Wakan Tanka Religion

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There are many places that people in different cultures find and feel are meaningful or blessed spaces. It could be a church, a temple, a historical or natural place, or just a area where someone feels connected to the spiritual world. It’s a sacred space where someone can feel safe and complete. Additionally, it most certainly can be something simple and basic such a garden or large rock where someone can worship in a private sanctuary. A sacred place is a natural place that can comfort and heal while being a divine and mysterious place. In Ross Enoch’s Mircea Eliade’s Conception of Religious Rituals we find out Mircea did research on not only ancient religions, but modern religions too. However, it was the ancient people that …show more content…
This sacred dance is known to be one that is passed down from generation to generation and is one of the most sacred and dramatic ceremonies to exist. This sacred rite is a platform to which Eliade believes it offers visions, specifically, visions of wisdom and will reward those to keep their strength while receiving this vision. It was their belief that the offering of a sacrifice would aid them in having an abundance of food and shelter when their harsh winter season arrives. The dance serves several different purposes such as fulfilling of a vow, to help another person in need, to benefit themselves, their family or community. Another purpose is to help restore a renewed life and to ask for forgiveness. The dance is held on a evening where there’s a full-moon because it represents never-ending light of the eternal spirit. Once gathered in a circle, they smoke the holy sacred pipe and chant in hope to seek spiritual powers. The purpose of dance is to remove fragments of bone piercing from their chest, while at the same time catching skulls upon their body. Although a shocking and traumatic practice, according to Eliade’s conviction, their belief of renewal for their tribe was most important and one of the reasoning's behind mythical dance. Ross Enochs explains how the Sun Dance was “the great sacrificial ritual of many plain Native Americans like the Sioux who lived in the Dakotas”. (1) Men would promise to sacrifice their life for personal renewal or
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