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The Osi lodge
is a multi-function hot house, which can serve as a
sweat lodge, for food preservations or as a sleeping lodge, especially
for elders during cold weather. It is not a sweat lodge as in the
tradition of Northern Plains Indians but more of healing place.
Men and women did not use the lodge together unless they were of
the same family.
Along with many
Cherokee ceremonies was the practice of "going to water."
This could be a daily visit to a stream or other source of water
and involved a ritual seven washings. The Osi lodge was the scene
of many different ceremonies including secret, night-long ceremonies
which were only open to select persons. At times, a young boy would
be allowed to come in and to tend the fire. In this way he would
learn of the secrets being revealed by the elders. The fire was
sacred and during certain ceremonies would be arranged in a specfic
fashion.
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the morning, all the men would go to the stream where they
were scratched with a comb by the priest and then would dip
a ritual seven
times into the stream, purifying themselves. This purification
ritual was part of many ceremonies, including the Green Corn,
or before playing Stickball or other important ceremonies.
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Women would
also use the Osi for ceremonies, but it was not normal
for men and women to share the Osi at the same time. The close
environment of the Osi Lodge meant that people were in close contact
which served to intensify the experience.
Question:
What purpose does it serve to purify yourself and
to reserve a special ceremony to do so?
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