Afterlife Symbol = Medicine Man's Eye

[PINNAZ]

Hey CoDz,

I originally posted this in my thread Right of Discovery - Occupation of Alcatraz & the Medicine Man

But I think this deserves it's own thread. I hope you can see the similarities....

The Purgatory/Afterlife Symbol

Medicine Man's Eye

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/eye-of-the-medicine-man-symbol.html

http://www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/native-american-symbols/eye-medicine-man-symbol.htm

Native American Symbols, like the Eye of a Medicine Man symbol, can vary in meaning from one tribe to another and across the culture groups of North America.

The meaning of the Eye of a Medicine Man symbol is a very powerful symbol. A Medicine Man was believed to have magical powers of Spiritual Healing and of seeing into the future. The outer lines of the symbol represents the four corners of the Universe - North, South, East and West of the physical world. The inner lines represent the Spirit world, which the Medicine Man had knowledge of. The centre circle represents the eye of the Medicine Man and his spiritual vision. You can see the rhombus is concentric - with objects sharing the same center. The outer rhombus is symbolic of a larger (cosmic, universal, worldly) network.

For example: The "four corners" of the world, the four winds, the four initial tribes of humankind. The outer rhombus is the MACROcosm, and represents the four-sided structures of the large-scale universe/creation. The inner rhombus is a reflective feature. Because we are talking about BROAD VISION (namely, the eye of the medicine man symbol), we are dealing with themes of metaphysical sight.

A medicine man sees with far greater vision that with just his physical eyes. So, the inner rhombus is symbolic of the interaction between man and his environment. The inner rhombus is the MICROcosm, the inner world.

The dot in the center is the eye, all seeing, all knowing, and observing the play between man, spirit and environment. It's the objective sight of the macrocosm, microcosm and how each is influenced by their interactions. This is a lovely symbolic testiment to the devotion of the medicine man to see this world (and his/her role in it) with clarity and objectivity.

This eye of the medicine man symbol is a statement of spiritual vision - a kind of vision that recognizes the interconnectivity of all things. Their religion was dominated by rituals and belief in a spiritual connection with nature and these beliefs were reflected in the various symbols they used such as the Eye of a Medicine Man symbol.

Medicine Man

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine_man

Highly Detailed Articles, too big to post. Must Read -

HEALING: THE DIVINE ART - THE INDIAN MEDICINE CHIEF

PDF

Wichasha Wakan: Medicine Man (Lakota Sioux)

Native American Medicine and the Role of the Medicine Man

To be recognized as the one who performs this function of bridging between the natural world and the spiritual world for the benefit of the community, an individual must be validated in his role by that community.

"Medicine man" or "medicine woman" are English terms used to describe traditional healers and spiritual leaders among some Native American and other indigenous or aboriginal peoples. Anthropologists tend to prefer the generalization "shaman," which is a specific term for a spiritual mediator from the Tungusic peoples of Siberia, and is not used in any other traditional culture.

Role in native society

The primary function of these "medicine elders" is to secure the help of the spirit world, including the Great Spirit (Wakan Tanka in the language of the Lakota Sioux), for the benefit of the entire community.

Sometimes the help sought may be for the sake of healing disease, sometimes it may be for the sake of healing the psyche, sometimes the goal is to promote harmony between human groups or between humans & nature. So the term "medicine man/woman" is not entirely inappropriate, but it greatly oversimplifies and also skews the depiction of the people whose role in society complements that of the chief.

Cultural context

An Ojibwa Midew ("medicine man") preparing an herbal remedy.

The term "medicine people" is commonly used in Native American communities, for example, when Arwen Nuttall (Cherokee) of the National Museum of the American Indian writes, "The knowledge possessed by medicine people is privileged, and it often remains in particular families."

Native Americans tend to be quite reluctant to discuss issues about medicine or medicine people with non-Indians. In some cultures, the people will not even discuss these matters with Indians from other tribes. In most tribes medicine elders are not expected to advertise or introduce themselves as such. As Nuttall writes, "An inquiry to a Native person about religious beliefs or ceremonies is often viewed with suspicion. One example of this was the Apache medicine cord or Izze-kloth, whose purpose and use by Apache medicine elders was a mystery to nineteenth century ethnologists because "the Apache look upon these cords as so sacred that strangers are not allowed to see them, much less handle them or talk about them."

The 1954 version of Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language, reflects the poorly grounded perceptions of the people whose use of the term effectively defined it for the people of that time: "a man supposed to have supernatural powers of curing disease and controlling spirits." In effect, such definitions were not explanations of what these "medicine people" were to their own communities, but instead reported on the consensus of socially and psychologically remote observers when they tried to categorize these individuals. The term "medicine man/woman," like the term "shaman", has been criticized by Native Americans, as well as other specialists in the fields of religion and anthropology.

[JuggerWicho]

Great find PINNAZ! You just surprise us more and more!

Keep it on.

[InfestLithium]

I'll just take what I said previously in our personal conversation.

I'm glad you found this, friendo! Not being able to find a symbol even remotely similar to the eye was nerveracking; but you managed to find it.

Something in this garnered my attention:

The meaning of the Eye of a Medicine Man symbol is a very powerful symbol. A Medicine Man, or Shaman, was believed to have magical powers of Spiritual Healing and of seeing into the future. The outer lines of the symbol represents the four corners of the Universe - North, South, East and West of the physical world. The inner lines represent the Spirit world, which the Medicine Man had knowledge of. The centre circle represents the eye of the Medicine Man and his spiritual vision.

I'm quite certain that you know where I'm going with this - Afterlife. This is the new mode that is being implemented into Mob of the Dead. You have probably already linked that connection together, but it becomes more fascinating because it may lend us a hand as to what more we can do in that mode. So far, we can enter invisible portals, trigger objects with our newfound powers, and electrify zombies. What we have not figured out is why the eye can appear over certain characters.

And think about how these symbols are so close to one another:

They are both associated with the Afterlife. But you know what the only difference is? The electric bolts off to the sides. And what can we do in Afterlife mode? Use our electric powers to our advantage.

[Gaycandybacon]

Interesting. So is there some sort of Indian burial ground hidden under Alcatraz?

[sactown dizzle]

its possible and maybe the bolts on the side are symbolic of the lightning ability that depletes while in this mode

[Tattoo247]

In the sketched page picture, the device to the right, is that not what is on the "boss" zombies chest? Perhaps we have to kill him and get that piece to start afterlife?

[MikeDowgill]

The only thing i could dig up. was that there was some indian tribes people among others who held alcatraz for a period of time and i know their graffiti is preserved there. I know its wiki but heres a quick link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_Alcatraz. Its quite interesting reading into it further. But its not too related really.

Problem is the time frame doesn't fit :/

[MikeDowgill]

In the sketched page picture, the device to the right, is that not what is on the "boss" zombies chest? Perhaps we have to kill him and get that piece to start afterlife?

I think thats the device we see by the perk machines in the trailer. Perhaps we power them in purgatory?

its possible and maybe the bolts on the side are symbolic of the lightning ability that depletes while in this mode

I would agree with that. I don't think they are part of the symbol.

[PINNAZ]

In the sketched page picture, the device to the right, is that not what is on the "boss" zombies chest? Perhaps we have to kill him and get that piece to start afterlife?

What you are talking about is actually the power. Take the 'Medicine Man' symbol & add the electricity bolts, you get the 'Afterlife ' symbol.

[MikeDowgill]

not sure its the power switch man. I think there was one by the speed cola and electric cherry in the trailer. Im thinking like a timer for the machines. like, you power it, then when the timer runs out, needs powering again. That would explain a volt meter.

[CrimsonZombie]

Nice catch symbol man 8-) . Interesting how treyarch is now taking in native story's or gifts.

[Hayze]

This is a very good thread, I learned a lot of new informa about Native American culture. Well done!

Say, I noticed something interesting about the logo for Alcatraz Guard team in Grief. The Afterlife symbol is on the cap. That piked my curiosity and made me wonder, "what's it doing there in the first place?" The Prisoners' logo has no eye, so why did the guards get to have it on their logo? Any thoughts?