Astrology Horoscopes

JANUARY

Cold Moon UnalvtaniThis time of the season is a time for personal and ritual observance, fasting and personal purification. During this season families prepare for the coming of the new season, starting in Windy Moon Anuyi or March. Personal items and tools for planting are repaired and new ones made. Stories about ancestors and family are imparted to the younger ones by the elders. A mid-winter or "Cold Moon" Dance is usually held in community as well, marking the passing or ending of one cycle of seasons and welcoming the beginning of the new cycle. Hearth fires are put out and new ones made. The putting out of Fires and lighting of new ones is the duty of certain "priest" of certain clans and coincides with the first new arrival of the morning star (Sun's daughter, now called Venus) in the east.

FEBRUARY

Bony Moon KagaliTraditional time of personal family feast for the ones who had departed this world. A family meal is prepared with places set for the departed. This is also a time of fasting and ritual observance. A community dance officiated by a "doctor" Didanawiskawi commonly referred to as a Medicine person.

Connected to this moon is the "Medicine Dance."

MARCH

Windy Moon AnuyiFirst New Moon of Spring Festival. Traditionally this was the start of the new cycle of planting seasons or Moons. The time for new crops and new town council fires. The figure used to portray this moon is the historic figure of Kanati, of the many beings created the "Apportioner" Unethlana. These "helpers" were variously charged with the control of the life elements of the earth air/earth/fire/water. Their domains are the sky, earth, stars and the Seven Levels of the universe.

APRIL

Flower Moon KawoniFirst plants of the season come out at this time. New births are customary within this time frame. The first new medicine and herb plants that taught mankind how to defend against sickness and injury come out now. Streams and rivers controlled by the spirit being, "Long Man," renew their lives. Ritual observances are made to "Long Man," at this time. A dance customary at this time season was the "Knee Deep Dance" of the Spring or Water Frog.

MAY

Planting Moon AnisgutiFamilies traditionally prepare the fields and sow them with the stored seeds from last season. Corn, beans, squashes, tomatoes, potatoes, yams and sunflowers are some food planted at this time. A dance traditionally done at this time is the "Corn Dance".

JUNE

Green Corn Moon TihaluhiyiFirst signs of the "corn in tassel", and the emerging of the various plants of the fields. People traditionally begin preparations for the upcoming festivals of the ensuing season. People of the AniGadugi Society begin repairs needed on town houses, family homes and generally provide for the needy. The AniGadugi Society is a volunteer help group who see to the needs of the less fortunate, the elderly and the infirm of the villages.

JULY

Ripe Corn Moon

GuyegwoniFirst foods or the new planting and the roasting ears of corn are ready. Towns begin the cycle festivals. Dances and celebrations of thanks to the Earth Mother and the "Apportioner" Unethlana are given. In the old times this was the traditional time of the "Green Corn Dance" or festival. A common reference of this moon is the "first roasting of ears" (of corn) ... sweet corn-moon. This is the customary time for commencement of the Stick Ball games traditionally called AniStusti "Little War". Today known as a Cross". Stick Ball dances and festivals are commonly held at this time.

AUGUST

Fruit Moon GaloniFoods of the trees and bushes are gathered at this time. The various "Paint Clans" begin to gather many of the herbs and medicines for which they were historically known Green Corn festivals are commonly held at this time in present day. The "Wild Potato" Clans AniNudawegi, begin harvesting various foods growing along the streams, marshes, lakes and ponds.

SEPTEMBER

Nut Moon DuliidsdiThe corn harvest referred to as "Ripe Corn Festival" was customarily held in the early part of this moon to acknowledge Selu the spirit of the corn. Selu is thought of as First Woman. The festival respects Mother Earth as well for providing all foods during the growing season. The "Brush Feast Festival" also customarily tales place in this season. All the fruits and nuts of bushes and trees of the forest were gathered is this time. A wide variety of nuts from the trees went into the nut breads for the various festivals throughout the season. Hunting traditionally began in earnest at this time.

OCTOBER

Harvest Moon DunnedTime of Traditional "Harvest Festival" Nowatequa when the people give thanks to all the living things of the fields and earth that helped them live, and to the "Apportioner" Unethlana. Chino Sequa or "Great Moon" Festival is customarily held at this time.

NOVEMBER

Trading Moon NudadaequaTraditionally a time of trading and barter among different towns and tribes for manufactured goods, produce and goods from' hunting. The people traded with other nearby tribes as well as distant tribes, including those of Canada, Middle America a South America.Alsothe customary time of the "Friendship Festival" Adohuna = "new friends made." This was a time when all transgressions were forgiven, except for murder which traditionally was taken care of according to the law of blood by a clans person of a murdered person. The festival recalls a time before "world selfishness and greed." This was a time also when the needy among the towns were given whatever they needed to help them through the impending lean winter season.

DECEMBER

Snow Moon UsgiyiThe spirit being, "Snow Man", brings the cold and snow for the earth to cover the high places with the earth rests until the rebirth of the seasons in the Windy Moon Anuyi. Families traditionally were busy putting up and storing goods for the next cycle of seasons. Elders enjoyed teaching and retelling ancient stories of the people to the young.