![]() Only those who had died were allowed to see and proceed into the spirit world of the after life. If a person’s time to die had not yet come, and their spirit ventured too close to the entrance to the next world, then that person’s soul would be turned back by the spirit who guarded the entrance to the next world. When the ghost was finally ready to depart for the afterlife, it was said that the ghost would meet the spirits of his ancestors who would serve as his guide to take him to the east, to the abode of the creator.Īnother interesting Northeastern Maidu belief about the soul was that the soul or spirit could also leave the body while a person slept. Ghosts were thought to be careful not to make contact or be seen by anyone, lest they bring death closer to their loved ones. The ghost would linger around, sometimes sighing or making vocalizations. Ghosts were free to depart for the other world after death, but some were said to "blow about" if they were not ready to leave their friends and family. However, even shaman the Northeastern Maidu were reported to be cautious about dealing with ghosts. If one did come into contact with a ghost, they would need to seek the aid of a powerful shaman. There was a taboo against whistling at night, as this was believed to attract ghosts. The Northeastern Maidu did not consider ghosts to be evil in and of themselves, but they did believe that meeting one, or even just catching sight of one meant that death was near. ![]() To get a full picture of these beliefs, it is helpful to take a closer look at a few geographically different Maidu groups. These beliefs can be generalized to most Maidu people, but there are variations in what different groups thought about these ghosts and how they behaved towards them. These ghosts, or disembodied hearts, were often seen by shamans or appeared to people in their dreams. The heart was also considered to be something like a ghost, thought to be gray in color and to resemble the person or animal that it used to occupy. The Maidu traditionally believed that all humans and animals possessed a soul, which was generally thought and spoken of as the "heart." If a person passed away, then it would be said that their "heart" had gone away. The Maidu also had a rich spiritual tradition, particularly when it came to the idea of a soul, ghosts and the afterlife. The Maidu culture is known for skilled basket weaving and beautiful rock art. ![]() ![]() Notes by Helena Gimple #1 "top: sewing needle (deer bone) 2nd: grinding stone, 2 charm rocks, grinding stone 3rd: charm stones" "These found in the foothills west of Colusa Spring Camp.The Maidu are a group of Native American people who originally resided in northern California of the U.S., in the area between the Sacramento River and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. To request permission for reuse of this image select this link to our web request form: ĭescription Charm stones and other artifacts Use of digital images found on this web site is permitted for private or personal use only. ![]() Publication Information Meriam Library Special Collections Department, California State University, ChicoĬollection Northeastern California Historical Photograph Collection Title Charm stones and other artifacts Contributor Hill, Dorothy ![]()
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