The willow ribs of a traditional Lakota innippi ceremony!
This is a sacred ceremony, so pictures of the ceremony, the alter, and Sacred artifacts are not allowed. I can however describe what my experience is behind the buckskin curtain!
Filled with symbology and protocol, the innippi is a purification and prayer ceremony. Everything is set up and done a certain way!
The sacred chanunpa
The peace pipe is a sacred union of masculine and feminine, combined with intention of living breath it is a modality to carry the prayers through smoke on the wings of the eagle to wakantanka(the great mystery) and tunkashila(the ancestor spirits)
The 7 directions the first Gramps rocks
North
East
South
West
Above
Below
Within
The 16 aspects of wankan(the mystery)
These ribs are covered with blankets and canvas. Rocks are heated on a fire, when there glowing red hot we bring em in and cook ourselves 😂 but in a really beautiful ceremonial way hooting and hollering playing the drum, we offer up smoke with the sacred peace pipe!