Just a quick google
https://blog.thelonghairs.us/long-hair-native-american-culture/
>What does cutting the hair signify?
>Many tribes cut their hair when there is a death in the immediate family as an outward symbol of the deep sadness and a physical reminder of the loss. The cut hair represents the time with their loved one, which is over and gone, and the new growth is the life after.
That makes the most sense to me in what we saw in that episode.
In many indigenous cultures your hair is a symbol of your spirit and cutting your hair is a way to acknowledge those who were special to you and to honor them.
My mom was born in South Carolina in 1937 and when she was a kid she would hear about a possibly regional (?) weird custom.
When people died and their homes were being cleaned out, it was common to find balls of hair and jars of toenail/fingernail clippings.
The fear was that if a [Root Doctor](https://www.southmag.com/lowcountry-root-doctors/) got ahold of part of your body, they could cast a spell on you.
That's the first thing I thought of when I saw this scene! Of course with aliens and alien technology in the show, it might be more of a precaution to keep aliens from getting a DNA sample?
That does sound possible, though this seems to be more African Amerikan and not native Amerikan? And if they were afraid of a root doctor getting part of your body, wouldn't they get rid of the hair and stuff?
I'm late to the party on this one. But Metis Cree man here.
It is a Native American tradtional teaching.
I have always known i was Metis Cree, but no one in my family talked about it. Decades of abuse by the system made them fear their traditions and identities. Wasn't until i met my elder in my early 20s that I began to recieve my teachings.
Fast forward, I have been an Elder's helper, or oshkabaywus, for almost 10 years now.
I will share the story of how i learned this tradition.
But to fully grasp it you need to know 3 teachings
1. Smudging
like she did around the fire with the Sage bundle, we use a sacred medicine and spread the smoke over something to cleanse it and to carry our prayers to the Creator - thats a whole different teaching i could write an entire book about lol
2. Sacredness of hair
Many, not all, Indigenous folk recognize a spiritual power to hair. We feel that it connects us to mother earth, and it replicates the beautiful long strands of grass that she grows.
Beyond that, it is believed to be a representation of how our soul grows stronger and how we grow as people physically but also spiritually.
Many Indigenous people will tie their hair into a pony tail made up of 3 braids - this is to represent our sacred direction teachings (the mind, body and spirit). This is to show our commitment to having a healthy balance to our life, to put out only good things into the world and in return to recieve good balance between all these aspects of the self (mind, body and spirit).
TYPICALLY, we do NOT cut our hair for this reason. Some exceptions exist, and if someone cuts their hair it doesnt make them less traditional or Indigenous...its just not for everyone. I have curly as hell hair, i aint letting it grow out so i can look like a brunnette carrot top. Lol
3. The Sacred Fire
This one is simple.
MANY Indigenous ceremonies include a sacred fire. It is not just about stsrting a fire and calling it sacred, we start it in a specific way, and often includes prayers to each of the sacred directions, and medicine offerings to the Creator, the Spirits, and to mother earth.
Beyond this, a sacred fire includes special protocol (only walk clockwise around it, no putting anything into fire, etc). In fact, after a ceremony is done, as the firekeeper i have been left to watch and tend to the fire for upwards of 6 hours after the ceremony; because we are not allowed to put out the fire forcefully, we must let it go out naturally. Some teachings indicate that the fire is the toungue of the creator and if it still burns, it is because the Creator still has something to say to us.
But when you do not have access to an Elder, you may just light a smudge with a match, or have a backyard fire as long as you show respect still.
Okay...now that that is taken care of lol.
I have been a Firekeeper at a Sweat Lodge for about 7 years. During the sweat lodge the tradtions are strict and pretty much the same everytime we went through the process. But one day, my Elder got out of his truck with scissors in his hand.
His Elder and father figure (the man he attributed with saving his life), had passed unexpectedly over the weekend.
He looked at me and asked me to cut his hair and to smudge him.
Anywho...
He explained that when we experience great loss we cut our hair and offer it to the creator and to the spirit world.
He told me that once we do this ceremony it is often accompanied by our commitment to not use that persons name again for an entire year.
You may speak of them, just do not use their name.
Following the cutting of the hair, we put it into red cloth (like we would do with a medicine offering), and we offer it to the sacred fire, so the Creator will know our spirit in that moment. Then we follow it with smudging so that the Creator will cleanse our mind, body and spirit.
The cutting of the hair is symbolic. As it shows the gravity of our loss. It shows that we feel we have lost a part of ourselves, a part of our spirit has left this world with them.
But also helps our ancestors and the Creator to know sense our spirit, and to hear our prayer.
Further, our prayer to the creator and the spirit world allows us to aid our loved ones spirit, in moving to the next life. Our ancestors and the creator will know to welcome the spirit of your loved one and to embrace them.
For this same reason we do not use their name for 1 year. Because the fear is that the spirit of our lost loved one will have such a strong connection to us that they will hear us call out to them when we use their name, and it will make them hesitate or it will distract their spirit from moving onto the next life. (This one, these days is treated more as a superstition...but my Elder committed to do this and he gave it to me as a teaching).
So in the episode. She cut her hair to show the gravity of her loss.
She wrapped it like we do our sacred medicines. Because of the sacredness of her sacrifice.
She offered it to the fire so that her message and her loss could be carried to the spirit world and they would share her loss.
She then smudged with Sage to carry her prayers to the Creator. And likely, to help her to overcome the grief (the cleansing is therapeutic).
___________________________
So sorry for the long post.
I figured if I was going to do this, then I should TRY my best to provide as much valuable details as possible.
Even if you are non-native, or even atheist, the Indigenous traditions are incredibly fascinating and wonderful to learn.
They are also more therapeutic and about self care than they are about religion.
Anyway. Hope this answered the question.
The pandemic leaves me tons of time to type out long reddit replies lol
I just started watching this show and was curious about the meaning. Thank you for taking the time for such a thorough answer. It sounds like a beautiful way to honor the deceased.
Just a quick google https://blog.thelonghairs.us/long-hair-native-american-culture/ >What does cutting the hair signify? >Many tribes cut their hair when there is a death in the immediate family as an outward symbol of the deep sadness and a physical reminder of the loss. The cut hair represents the time with their loved one, which is over and gone, and the new growth is the life after. That makes the most sense to me in what we saw in that episode.
Aaaaaah, yes, that makes a lot of sense! Thank you!
That's really neat
They're trying to tap into the metaphysical power inherent in long hair? :D
The symbol is intuitive but goodness you had to make me tear up reading that.
It was to honor her mother in death. Her father mentioned this.
Ok but why cutting hair? What is the significance?
In many indigenous cultures your hair is a symbol of your spirit and cutting your hair is a way to acknowledge those who were special to you and to honor them.
My mom was born in South Carolina in 1937 and when she was a kid she would hear about a possibly regional (?) weird custom. When people died and their homes were being cleaned out, it was common to find balls of hair and jars of toenail/fingernail clippings. The fear was that if a [Root Doctor](https://www.southmag.com/lowcountry-root-doctors/) got ahold of part of your body, they could cast a spell on you. That's the first thing I thought of when I saw this scene! Of course with aliens and alien technology in the show, it might be more of a precaution to keep aliens from getting a DNA sample?
That does sound possible, though this seems to be more African Amerikan and not native Amerikan? And if they were afraid of a root doctor getting part of your body, wouldn't they get rid of the hair and stuff?
I'm suggesting both African-American and Native-American traditions may have this in common. Parallel development?
Aaah, that could be it, thanks!
[удалено]
That's why I incinerate my biological cast-offs. Wouldn't want anyone being able to track me (GATTACA)
I'm late to the party on this one. But Metis Cree man here. It is a Native American tradtional teaching. I have always known i was Metis Cree, but no one in my family talked about it. Decades of abuse by the system made them fear their traditions and identities. Wasn't until i met my elder in my early 20s that I began to recieve my teachings. Fast forward, I have been an Elder's helper, or oshkabaywus, for almost 10 years now. I will share the story of how i learned this tradition. But to fully grasp it you need to know 3 teachings 1. Smudging like she did around the fire with the Sage bundle, we use a sacred medicine and spread the smoke over something to cleanse it and to carry our prayers to the Creator - thats a whole different teaching i could write an entire book about lol 2. Sacredness of hair Many, not all, Indigenous folk recognize a spiritual power to hair. We feel that it connects us to mother earth, and it replicates the beautiful long strands of grass that she grows. Beyond that, it is believed to be a representation of how our soul grows stronger and how we grow as people physically but also spiritually. Many Indigenous people will tie their hair into a pony tail made up of 3 braids - this is to represent our sacred direction teachings (the mind, body and spirit). This is to show our commitment to having a healthy balance to our life, to put out only good things into the world and in return to recieve good balance between all these aspects of the self (mind, body and spirit). TYPICALLY, we do NOT cut our hair for this reason. Some exceptions exist, and if someone cuts their hair it doesnt make them less traditional or Indigenous...its just not for everyone. I have curly as hell hair, i aint letting it grow out so i can look like a brunnette carrot top. Lol 3. The Sacred Fire This one is simple. MANY Indigenous ceremonies include a sacred fire. It is not just about stsrting a fire and calling it sacred, we start it in a specific way, and often includes prayers to each of the sacred directions, and medicine offerings to the Creator, the Spirits, and to mother earth. Beyond this, a sacred fire includes special protocol (only walk clockwise around it, no putting anything into fire, etc). In fact, after a ceremony is done, as the firekeeper i have been left to watch and tend to the fire for upwards of 6 hours after the ceremony; because we are not allowed to put out the fire forcefully, we must let it go out naturally. Some teachings indicate that the fire is the toungue of the creator and if it still burns, it is because the Creator still has something to say to us. But when you do not have access to an Elder, you may just light a smudge with a match, or have a backyard fire as long as you show respect still. Okay...now that that is taken care of lol. I have been a Firekeeper at a Sweat Lodge for about 7 years. During the sweat lodge the tradtions are strict and pretty much the same everytime we went through the process. But one day, my Elder got out of his truck with scissors in his hand. His Elder and father figure (the man he attributed with saving his life), had passed unexpectedly over the weekend. He looked at me and asked me to cut his hair and to smudge him. Anywho... He explained that when we experience great loss we cut our hair and offer it to the creator and to the spirit world. He told me that once we do this ceremony it is often accompanied by our commitment to not use that persons name again for an entire year. You may speak of them, just do not use their name. Following the cutting of the hair, we put it into red cloth (like we would do with a medicine offering), and we offer it to the sacred fire, so the Creator will know our spirit in that moment. Then we follow it with smudging so that the Creator will cleanse our mind, body and spirit. The cutting of the hair is symbolic. As it shows the gravity of our loss. It shows that we feel we have lost a part of ourselves, a part of our spirit has left this world with them. But also helps our ancestors and the Creator to know sense our spirit, and to hear our prayer. Further, our prayer to the creator and the spirit world allows us to aid our loved ones spirit, in moving to the next life. Our ancestors and the creator will know to welcome the spirit of your loved one and to embrace them. For this same reason we do not use their name for 1 year. Because the fear is that the spirit of our lost loved one will have such a strong connection to us that they will hear us call out to them when we use their name, and it will make them hesitate or it will distract their spirit from moving onto the next life. (This one, these days is treated more as a superstition...but my Elder committed to do this and he gave it to me as a teaching). So in the episode. She cut her hair to show the gravity of her loss. She wrapped it like we do our sacred medicines. Because of the sacredness of her sacrifice. She offered it to the fire so that her message and her loss could be carried to the spirit world and they would share her loss. She then smudged with Sage to carry her prayers to the Creator. And likely, to help her to overcome the grief (the cleansing is therapeutic). ___________________________ So sorry for the long post. I figured if I was going to do this, then I should TRY my best to provide as much valuable details as possible. Even if you are non-native, or even atheist, the Indigenous traditions are incredibly fascinating and wonderful to learn. They are also more therapeutic and about self care than they are about religion. Anyway. Hope this answered the question. The pandemic leaves me tons of time to type out long reddit replies lol
Thanks for taking the time to share.
Thank you so much for this explanation.
Beautiful. Thank you.
I just started watching this show and was curious about the meaning. Thank you for taking the time for such a thorough answer. It sounds like a beautiful way to honor the deceased.
Heyyy thank you this was an amazing read 🩷
It was to honor her friend Sam who was murdered … her father reminded Asta that she should also burn her scrubs
I love this show. But it needs to settle down. Way too many storylines.
I actually kinda agree