The Four Beings

Reprinted from WORDS THAT COME BEFORE ALL ELSE

Environmental Philosophies of the Haudenosaunee

We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring Teachers.

Our Creator has sometimes chosen to use messengers to bring his word to people, as well as to act to protect the people. There have been several messengers to the Haudenosaunee: some, like the one who brought some of the ceremonies, or like the Peacemaker who brought Nations together, have been human beings who carried the Creator’s instructions. Others have been beings who are not human, who are of the spirit world.

In the 1790’s, Skaniatariio, or Handsome Lake, had visions in which four messengers from the Creator brought word on how the Haudenosaunee must deal with the changes that had come, and were still to come.

In some traditions, the Four Beings have been called “angels.” Some people are uncomfortable with this, because the word is associated with Christian traditions. The word “angel” though, is derived from the Greek word “angelos,” meaning “messenger.” At its roots, the problem is not the word, but perhaps the failure of people to use our own words for these beings.

The duty of the Four Beings is to watch over and care for humankind. They are to bring word of things that are wrong, and about how the Creator wants earthlings to live on our Mother Earth. We are to live this way:

To listen to all when good advice is given.

To be kind to old people.

To feed the poor and to share.

Humankind must not boast, but should give thanks for their fortunes.

That people should help each other.

That we should maintain the ceremonies: we are assured that during the Great Feather Dance, the Four Beings are there also, continuing to support and guide us.

That all things made by the Creator should not cause death. Water, fire, cold is for good. But they are capable of destruction if the Four Beings let humans go by removing their protection.

We believe that different peoples have received messengers from the Creator, and we can see that many of the messages are the same as we have received. They are messages which teach respect, humility, and basic goodness.

For all the messengers, and their messages, we remain grateful.

Skaniatariio, Handsome Lake did not only receive messages about how people are to behave in the present: it also provides prophecies for the future. Whether we adhere to the Code of Handsome Lake or not, the words he spoke about the future are a clear warning to us all. Some of these prophecies of two centuries have already come to pass; others are beginning to happen around us.

The people will assemble in the longhouse to give thanks, but there will be no speaker, singer or dancer, and the people will go home.

Old women will bear children again.

Young children will bear children.

Objects will move about the earth without anything pulling them.

There will be diseases appearing that were not known before, and many will die.

The old will go to sleep and will not reawaken.

Children will go outside and not return.

The Creator will remove our life sustainers because we will fail to give thanks.

The corn will not be plentiful. Insects will destroy crops.

The strawberries will fail to bear fruit.

Partridges will not land on the ground, which will become too hot with sin.

Trees will die. They will rot from the tops down.

River and streams will become polluted.

Weeds and shrubs will not grow. They will not be able to use the water.

Nature will stop.

The End.