Ceremonial Rattle
Once upon a SUUSI there was a workshop called "Ceremonial Rattles". The participants made and decorated leather rattles. At the end of the week they all used their newly-made rattles in a ceremony to thank the spirits for a wonderful SUUSI. Now in those days people had gotten out of the habit of thanking the spirits for anything and rarely did so. The thankfulness offered with the rattles so pleased the spirits that they selected one rattle out of the group and lifted it high into the sky. That rattle became the Ceremonial Rattle constellation. It shines brightly in the night sky as a reminder to all SUUSI-goers, now and in the future, to always remember to thank the spirits for SUUSI.

Margie Hallmark
7/29/1998

Note - The constellation that Margie made her rattle out of is conventionally known as Cygnus the Swan, and the rattle figure is commonly called the Northern Cross. The rattle can be seen on summer and autumn nights nearly overhead.

Back to my SUUSI Page