Blog: Statehouse Observer

Every culture has a unique understanding of the ebb and flow of nature. This system of beliefs often forms the basis of a religious philosophy. Regardless of societal advancement, a religious background is a key feature of all nation-states. The same is true for the various American Indian states. For many native tribes, the concept of spirituality is also closely linked with the mental and physical well-being of the individual. In this, the spiritual and the physical are one in the same—to heal the body, one must heal the mind. It is in this balance that the duality of native Medicine is revealed. Among the Cherokee, healing and spirituality are linked in do-ne-la-we-ga—the Greater Circle.

Do-ne-la-we-ga Defined

To put it simply, do-ne-la-we-ga is the circular flow of life itself. Michael Garrett details this concept in his book, Walking on the Wind. Garrett describes the Greater Circle as among the essential aspects of Eastern Cherokee spirituality; the Cherokee Way. To understand the concept of do-ne-la-we-ga one must first understand that the past can be prologue. A past trauma can still resonate years, even decades later. Taking this concept and applying it to other aspects of Cherokee spirituality, it is easy to see the interrelatedness of native spirituality and history. The human spirit records its experiences, taking the good and the bad and adding it to the personality. This is the sum total of the individual—we are our acumen. We also perceive the past differently as we grow as individuals. A painful experience may even come to be viewed as an open door. It’s just a matter of growing past the initial pain. That is the essence of growth.

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