Tsa La Gi (Cherokee) Language and Culture

ᎤᏁᎳᏅᎤᏬᏢᏅ
(u ne la nv u wo tlv nv)
Phonetic: ooo nay la nuh ooo woh tluh nuh
Meaning: Nature

Some random Florida nature pics.

And one toad (ᏩᎶᏏ) butt.

ᎤᏲᎠᏰᎸᏗ
u yo a ye lv di (ooo yoh ah yel dee)
Grief

Grief can be a funny thing. It can be triggered by the most obscure objects, sounds, sights or even smells.

The wind blowing through pines. The rustle of corn tassels in a strong breeze. The smell of honeysuckles. The taste of fresh frybread.

The call of a Nighthawk.

The Nighthawk can carry messages to those that have crossed. When we give the Nighthawk our message, it carries it to the West, to those we love, honor or revere. It can help with healing and coming to terms with loss. Grief is a necessary part of living. When we properly grieve those we've lost, it helps to set a balance and appreciate the life we have left and begins the process of honoring those who have gone before us.

Saw these beauties a couple weeks ago. Just lounging being ᏯᎾᏌ (ya n[a] sa).

N.E. Florida

Yes, this is actually Florida.

A little late Fall Florida beauty (u wo du /ᎤᏬᏚ).

The sun hits the Earth differently this time of year. There's a touch of gold in every shadow and Grandfather Sky lends a bit of chill to chase away the heat.

ᎤᏁᎳᏅᎤᏬᏢᏅ
u ne la nv u wo tlv nv
Nature

Random shots of Natural Florida.

On living a balanced life (to hi/ᏙᎯ)

"We are all moving forward, moving not necessarily in a straight line, but moving in a decided circle that is complete and includes our life cycle. We are in a steady flow and live as we are "supposed to" without stopping, but looking onward, forward, outward, being concerned for others, for the world around us. Things may happen in our life that make us step off the path, but we do what we need to do in order to continue to move forward and see tohi (health, wellness) and move back on the White Path or Right Path. This is understood by Kituwahs (ᎦᏚᏩ) as a natural and universal law."

-Lefler & Belt

Florida sunset ( wu de li gv/ᏭᏕᎵᎬ), three ways.

Flowers (a ni tsi lv s gi/ᎠᏂᏥᎸᏍᎩ), a bug [beetle](tsi s go ya/ᏥᏍᎪᏯ), a green spider (ka hna ne s gi/ᎧᎿᏁᏍᎩ) and a mushroom ( da wo li/ᏓᏬᎵ) on a super hot Florida day.

"In our quest for safety, comfort, and escape from the fear we create, we use our technology to divide ourselves and wall ourselves off from Unetlvnv uwotlvnv/ᎤᏁᏢᏅᎤᏬᏢᏅ (the Natural World). And in doing so, we sever our relations with our relatives and create inequities and imbalances that not only cost us tohi/ᏙᎯ (peace/wellness), of our bodies, minds, and spirits but threaten our survival."

-Noyi Tueton