Spirit of the Seasons, part 9: When the Heart Berry Moon Speaks
- zhaawano
- Jun 9, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 25
Updated: Ode’imini-giizis (Strawberry Moon) / Baashkaabigonii-giizis (Blooming Moon), June 22, 2024
Ode’imini-giizis noongom. Aaniin dash wenji-izhinikaazod a’aw giizis? Betoo aanish gii-minwendan ode’iminan nookomisiban...
"We now live in the moon of the heart berries (month of strawberries; June). Why is this moon called so? It is named so because my grandmother loved strawberries..."Boozhoo!
Today, in celebration of the Summer Solstice coinciding with the rise of the full moon known as Ode’imini-giizis, I will share a sacred story about a boy named Ode'imin, the Heart Berry, who resides in the moon and became the guardian of gimishoomisinaan — our "Grandfather," referring to our mitigwakik, or sacred water drum. I crafted the story around three paintings I recently created and a set of white gold and sterling silver story rings featuring marquise-cut rubies set in yellow gold bezels.
Let's begin by discussing waawiyezi-dibik-giizisag — the name we use for our full Moons.*
Colonial Americans incorporated some of the Indigenous Turtle Island full Moon names into their own calendar system, initially the Julian and later the Gregorian. Among Anglo Americans and Canadians, influenced by Indigenous seasonal activities and perspectives on nature, June's full moon is called the Full Strawberry Moon. This name refers to the blooming of strawberry plants on Turtle Island during this time. This Moon phase is usually the last full Moon of ziigwan (spring) or the first of niibin (summer).
The Anishinaabeg use various names for the full moons during this specific season:
Ode'imini-giizis (Strawberry, literally Heart Berry Moon):** June, lunar orbit May-June;
Miini-giizis (Blueberry Moon, called Buck Moon by the Euro-colonizers): July, lunar orbit June-July.
This year, the Ode'imini-giizis appeared on June 22, signaling the start of the month known as "June" on the Gregorian calendar. The Miini-giizis will appear on July 21, marking the start of the month known as "July" on the Gregorian calendar. For the Anishinaabeg, a new moon (month) begins with the rise of the full moon, so this year, the months referred to as June and July on the Gregorian calendar start 22 and 21 days later, respectively.
The month of June is known by various Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) names:
Ode’imini-giizis (Strawberry Moon)
Ode’iminikewi-giizis (Picking Strawberries Moon)
Baashkaabigonii-giizis (Blooming Moon)
G(i)tige-giizis (Planting Moon)
The Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) names for the month of July include, among others:
Aabita-niibino-giizis (Half Summer Moon)
Baapaashkizige-giizis (Bursting Moon)
Miin-giizis (Blueberry Moon)
Miinikewi-giizis (Picking Blueberries Moon)
Note: An Ojibwe/Anishinaabe "month" (moon) spans from one full moon to the next.
GRANDMOTHER AND THE STORY OF THE HEARTBERRY MOON
In earlier times, it was the role of ikwewag (the women) to share moon and strawberry teachings with the young. Traditionally, Ojibwe women held a ritual for their weshkiniigidjig (girls) when they experienced their first menstruation, which included fasting from strawberries for a whole year. This period was also an opportunity to gain valuable knowledge from the elders. A favorite story among the oozhisimaag (grandchildren) that the ookomisanag (grandmothers) would tell was the tale of Ode’imin, or Heart Berry.
My grandmother Willa also had a fondness for strawberries. Often, during my visits, I would see her bending over her garden in front of her house, caring for the strawberry plants, which she affectionately referred to as "heart berries." This is one of the cherished memories I hold of her. One June day, when I was about 15, as we observed the flowers blooming and the early fruit ripening, she shared this story with me.
"When a devastating plague struck the Anishinaabeg, a young boy named Ode’imin, who was your age, was among the many who perished. He journeyed to waakwi, the Faraway Land of Souls. Nigig the otter, known as oshkaabewis or helper, accompanied him as his guide. At the end of this path, the boy encountered manidoog (spirits) who appeared as ookomisag (grandmothers). He begged these ookomisag to rescue the Anishinaabeg from the devastating epidemic. The ookomisag were so impressed by the boy's selflessness that they revived him and sent him back to earth with a mission of renewal and hope. Under the expert guidance of his supernatural mentor Wenabozho, also known as the Great Hare, who taught him to learn about plants by observing animals, Ode’imin brought his People their Midewigaan (Medicine Lodge). With it came the knowledge of healing, for which our People are renowned. Other tribes saw us as forest magicians and sought our healers from near and far for their expertise in plants and herbs and their healing properties!" Grandmother paused for a few moments, then smiled and said, "But most importantly, Ode’imin taught the Anishinaabeg about mino-bimaadiziwin, the Good Code for Long Life and Upright Living. This, hun, led to the physical and moral healing of our People, who were in dire straits back then...”
Intrigued, I asked her, "But why do you call a strawberry 'heart berry'?" Instead of answering directly, my grandmother posed another question. "Do you know what our cardiovascular system is, hun?" I nodded, recalling a recent biology lesson at school. Her eyes sparkled as she explained, “Nishin! Good! Our people have always called the strawberry 'heart berry' because it resembles a heart and is used medicinally to strengthen and heal the cardiovascular system." She gestured toward a plant in front of me. "When you examine this plant closely, it resembles a human heart, and its veins, leaves, and roots function like the cardiovascular system in our bodies. Baashkaabigonii-giizis, or the Flowering Moon, which we now call 'June,' is when the heart berry ripens. Since our Ojibwe ancestors first walked the earth, this time marks the Summer Solstice, when the People gather for an annual ceremony and feast. Traditionally, we consume the entire berry, including the small green leaves on top, because this part is not only rich in medicine but also embodies the spirit of the plant.”
Grandmother gazed into the distance, and just as I was about to ask her another question, she said, "Tonight is a full moon, hun. When it rises, I want you to get out of bed and come outside with me. I have something to show you."
That night, I was too excited to sleep. Around midnight, my grandmother gently knocked on my bedroom door, and once I was dressed, we headed outside. She mentioned that she had been sitting on her porch since sunset, her gaze fixed on the southeast to watch the full Moon gradually rise above the horizon. Indeed, the sky was bathed in a soft glow, casting a serene and awe-inspiring atmosphere over the lake and the surrounding trees. As I looked up, I saw the heartberry moon high in the night sky, round, large, and golden-hued!
Grandmother was silent, and since I always paid attention to her, I followed suit. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her eyes were closed. Suddenly, she whispered, "Listen hun. Listen to the moon. She speaks to us. She shares many stories from times long past..." "What is the moon telling you?" I asked her. "If you listen closely, hun, you will hear our grandmother recount tales of Ode'imin, the boy your age who journeyed to the Spirit World and returned to bring teachings to our People..."
“But where does Ode’imin live now?” I asked. “He resides in the moon now,” my grandmother replied, her dark eyes twinkling. “The Midewigaan, the Medicine lodge, was constructed in his honor, and this is still remembered today when we look at the moon." Glancing up, she suddenly pointed with her lips. "Look!" she whispered. "Do you see that shadow on the moon? It is Ode'imin, holding and guarding the grandfather-water drum." Squinting against the bright light, excited because I recalled she had told me many things about Gimishoomisinaan, the Grandfather drum, I nodded. "I see him!" I said. My grandmother smiled. "Through Ode'imin," she said, "Gookomisinaan Dibik-giizis, our Grandmother the Moon, teaches the men of our Nation to care for this sacred item, and she has instructed our women to teach the men to use their hearts and connect their hearts to it..."
After a short pause, which she appeared to use to contemplate the story she had just recounted to me, grandmother concluded: "The tale of Ode'imin, who resides in the moon to guard the water drum, is so sacred that back home the ma'iinganag, the wolves, can be heard howling at our grandmother during the night...”
As we returned to the house, Grandmother wrapped her arm around my shoulders. That night, I dreamed of Ode'imin residing in the moon. Even though there are no wolves in our area, I could have sworn I heard one howling at the Heartberry Moon. Indeed, my grandmother Willa was an exceptional storyteller...
NOTES:
*For further information on the Anishinaabe moon phases, check out: Stories and Teachings from the earth, part 13.
**For further information on the Strawberry Moon, visit: Spirit of the Seasons, part 8.
Illustrations, listed from top to bottom:
"Song of the Heart Berry Moon" ©2023 Zhaawano Giizhik.
"Midnight Offering to the Boy in the Moon" ©2023 Zhaawano Giizhik.
"Heartberry Moon" ©2022 Zhaawano Giizhik.