So I did just that. the force of equality No. I believe my son is whose keeping me strong tbh. I had a dream last night that I was in a Native American ritual and I was given a tuft of hair. Id like to know more about your experiences and feelings on the story that you shared. Here, we are about to highlight the reasons as to why Hindus shave their head when a family member dies. I thank you, Rebecca, for sharing your familys story and not erasing the pain. As someone with Celtic heritage (or should I say hairitage,) you should do an article on the Celts and hair. What a powerful way to keep the physical connection. It would be fascinating to interview someone that had taken the vows, and shaved their body to see how they felt doing it and how it affected them. From that standpoint, the notion of feeling the world around us doesnt seem that far-fetched. Do not cut the hair of a very sick or dying family member as this could hasten death. When a Native American cuts their hair, the hair is often treated with respect. I appreciate your guys thoughts on the matter. I have Blackfeet from my fathers side and Cherokee and Celtic from my mothers. Great ideas man! Already I am feeling more connected with my ancestors and my identity feels more valid. It would be cool to know more on this topic fro around the world. Alternatively within the metal music community I think there are deep roots and connections with those long hairs especially the sense of belonging and being one of us (in-group). The cutting of hair can also signify separating from past actions or thoughts. I wear wigs, because I have bad hair, my wigs are made from hair of every race of people on earth. The traditions associated with the 49 days after death in Buddhism derive from "The Tibetan Book of the Dead," also known as the "Bardo Thodol.". (cant call her the w word any more), Hi Brooke, I loved your open and honest response and so much of what you said made sense to me. I love this sooo much!! And cut it for the same reasons as well? If you are interested and would like to hear more about this, then Id love to hear from you! Ive thought of my hair like this for many years never really knowing why, but it was a great lesson for me and still is. Very happy to read your comment, I especially appreciate you saying were an example of how a business should be. We try to be. The way to tell the person was dead (living people dont generally like getting scalped) was to remove the scalp, if the hair was long, and generally black, it was easy to identify as (most likely) being the scalp of a Lakota. Happy you found us Barbara! Thank you for sharing your story, Daniel. I was wondering why, when I came across this blog post. Yet, some are thrilled with it. Chemo messed me up for life with thin hair. I am thinking Vikings next! Sometimes feathers are tied around the head of the dead tribe member as a form of prayer. And it feels like a new drop of freedom from grief. My relationship with hair has been challenging. In order to prove they had killed, they scalped to show proof. They frequently engaged in war with other tribes until they dissolved shortly before the first settlers came to America. After she passed away none of the traditions were carried out anymore; except for me. I gave him 32 years of my life and a beautiful son so when he passes which is going to be soon I fear I will cut my hair more. For the next 25 years it was long. I also didnt like the fact other people doing it. Every time I had a relationship breakup, invariably I would cut it.still not sure why.now, in my later years I have no time to lose, I began to be true to MYSELFand began to grow my hair out~~~~~~~ It is now 3 feet long from root to tip and I love it!!! I asked him why and he said he was tired of people mistaking him for a girl . It can be placed into a flowing river, buried, or burned. If you just want to be closed minded keep it closed! Then, a best friend. In many countries, even in Europe, women sell their hair when they need extra money. I lost my favorite, best friend uncle. I found it while looking for a book called Bears Braid! I was told that shaving the hair on the head is a custom observed by the male members of a family where a person has recently died as a mark of respect to the deceased person. Now at 66 years of age, there are a few gray ones that I call battle scars. The important thing, to me, is that we respect & cherish ourselves, each other, and everything/one on this planet & beyond as we are ALL connected. Who took these pictures? I have lost 5kids 2grand parents and a few dear friends within 10years. My therapist has some Native American blood, and his hair is long, so weve had some conversations about this, and hes been very supportive. As a native of Creek Nation, I appreciate your description of what long means to Native Americans. I commend you for the perhaps difficult decision that you made regarding cutting your hair. I have been a nurse for many years and would often ( especially cancer patients ) would have my patients tell me their hair hurt, I chalked it up to their head hurt. 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. I had them cut off and attached to mine. Thanks again ,I really appreciated your honesty and truth. The cut hair represents the time with their loved one, which is over and gone, and the new growth is the life after. Many are related to the spiritual life. When I wear my hair down, its big, curly and long which reminds me to continue to be natural and youthful.. my hair helps me to remember, which helps strengthen me Hi Tejas, I just read your comment and I have been enjoying every single reply. A complete 180 change. Thanks for sharing. 6 Reasons Why Native Americans Keep Their Hair Long: Chief Tells How Your Hair is Your Antenna for Intuition. Maybe because my genes are of northern/eastern hemisphere. What is the proper thing to do with the cut off braid when a Close family member dies? Plus, you can try one of our awesome new hair brushes called The Mane Hog and The Continental if you are interested. So if your family feels that this is part of their culture, or part of your religious beliefs in some way? I have always loved my hair I hated getting haircuts. When someone dies, it can be seen as a way to cut away some of the person's life and make way for a new chapter. Thank you for posting. And taking time to care for oneself is a beautiful thing, nurturing and loving our living temple may take time, but what else is as important as life represented as yourself? Very interesting story about the cutting of the hair! Great comment Gadawggrl, appreciate reading your story. Finding your efforts important/VALID enough to take their time to translate it into French. >> See also: Mid Del to close two schools, leaving parents . But we are of the same branch, so when you talk about native Americans you are talking about Aztecs. Within the hour of being home she called her hair stylist. He had a fire and some objects that looked like figurines beside him. I found it in a comment: bury in the dirt. Hope theyre chasing string in kitty heaven! Its like, the room was always inside me but I didnt have the conscious connection to it until than. I definitely think my long hair increased my perception of feeling wind and its driving me crazy. Thanks for sharing! We publish tips, advocate for hair equality, and celebrate mens long manes with hair whips and high fives. I keep my knee length braids in honor of the ancestors and for those whom had their hair cut in the residential schools. I did it. Anytime it was just him and I would let it down. My two youngest are still growing out their hair and it is beautiful. If the person's heart, made heavy by the weight of sin, weighed more than the feather, the person would not be allowed to enter the paradise . Got married, got divorced.let it grow. Id email you, but the address isnt displayed here it seems. Natives began doing it in return. My own indigenous backround would be generically called celtic I suppose and unfortunately, it is hard to find very much on any pre-Roman tribes of Europe. Im excited for my transformation now that the battle is finally over with the guy. I have suix and crow Indian. I deal with every level of the system, from my juvies to people on Death Row. As the lady cut it at my shoulders, it curled up and was 3 inches shorter than planned. That makes me think about the common belief that women are more intuitive than men. The hair removal of Buddhist Monks is a topic worthy of further discussion. I have naturally wavy hair, and before I cut it off, it was half way down my back. I find myself constantly downloading information through my hair. I then contracted Lymes disease and my hair hurt ..oh let me tell you it is real. These abilities returned after my hair grew back out about 6. I was very surprised how emotionally attached I became to my longer hair when I finally decided to just let it grow! IM an international prisoner and human rights advocate for OVER 35 yrs. In my youth I had long beautiful hair. One of their sons has been involved in his tribes traditions. I been grown my hair and because I have I feel in powered I enjoy when the wind blows it it connect me to earth and most importantly protects my head .l. Maybe it is coded in your DNA. So one day, I did a pixie cut and it did so many things. Without even knowing why, Ive always shorn my locks during times of deep grief (like now having just lost my fur baby of many years) & great change. I strongly suggest that your parents look into this option even if you have cut your hair already. It can act like antennas and also records down memory and emotion during the time period of growth. Plus I find that long hair is more honest and who people really are. Thank you for sharing. They believe the Creator birthed the body from the earth, so it must return to the earth through decomposition. As a 39 year old woman, I never felt as if I belong anywhere, so Im trying to learn everything about where I came from. A comment in this thread also triggered 2 childhood memories in which my mother cut off all my hair as a punishment. Be well as we are all connected. Fascinating article especially about cultural identity. Confidence comes from our long manes, and you gotta LET IT RIDE, man! Keep them coming, YEEE!!! Old Age If you must pluck out gray hair, don't bother to count them if you don't want any more to be added to them. You file it under a poor persons status~that status is called a PAUPERUS MOTION. When my grandfather passed all us women in the family braided and cut our hair wrapped it around sage and had it cremated with my grandfather. We have the deepest respect for the significance of long hair in Native American culture. My dad passed four years ago February 2. Tell me, what does it mean when he shows his hair to a woman? It sounds like youve had a lot of ups and downs in your life and on your hair journey. They have also put them into churches and Christian events and I have asked them nicely and have explained to them that I am not a Christian I am true natural ways of the old traditions of our people and I asked that my children not be imposed the Christian beliefs not without my approval because if my children can come to me and ask me, then I can give them my blessings for making a choice of Their Own but I would have the opportunity to talk to them first about their feelings. My hair is past my bottom, its very thin uneven ends whisp at my mid thigh. I know this is late, but i have to point out how much time it takes to shave all the hair off the body, and doing it constantly for a reason isnt part of vanity or ego? Ugh talking about power yet?? So you have to see WHICH section you fall under your state falls under. This might be interesting to investgate. Interesting Amanda, thank you for sharing. I feel confident and understand the great wisdom of my ancestors- Very glad you found your answer in the comments here. Our condolences for your loss, Nancy. I have a question, would it be considered cultural appropriation for a non-native to grow out their hair for the same reasons as native americans do? Yes it is very normal. I asked if it was a culture thing, and a ceremonial thing, and he said yes. And with long hair, those are thousands of extended touch points bringing in tactile sensory information from your surrounding environment. I have always been attracted to men with long hair, to me it is very masculine, and natural. Fascinating information & thoughts shared here. There is a Rastafarian practice or belief is that his head is to be covered by a turban of sorts and the only person that is to be allowed to see his locks is his woman (wife). Our hair is our medicine, but we dont judge on hair length. Why trusting my intuition is power like no other- Beliefs and customs do differ widely between tribes, however, as a general rule, both men and women are encouraged to wear their hair long. I was in a phone store yesterdayand a tall man with black ling braided hair turned around and gave me a few second eye to eye contact. Makes me queezy to think about. I have a hidden tattoo and my mother had a bad dream about it. After that I had a feeling I am standing between two worlds. Makes me crazy. Much love~WeareOne in Spirit . My hair when braided is a symbol Having long hair was always something that was a way that marked us as different from Canadian society, and one of the first things they took from us when they took us. Let us know. Thanks mate! Keep lettin it ride.. And then i v read the bit relating to cutting the hair after a death in the family -and then respect the cut bit. The whole Vietnam war should show you that there is 2 or more ways of thinking about everything. 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