MONSTEROLOGY
MESSINGW: Pennsylvania's Bigfoot
The Lenni Lenape of the eastern United States worshipped one god
called The Creator, but also paid homage to many manetuwak or lesser
spirits. The most important manetuwak was Messingw (or Misinkhalikan).
Messingw was a guardian spirit who saw
to the health and abundance of the game animals, chiefly the deer
and bears. His responsibilities also extended to ensuring that the
humans not starve. Messingw promised the animals that if they were
killed, an offering of tobacco would be made at the site of the
kill to release the animal spirit for rebirth. The Lenni Lenape
were also instructed not to be wasteful and only kill the animals
for food. As a spirit of conservation, Messingw was responsible
for keeping balance and harmony on Mother Earth.
Furthermore, the Lenni Lenape believed
that dogs guarded the bridge to Heaven. Anyone who was cruel to
animals was kept from joining The Creator. Thus if a Lenape escaped
Messingw's punishments on earth, he or she would still be barred
from Paradise.The appearance of
Messingw was frightening. He had a snarling visage, half-red and
half-black. His name translates (variously) as "Masked Spirit",
"Living Solid Face", or "False Face." His body
was covered with thick shaggy fur like a bear. Messingw was usually
seen as a wild man riding a deer and brandishing a taxoxi kowani
kan (turtle-shell rattle) and a thick staff. His cries udulated
through the forest as he rode down upon hunters who killed wastefully
or didn't leave the proper offerings.
Lenapi children were told that Messingw would get them if they didn't
behave. If angered, Messingw could make hunting scarce. When a people
aredependent on what they could hunt for food, this was a great
power indeed.
The Lenape held huge celebrations for
Messingw in the spring. Usually they would leave offerings of hominy
for the manetuwak. A man with a fearsome red and black mask in a
bearskin costume represented Messingw in their ceremonies.
Messingw's face appears in the center
of the Lenni Lenape flag as an important part of their culture.
According to modern Lenape websites, they seemed rather amused with
the White Man's Bigfoot sightings and attempts to pursue Bigfoot
scientifically. They view Messingw as a powerful spirit who is not
always solidly on this plane. Maybe that explains why Bigfoot is
occasionally seen and leaves footprints, and then vanishes without
a trace!
Messingw can eaisly be compared to worldwide
myths about forest spirits with semi-bestial appearances. As he
was also said to be able to grant any wish, brave souls would seek
communication with the manetuwak in the deep forest. He only appeared
when least expected and his sudden appearance was so frightening
that only the most courageous spirit dared meet him voluntarily.
The Lenape see his appearances to the
White Man as a warning for creating imbalances in Nature. Indeed,
the reoccurring detail in most Bigfoot sightings is the terror one
experiences when confronted by the shaggy creature. Every Native
American tribe has some version of Messingw or Sasquatch in theirmythology
(with pretty much the same functions).
Work in harmony with nature or risk a
frightening encounter with Messingw!
Report by Muninn the Changeling
