Stories and Teachings from the Earth, part 26: Zaagi' - The Outward Nature of Love

zhaawano
2 days ago
7 min read

Miikana ("The Trail") painting by Zhaawano Giizhik

The teaching of "Love" is an essential virtue in Anishinaabe culture. A very old word for love is zhawenim, a verb our ancestors used to express the act of unconditionally loving someone, or having compassion for someone, or pitying someone. The literal translation of zhawenim is "pity someone in thought." The derived noun is zhawenindiwin, signifying mutual compassion, loving-kindness, or unconditional love. Then there is the verb zaagi', which also means love someone, or treasure someone, or be attached to someone; literally: make someone put out. Zaagi', or the noun zaagi'iwewin, suggests a physical act rather than thinking of someone in a purely affectionate way, while zhawenim, or gi-zhawenimin ("I love you") suggests a think-sense-feel act. Put differently, in the past, before the arrival of European invaders, the terms zaagi'/zaagi'iwewin/gi-zaagi'in referred to a physical act (like making love/having sex) rather than simply feeling affection for someone. However, over time, this distinction faded, and for many Anishinaabeg, the term zaagi' came to mean "love" in the most comprehensive sense.

To summarize:

Zhawenim means to love, pity, or have compassion for someone; it literally translates to having pity or blessing someone in thought. It is an act that involves thinking, sensing, and feeling.
Zaagi' signifies loving or treasuring someone; it literally means to make someone put out. This is a physical action. In contemporary usage, "zhawenim" and "zaagi'" are frequently used interchangeably to convey love, affection, or compassion for someone.

Let's explore the term "zaagi" in more depth, concentrating on its spiritual importance—what does it really mean to love someone sincerely?

Let's begin by examining nizhwaaso-gikinaamaagewinan, the Seven Sacred Teachings, which serve as the cornerstone of traditional Anishinaabe spiritual practice. Also known as Grandfather or Grandmother Teachings, these lessons have been transmitted orally by elders over the centuries. Instead of being strict rules, they are guidelines or principles of character that every Anishinaabe should follow.

Nibwaakaawin (Wisdom)
Zaagi'idiwin (Zhawenjigewin) (Love)
Manaadenindiwin (Manaaji'idiwin, Gichi-inendamowin) (Respect, or Honor)
Zoongide'ewin (Aakode'ewin, Mangide'ewin) (Bravery, or Courage)
Gwayakwaadiziwin (Gwayako-bimaadiziwin) (Honesty)
Dabaadendiziwin (Dabasenimowin) (Humility)
Debwewin (Truth)

Zaagi'idiwin, which translates to Mutual Love, is the second of the Seven Grandmother/Grandfather Teachings. Zaagi’idiwin is a noun derived from the verb "zaagi'," "to love him/her." (Zaagi'idi means “to love each other; "idi" expresses reciprocity.)

From a spiritual Anishinaabe perspective, true love is felt by understanding and loving GICHI-MANIDOO—the Great Mystery—whose breath is seen as the origin of human life. The ancestral Teachings impart that by seeking love deep within ourselves, we can genuinely and unconditionally love the Great Mystery. In turn, by loving the Great Mystery without conditions, we learn to love ourselves and, consequently, others.

Look within yourself for Love.
Love yourself, and then love others.
You cannot love another until you first
learn to love yourself.
You must understand and live the other
six Teachings before you can love.*

This idea, emphasizing the sacred essence of love, suggests that the phrases "gi-zaagi'in" and gi-zhawenimin," meaning "I love you, I care for you," should never be used casually or impulsively. It must be heartfelt, or it should not be said at all!

Up to this point, we have examined the concept of love from both a spiritual and moral perspective. Now, let's explore further into the linguistic aspects of the words "zaagi'," "zaagi'iwe," and "zaagi'idiwin." This is where it gets really intriguing!

The teaching mentioned above, which suggests that to discover true love we must search deeply within ourselves, might imply that love is an internal action. However, the literal meanings of "zaagi'iwe'" and "zaagi'idiwin" indicate otherwise.

It's important to understand that Anishinaabemowin, our language, is a verb action-based language. But action is not only conveyed through verbs; nouns, which in our language are typically derivatives of verbs, are also action-oriented. For the Anishinaabe, love is not based on an “inward feeling” but rather on an “outward action.” In other words, the act of zaagi'/zaagi'iwe is intended to be demonstrated outwardly.

Various natural phenomena illustrate this outward action. For example, the Anishinaabe word for spring is ziigwan, which literally means "pouring." Spring is the time when new life emerges from the earth as seeds of flowers and trees. When you analyze "ziigwan," you'll discover that the morpheme /ziigw/ signifies "dump, pour"; «ziigo» /ziigw-iw/ means "s/he is a pouring" while «ziigwe» /ziigw-a-iw/ means "s/he has a pouring." Thus, the derived term «ziigwan» means "(time of) pouring," which signifies "spring." Like "ziigwan," the term "zaagi" also implies a pouring quality—or emotion, if you prefer. Both ziigwan and zaagi convey an outward action of love pouring!

Today, though, humanity has increasingly moved away from nature. We've turned love into a self-focused activity, centering on our own needs and desires... I love money, I love food, I love pleasure, and so forth. We seek immediate gratification. Instead, we should adopt the selfless, outward nature of love that our language conveys, sharing our love with others, our family, and all the creatures of the earth, water, and sky. Here are some additional examples of the outward nature of zaagi', directly inspired by nature:

Zaagibagaa—leaves bud

Zaagidenenaniwetaw—stick out ones tongue at someone

Zaagidin—put someone out

Zaagidoode-—crawl out

Zaagigi-—sprout, grow out

Zaagijiwan-—flow out

Since Anishinaabemowin is a language centered around verbs and actions, let's examine all the possible conjugations and combinations of the verb "zaagi'" that come to mind. ** Feel free to add your suggestions to the list by using the comment box at the bottom of the page!

I love myself : nizaagi'idiz (don't forget, it is very important that you do that!)

I love you(sg) : gizaagi'in (do say it often to your life partner but not too often!)

I love h/h(prox) : nizaagi'aa

I love h/h(obv) : nizaagi'imaan

I love you(pl) : gizaagi'ininim

I love them : nizaagi'aag

You(sg) love me : gizaagi'

You(sg) love yourself : gizaagi'idiz

You(sg) love h/h(prox) : gizaagi'aa

You(sg) love h/h(obv) : gizaagi'imaan

You(sg) love us(ex) : gizaagi'imin

You(sg) love them : gizaagi'aag

S/he loves me : nizaagi'ig

S/he loves you(sg) : gizaagi'ig

S/he loves h/h-self(prox) : zaagi'idizo

S/he loves h/h-self(obv) : ozaagi'aan

S/he loves us(ex) : nizaagi'igonaan

S/he loves us(in) : gizaagi'igonaan

S/he loves you(pl) : gizaagi'igowaa

S/he(obv) loves h/h(prox) : ozaagi'igoon

S/he(obv) loves h/h-self : zaagi'idizowan

S/he(obv) loves them(prox) : ozaagi'igowaan

It loves me : nizaagi'igon

It loves you(sg) : gizaagi'igon

It loves h/h(prox) : ozaagi'igon

It loves h/h(obv) : ozaagi'igonini

It loves us(ex) : nizaagi'igomin

It loves us(in) : gizaagi'igomin

It loves you(pl) : gizaagi'igonaawaa

It loves h/h : ozaagi'igonaawaan

We(ex) love you(sg) : gizaagi'igoo

We(ex) love h/h(prox) : nizaagi'aanaan

We(ex) love h/h(obv) : nizaagi'imaanaan

We(ex) love ourselves : niwaabandizomin

We(ex) love you(pl) : gizaagi'igoom

We(ex) love them : nizaagi'aanaanig

We(in) love h/h(prox) : gizaagi'aanaan

We(in) love h/h(obv) : gizaagi'imaanaan

We(in) love ourselves : giwaabandizomin

We(in) love them : gizaagi'aanaanig

You(pl) love me : gizaagi'im

You(pl) love them(prox) : gizaagi'aawaa

You(pl) love them(obv) : gizaagi'imaawaa

You(pl) love us(ex) : gizaagi'imin

You(pl) love them : gizaagi'aawaag

They love me : nizaagi'igoog

They love you(sg) : gizaagi'igoog

They(prox) love them(obv) : ozaagi'aawaan

They love us(ex) : nizaagi'igonaanig

They love us(in) : gizaagi'igonaanig

They love you(pl) : gizaagi'igowaag

They love themselves : zaagi'idizowag

They(in) love me : nizaagi'igonan

They(in) love you(sg) : gizaagi'igonan

They(in) love them(prox) : ozaagi'igonan

They(in) love them(obv) : ozaagi'igonini

They(in) love us(ex) : nizaagi'igomin

They(in) love us(in) : gizaagi'igomin

They(in) love you(pl) : gizaagi'igonaawaan

They(in) love them(an) : ozaagi'igonaawaan

S/he is loved : nizaagi'igoo

You(sg) are loved : gizaagi'igoo

S/he(prox) is loved : zaagi'aa

S/he(obv) is loved : zaagi'imaawan

We(ex) are loved : nizaagi'igoomin

We(in) are loved : gizaagi'igoomin

You(pl) are loved : gizaagi'igoom

They are loved : zaagi'aawag

THE 22 ZAAGI' COMMANDMENTS:

[You(sg)] Love me! : zaagi'ishin!

[You(sg)] Love yourself! : zaagi'idizon!

[You(sg)] Love h/h(prox)! : zaagi'!

[You(sg)] Love h/h(obv)! : zaagi'im!

[You(sg)] Love it! : zaagi'in!

[You(sg)] Love us(ex)! : zaagi'ishinaan(g)!

[You(sg)] Love them! : zaagi'!

[You(sg)] Love them(in)! : zaagi'in!

Let's love h/h(prox)! : zaagi'aadaa!

Let's love h/h(obv)! : zaagi'imaadaa(nin)!

Let's love it! : zaagi'idaa!

Let's love ourselves! : waabandizodaa!

Let's love them! : zaagi'aadaanig!

Let's love them(in)! : zaagi'idaa!

[You(pl)] Love me! : zaagi'ishik!

[You(pl)] Love h/h(prox)! : zaagi'ik!

[You(pl)] Love h/h(obv)! : zaagi'imik!

[You(pl)] Love it! : zaagi'(iy)ok!

[You(pl)] Love us(ex)! : zaagi'ishinaan(g)!

[You(pl)] Love yourselves! : zaagi'idizog

[You(pl)] Love them(in) : zaagi'(iy)ok!

GLOSSARY

Ex: exclusive. A first person exclusive plural involves the speaker (first person) and one or more others (third person), but excludes the person spoken to (second person).

In: Inclusive. A first person inclusive plural involves the speaker (first person) and possibly one or more others (third persons), but includes the person spoken to (second person).

Obv: obviative third person. Within linguistics, obviative third person is a grammatical-person marking that distinguishes a referent that is less important to the discourse from one that is more important (proximate). The obviative is sometimes referred to as the "fourth person." 

Pl: plural. 

Prox: proximate. The proximate is a traditional third person, while the obviative (also frequently called "fourth person") marks a less important third person if more than one third person is taking part in an action.

Sg: singular.

Illustration: Miikana ("The Trail") (detail) - 2025 Zhaawano Giizhik

* Source: David Bouchard and dr. Joseph Martin: The Seven Sacred Teachings

**ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

While preparing this blog post, I greatly benefited from the extensive knowledge my friend Charles J. Lippert possesses of Ojibwemowin (the Ojibwe language). His insights and guidance have been invaluable, and I am deeply grateful to him.