Up to recently, I was totally undecided about writing this post. Some of the ideas that I will be detailing in this post are the result of research that I am currently collecting for another project.
The following chart is a simplified version of the Cherokee shamanistic system. There are more colours in the system. However, I have included only the ones that I will consider relevant to this post.
This chart is basically a slightly modified version of what Mooney designed for his ethnological research about the Cherokee (342). There is a reference to this chart in The Fiery Cross in a conversation between Peter Bewlie and Jamie Fraser. It resembles the notion of the “four airts.” (The Fiery Cross, ch. 81).
“Well, it is, then,” Peter agreed, nodding. “Odd, no? That the Cherokee should get hold of the same notions as we Hielanders have?”
“Oh, not so much.” Jamie gestured to the dark wood, beyond the small circle of our fire. “They live as we do, aye? Hunters, and dwellers in the mountains. Why should they not see what we have seen?”
Throughout the series there are many references to the cultural and lifestyle similarities between the Amerindians and Scottish Highlanders. The shamanistic system is just one of them.
There is a character associated with the white colour, Claire. She is known as White Raven by the natives. There is also an association between Claire and the “ghost” bear that the Cherokee want Jamie to kill; this bear is described as being white with red eyes. Of course, Jamie is also associated with it since he is Bear Killer.
……white animals normally were accorded respect and considered to be carriers of messages from the otherworld……..(The Fiery Cross, ch. 82).
“You’re verra white, Sassenach. Perhaps the bear will think ye’re kindred spirit.”
Obviously, the ghost bear is a symbolic confirmation of both Claire and Jamie being half-ghosts (asgina ageli). If you have not read my posts about them being half-ghosts, here are the links.
What is interesting about this whole thing about the ghost bear is the innocence of the animal. The perpetrator of the crimes turns out to be an escaped slave with cannibalistic practices, an insight provided by Brianna and Josiah Beardsley.
One short fellow with hair in knots glared back at Roger, bared his teeth, and drew the edge of a hand across his throat with a hiss. With a small shock, Roger saw that the man’s teeth were jagged, filed to points. (The Fiery Cross, ch.83).
This description matches the information about the black demon responsible for killing an aboriginal hunter.
“Reckon he’d be shorter than me; maybe so high.” He held out a hand in illustration, measuring a distance some four and a half feet from the ground. (The Fiery Cross, ch. 81).
Upon further elucidation, it appeared that Josiah merely meant that the mysterious “little fella” had been black. (The Fiery Cross, ch. 81).
The skin colour and the death brought by the African cannibal are exactly what an actual shaman would expect. The black spirit / man of the west brings death.
Another animal associated with Claire is the white mare. This animal only appears in dreams.
The Fiery Cross opens with Jamie’s description of a dream. In the dream the candidates who want to be the King of Ireland need to copulate with a white mare. One of them is short and Jamie is suggested to break the legs of the mare to facilitate sexual intercourse. Of course, he objects to it. Out of sudden the mare’s colour changes from white to black, and nobody wants her because it represents bad luck. Jamie tries to convince them that the black mare is a better choice. White mares are weak and produce blind offsprings. The dream ends when he decides to show the other candidates how to copulate with this black mare, and in the process become the King of Ireland (Ch.1).
At Jocasta’s wedding, Claire dreams about being a white mare. A stallion grabs her by the neck and says to her, “I am the King of Ireland.” (Ch.48). The stallion is Jamie and also the strange visitor who comes to seduce her at this point.
With the confirmation of Claire being the white mare, Jamie’s dream is now open to speculation and interpretation.
- Jamie made a vow to protect Claire when he married her. In the dream, he is protecting the mare from having her legs broken.
- Claire’s difficulties with fertility and pregnancy are reflected in the white mare.
- The mare changing colour from white to black may signify Claire’s nature as healer and doctor. However, she is seen as a witch or charmer by many.
Of course everybody could have a different opinion in regards to this dream so feel free to share.
Featured Image is a kermode bear, from Flickr’s Creative Commons, taken by Josette Prinsen. Here is a link to her profile.
I would like to say that the book by James Mooney consists of two original texts: Myth of the Cherokee (1900) and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees (1891).
Works Cited
Gabaldon, Diana. The Fiery Cross. New York: Bantam Dell. 2001. Print.
Mooney, James. Cherokee History, Myths and Sacred Formulas. Cherokee: Cherokee Publications. 2006. Print.
I’ve just found “Outlander”, and am fascinated. Happy to see the series of books continues into North America.
In working with the Cherokee language for almost 25 years, things are seldom what they first seem. There are levels of meaning, meant to conceal as much as to communicate. I really interested in reaching those sections!
Mooney’s work was ground-breaking, but his informant often mislead him with erroneous information. I have many pages of his hand-written notes, in Cherokee. I am also honored to work with his descendant, James W.F.E. Mooney.
Nvwadohiyada, may true healing and peace be with you!