump down" is meant to aid childbirth.
How
the formulas were obtained
The
A`yuninï (Swimmer) manuscript
The
Gatigwanastï (Belt) manuscript
The
Gahunï manuscript
The
Inâlï (Black Fox) manuscript
Other
manuscripts
The
Kanâhe'ta Ani-Tsa'lagï Etï or Ancient Cherokee Formulas
Character
of the formulas--the Cherokee religion
Myth
of the origin of disease and medicine
Theory
of disease--animals, ghosts, witches
Selected
list of plants used
Medical
practice--theory of resemblances--fasting--tabu--seclusion--women
Illustration
of the gakûnta or tabu
Neglect
of sanitary regulations
The
sweat bath--bleeding--rubbing--bathing
Opposition
of shamans to white physicians
Medicine
dances
Description
of symptoms
The
ugista'`tï or pay of the shaman
Ceremonies
for gathering plants and preparing medicine
The
Cherokee gods and their abiding places
Color
symbolism
Importance
attached to names
Language
of the formulas
Specimen
formulas
Medicine
To
treat the crippler (rheumatism)--from Gahuni
Second
formula for the crippler--from Gahuni
Song
and prescription for snake bites--from Gahuni
When
something is causing something to eat them--Gahuni
Second
formula for the same disease--A`wanita
For
moving pains in the teeth (neuralgia?)--Gatigwanasti
Song
and prayer for the great chill--A`yûnini
To
make children jump down -- (A`yûnini and Takwatihi)
Song
and prayer for the black yellowness (biliousness)--A`yûnini
To
treat for ordeal diseases (witchcraft)-A`yûnini
Hunting
Concerning
hunting-- A`yûnini
For
hunting birds-- A`yûnini
To
shoot dwellers in the wilderness---A`wanita
Bear
song--A`yûnini
For
catching large fish--A`yûnini
Concerning
living humanity--Gatigwanasti
For
going to water--Gatigwanasti
Yûnwehi
song for painting--Gatigwanasti
Song
and prayer to fix the affections--A`yûnini
To
separate lovers--A`yûnini 381 Song and prayer to fix the affections--Gatigwanasti
Miscellaneous
384 To shorten a night goer on this side--A`yûnini
To
find lost articles--Gatigwanasti
To
frighten away a storm--A`yûnini
To
help warriors--A`wanita
To
destroy life (ceremony with beads)--A`yûnini
To
take to water for the ball play--A`yûnini
|