I collect angels. I believe in the heavenly beings and I know that they have carried me through many difficult times in my life. I continue to collect them because they bring me a sense of peace and tranquility.
When I was little, I questioned my grandfather about angels. I asked if the Cherokee people believed in them the same way that I do. His response always intrigued me. According to grandfather, the Cherokee believed in a Creator. He was often referred to by different names like The Great Spirit, The Great Mystery, or other names. Most called him the Cherokee name Uuneelanvvhi, which translated supposedly means God.
However, they also believed that God sent spirit helpers to aid his people. Many came in the form of animals, in particular the deer. Others came in the form of people. Grandfather he believed that was the Cherokee version of angels.
Oddly enough, the spirit helpers who came in human form, did not always show themselves to those that they were sent to help. Nor were these beings necessarily the size of a typical human. Some, in fact, were more along the line of what my Irish ancestors would have called the “wee people.” Others could take the form of child-like beings of any size.
Cherokee spirit helpers preferred to remain among nature primarily because they were natural elements themselves. When they did choose or need to manifest themselves, it was often to children or women. Many say that was because the innocence of children drew them out while the faith of women was often the strongest.
These spirit helpers or angels if you will, would manifest to those in the greatest need, but did not always make their identities known. Others preferred to work in the shadows and in the darkness of night, whispering words of encouragement and bringing omens in dreams.
Some believed that it was these spirits who gathered the dreams from dream catchers to ensure that no nightmare troubled those who were pure of heart and spirit. A few even believed that they sent positive thoughts and feelings back through the dream catchers in order to sweeten the dreams of those who fell under their charge.
Some spirit helpers even dwelled among the people they served, working and living side by side until they had completed their assigned tasks. After completing their assignments, many would disappear while others remained behind and lived out what appeared to be normal human lives.
My grandfather believed that spirit helpers were assigned to all of those of us of Cherokee birth; much the same way that Christians believe that guardian angels are assigned to protect each of us. He believed that I had several spirit helpers as a child. He said that some helped me through my many health issues – – rheumatic fever, whooping cough, scarletina, etc. Others that supported me through the many other tribulations of my life.
He insisted that the pets I had as a child – – parakeets, cats, and dogs – – were very likely spirit helpers. When I questioned him why he believed that, he told me a story that I was too young to remember.
My first pet was a parakeet that I received at the age of four. I promptly named him Luv. I should explain here that I had the habit of naming many of my early pets by the same name; something no one in family but my grandfather ever quite understood.
My parakeet, Luv, was accidentally let loose when the front door to my grandmother’s house was left open. He, as any bird would likely do, flew out into the cool spring air. My grandfather said I cried for two days; literally heartbroken. Although my grandparents offered to buy me a new bird, I declined; saying that I only “wanted Luv.”
A couple days later, as I opened the door to go outside and play, Luv flew back in the door and over to his cage. According to grandfather, he flew right in the cage and immediately began making sounds as if to let me know that he was sorry he had left me.
He never again flew away although I’m sure he must have had many opportunities to do so. Instead, he remained behind and watched over me. According to grandfather, he would fly out of his cage, land on my shoulder, and stay there for hours as if to comfort me with his presence.
My grandfather believed that I recognized Luv’s spirit over the years when he came to me as other animals – – most notably a canary and a cat. He believed that was the reason I insisted on calling those pets by the same name.
I guess the moral of this story is that, no matter our religious beliefs or even our ancestry, we all welcome those spirits that make themselves available to help us. As a small child I had my spirit helpers. As an adult I have my guardian angels.
Either way, they are all gifts from one benevolent being who recognizes our need, sees our pain, and responds to bring us whatever we need to make it through. That is a very comforting feeling indeed!
