The Prophecy of the Seven Fires
according to The Mishomis Book by Edward Benton Banai
according to The Mishomis Book by Edward Benton Banai
Seven prophets appeared to the people. The First Prophet
told the people that in the time of the First Fire they would leave their homes
by the sea and follow the sign of the megis. They were to journey west into
strange lands in search of a island in the shape of a turtle. This island will
be linked to the purification of the earth. Such an island was to be found at
the beginning and at the end of their journey. Along the way they would find a
river connecting two large sweet water seas. This river would be narrow and
deep as though a knife had cut through the land. They would stop seven times to
create villages but they would know that their journey was complete when they
found food growing on the water. If they did not leave, there would be much
suffering and they would be destroyed. And they would be pursued and attacked
by other nations along the way so they must be strong and ready to defend
themselves.
The Second Prophet told them they could recognize the Second
Fire because while they were camped by a sweet water sea they would lose their
direction and that the dreams of a little boy would point the way back to the
true path, the stepping stones to their future.
The Third Prophet said that in the Third Fire the Anishinabe
would find the path to the lands prepared for them and they would continue
their journey west to the place where food grows upon the water.
The Fourth Prophet was two who came as one. The first told
them to expect a race of people who had light skin. The future of the Anishinabe
would be known by the face the light-skinned people would wear. If they come in
brotherhood there would be a time of wonderful change. New knowledge would be
joined with the old knowledge and the two peoples would join to make a mighty
nation.
Two other nations would join to make four and they would become the
mightiest nation of all. If they brought only their knowledge and their
good-will they would be like brothers.
The second being of the Fourth Prophet warned the
light-skinned race might wear the face of death that would almost look the same
as the face of brotherhood. “If they come carrying a weapon and if they seem to
be suffering, beware. Behind this face is greed. You shall recognize the face
of death if the rivers are poisoned and the fish are unfit to eat.”
The Fifth Prophet said that in the time of the Fifth Fire
there will be a struggle between the way of the mind of the light-skinned
people and the natural path of spirit of the many nations of natural people.
“As this fire loses its heat there will come among the people those who promise
great joy and salvation. If the people accept this promise and abandon the old
ways, the struggle will continue for many generations. This promise is false
and it will nearly destroy those who accept it.”
The Sixth Prophet told them that in the time of Sixth Fire
it would be clear that the promise accepted during the Fifth Fire was false.
“Those who were deceived by this promise will take their children away from the
teachings of the elders. The elders will lose their purpose in life and many
will become sick and die. Many people will be out of balance and the cup of
life will become the cup of grief.”
The Seventh Prophet was younger than the others who had come
and there was a glowing light from his eyes. He said that there would come a
time when the waters had been so poisoned that the animals and plants that
lived there would fall sick and begin to die. Much of the forests and prairies
would be gone so the air would begin to lose the power of life. The way of the mind brought to the red, black,
and yellow nation by the white nation would bring danger to the whole earth. In
this time there will arise Osh-ki-bi-ma-di-zeeg, a new people who will emerge
from the clouds of illusion. They will retrace their steps to find the
treasures that had been left by the trail. The stories that had been lost will
be returned to them. They will remember the Original Instructions and find
strength in the way of the circle. Their search will take them to the elders
and the new people will ask for guidance. But many of the elders will have
walked the Path of the Souls to the Star Web. Many elders will have forgotten
their wisdom and they will not be able to help. Some of the elders will point
in the wrong direction and others will remain silent because of their fear.
Some of the elders will be silent because no one has asked them for their
wisdom.
If the New People will find trust in the way of all things,
in the circle, they will no longer need the selfish voice of the ego and they
can begin to trust their inner voice. Wisdom will be once again be found in
dreams of the night and of the day. The sacred fire will once again be lit. The
Light-skinned People will be given a choice between two paths. If they choose
the right path the Seventh Fire will light the Eighth Fire and final fire of
brotherhood and sisterhood. If they choose the wrong path, remaining on the
path of the mind, then the destruction they brought with them will come back to
destroy them. The people of the earth will experience much suffering and death