Native American Religion

Cheyenne Medicine Man and Native American Religion

American Indian Religion - Cheyenne Medicine Man

Discover facts and information about the culture of Native American Indians and their belief in the power of the Native American Religion

  • Native American Religion, Shamanic Healing and Native American Indian tribes
  • Rituals and customs associated with Native American Religion
  • Native American Religion and religious beliefs of Native Americans
  • Interesting facts and information about Native American Religion, Native American medicine and the rituals, culture, religion and beliefs of Native American Indians
Native American Culture
Native Indian Tribes Index

Native American Religion
Native American Religion is a vast subject that covers the religious beliefs, rituals, ceremonies and practices of the indigenous people of North America. Native American religion is characterized by the religious belief that spirits are present in all things, both animate and inanimate. The Native American religion and religious beliefs are centered around the environment and the natural world of animals, birds, insects, plants, herbs and trees, natural phenomena such as rocks, mountains, rivers, lakes, and clouds and celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, planets and stars.

Native American Religion - The Shaman and Spirituality
In Native American religion lies the belief that the living are intimately connected with the souls, or spirits, of the dead. Spirituality features in Native American Religion in which beliefs or religious practices are based on communication with the spirit world through mediums known as a Shaman or Medicine Man, who also acted as healers. The are many stories, legends and myths about the Creator who is generally referred to as the Great Spirit. American Indian religion and beliefs were highly localized according to the traditions of different tribes so that it is not possible to fully define Native American Religion. It can only be explained by describing the beliefs, religious practices, ceremonies and rituals that featured prominently in their belief systems.

Native American Religion - Beliefs and Religious Practises
Native American religion uses help and guidance from the spirit world in order to treat the whole person - the mind, body and spirit. The following table describes many of the beliefs and religious practises that feature in American Indian religion.
 

Native American Religion - Beliefs and Religious Practises

 Native American Religion:
Great Spirit


The
Great Spirit is the supreme being and principal deity of Native American Indians.
 

 
 
Native American Religion:

Shamanism


Shamanism encompasses a range of beliefs and practices regarding communication with the spiritual world in which a religious leader, like a Shaman, enters supernatural realms or dimensions to obtain solutions to problems including sickness

 
 
Native American Religion:

Animism


Animism is a religious belief that all natural objects within the universe, have souls or spirits. It is believed that spirits exist not only in humans but also in animals, plants, trees, mountains rocks etc.

 
 
Native American Religion:

Fetishism


Fetishism is a subordinate branch of animism encompassing the doctrine of spirits embodied, attached or conveying influence through, certain animals or material objects
 

 
 
Native American Religion:

Medicine Man


The
Medicine Man is a priestly healer and spiritual leader who enters supernatural realms particularly when the tribe is facing adversity

 
 
Native American Religion:

Herbalism and Spiritual Healing


Herbalism is a traditional medicinal practice based on the use of herbs, plants and plant extracts as the source of healing remedies. The use of herbs is combined with Spiritual Healing to treat the whole person - the mind, body and spirit.
 

 
 
Native American Religion:

Animal Spirit - Spirit Guide


An
Animal Spirit, or spirit guide, walks through life with a person, teaching and guiding them, and in some instances protecting them.

 
 
Native American Religion:

Sweat Lodge


The Sweat Lodge ceremony, or purification ritual, accompanies important events such a rite of passage ceremony, marriage or healing

 
 
Native American Religion:

Medicine Bag


A
Medicine Bag was a special, sacred container for various objects, or amulets, of supernatural power used by a Shaman, to carry 'medicine', or symbols, of animal spirits good luck, protection and strength in battle.
 

 
 
Native American Religion:

Smudging Ritual


Smudging is a traditional Native American method of burning sacred herbs to produce a smoke cloud which is used in various cleansing or prayer ceremonies and purification or healing rituals.
 

 
 
Native American Religion
:
Vision Quest - Spiritual Journey
Trance State


A
Vision Quest is an attempt to achieve a vision of a future guardian spirit through the process of fasting, isolation and meditation. A Vision Quest or Spiritual Journey was sometimes accompanied by the inducement of a Trance State for the purpose of attaining guidance or knowledge from supernatural forces or spirits.

 

 

Native American Religion - Beliefs and Religious Practises

Vision Quest Shaman

 Native American Shaman - Native American Religion

 

Native American Religion - Beliefs and Religious Practises

 
American Indian Religion:

Totemism


Totemism was practiced by Northwest Indian tribes and centered around the belief of having a natural object or animate being, such as as a bird or animal, as the emblem of a family, clan, or tribe.

 
 
American Indian Religion:

Totem Poles


A totem is an emblem displayed on a
Totem Poles, such as an animal or plant, that is believed to have spiritual significance and watches over the family, clan, or tribe symbolizing their guardian spirit

 
 
American Indian Religion:

Potlatch


A
Potlatch Ceremony is an opulent ceremonial feast to celebrate an important event held by tribes of Northwest Indians of North America

 
 
American Indian Religion:

Kiva


A
Kiva is a special sacred building, usually built underground, that is used for spiritual ceremonies, religious rituals and ceremonial preparations by the Pueblo Native Americans and strongly associated with the Kachina belief system.

 
 
American Indian Religion:

Kachina


Kachinas are deified ancestral spirits of the Pueblo people and spirits of natural phenomena. The term Kachina is also applied to a masked dancer believed to embody a particular spirit during a religious ceremony or ritual
 

 
 
American Indian Religion:

Prayer Sticks


A
Prayer Stick is used to make offerings and petitions to the spirit world. Prayer Sticks are most often associated with rituals relating to religious ceremonies particularly of the Southwest Native American tribes

 

Native American Religion - Beliefs and Religious Practises

 

Native American Religion

  • American Indian Religion, rituals and ceremonies
  • Culture and Religion of Native Indians
  • Interesting facts and info about Native American Religion
  • Information about the beliefs featured in American Indian Religion
  • American Indian Culture and Religion

Native American Religion - Pictures and Videos of Native Americans
Native American Religion. Discover the vast selection of pictures which relate to the History, Culture and Religion of Native Americans. The pictures show the clothing, War Paint, weapons and decorations of various Native Indian tribes that can be used as a really useful educational history resource for kids and children of all ages. We have included pictures and videos to accompany the main topic of this section - Native American Religion. The videos enable fast access to the images, paintings and pictures together with information and many historical facts. All of the articles and pages can be accessed via the American Indian Tribes Index - a great educational resource for kids.

 

Native American Religion - Teaching resource - Religion - Teachers - Native Indian Culture - Indian - Religion - Culture - Beliefs - Traditional - Indians - Ceremonies - Religion - Beliefs - Dances - Native American Religion - Festivals - Religion - Customs - Custom - Kids - Pictures - Info - Religion - Information - Religion - Native Indians - Native American Religion - Native American Indian - Native Indian Religion - People - Religion - Guide - Studies - Religion - Native Indian Culture - American Indian Religion - Written By Linda Alchin

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