Orienting ourselves, knowing where we are and where to go. An inussuk is help from others who have been this way. Each of us can become a beacon of light in a dark world. Most of us are afraid of being a beacon of light, as that comes with a responsibility. We hide ourselves, afraid of being told we should not be prominent like beacons. It is time to let go of that.
—from the word card
BEACON - CAIRN - INUSSUK
Inussuks on Qaqqarsuaq —Jane English
Walk in a good way. Walk tall and powerful as you are meant to be, for times and times to come.
—Angaangaq Angakkorsuaq
Included in the book is text to go with each of the 72 word cards that have words and phrases in Kalaallisut (Greenlandic) and English.
Bits of wisdom are interspersed with descriptions of what some of us experienced while using the cards, and also with what was evoked by the combination of that word card with various image cards.
We include our personal experiences here in the hope that they will serve as examples and will help you recognize and pay attention to what happens for you when you use the cards.
What the cards evoke in you is more important that what is written in the book. We encourage you to make notes on your own understandings as they emerge while you use these cards. Use what is written in the book only to supplement your own responses.
KISIMEEQATIGIILLUNI -- ALONE TOGETHER
ALLANNGORPOQ -- ALTAR
SIULIGUT -- ANCESTORS - ANCIENT ONES
UUMASUT ANERSAAVAT -- ANIMAL SPIRIT
ARSARNERIT -- AURORA - NORTHERN LIGHTS
INUSSUK -- BEACON - CAIRN
SERMERSUAQ -- BIG ICE
SAANEQ -- BONE
ANERSAARPOQ -- BREATH
QULLILIVOQ -- BURNING THE TEARS
TUTTU -- CARIBOU
KATERISIMAARNEQ -- CEREMONY
ERINNISAARTOQ -- CHANT
ULAMERTAQ - AMMALOQISAAQ -- CIRCLE
UANNUT APUUNNEQ -- COMING HOME TO YOURSELF
PUJULIORTITSIVOQ -- CREATING SMOKE
SINNATTUP ISUMAA -- DREAMCATCHER
QILAUT -- DRUM - INSTRUMENT FROM THE GREAT SKY
NERERSUAARNEQ -- FEAST
SIULIT UJARTUKKAT -- FINDING THE ROOTS
QAAMMAT ULIKKAARTOQ -- FULL MOON
PINNGORTITAP PINNIK NAKORSAATIT -- GATHERING MEDICINE FROM THE EARTH
TUNISSUT -- GIFT
NERLEQ -- GOOSE
PINNGORTITTISOQ -- GREAT ONE
INUUP ILUMINI QILASSUA -- GREAT SKY WITHIN
KATSORSARNEQ -- HEALING
INUUP ISUMAATA SILARSUA -- HUMAN MIDDLE WORLD
INUUP UPPATAATA SILARSUA -- HUMAN UNDERWORLD
PINIARNEQ -- HUNTING
SIUNERTAQ -- INTENTION
QAJAQ -- KAYAK - MAN’S BOAT
ILLARTUT -- LAUGHTER
NAQINNERIT -- LETTING GO
TUSAAJUK -- LISTEN
AALAARTIVIK -- LODGE CEREMONY (SWEAT LODGE)
ANERSAANITTITSINEQ -- MAKE LIVING
IKUMAARTITSINEQ -- MAKING FIRE
NAKORSAATIT -- MEDICINE
SIRMIQ AATTUQ UUMMATINNIT -- MELTING THE ICE IN THE HEART
UNNUAP SEQERNA -- MIDNIGHT SUN
AQQUT ATUGARA AQQUTINI KISTARTAANNGILAQ -- MY WAY IS NOT THE ONLY WAY
EQQUMIITSOQ -- MYSTERY
APERLAAQ -- NEW-FALLEN SNOW
QALASERSUAQ AVANNARLEQ -- NORTH POLE
EQQISSINERUP PUJUA -- PEACE PIPE
NAASUP ANERSAAVA -- PLANT SPIRIT
NANOQ -- POLAR BEAR
UUMASUP NUKIA -- POWER ANIMAL
QINUNEQ -- PRAYER
AALATERINEQ SAJUAARTITTISSUT -- RATTLE - SHAKER
PUISI -- SEAL
QULLEQ -- SEAL OIL LAMP
ANERSAAKKUT TARNIKKULLU PISUNNEQ -- SHAMANIC SPIRITUAL WALK
NIPAANNEQ -- SILENCE
UUMMATIP QAAMANERA -- SMILING HEART
QUPALORAARSUK -- SNOW BUNTING
NATTORALITTUT AARSAARNEQ -- SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE
MAKITTARILLUNI PISULLUARNEQ -- STANDING TALL & POWERFUL AS YOU ARE MEANT TO BE
QAARSOQ - UJARAK -- STONE - ROCK
OQALUTTUAT -- STORYTELLING
SEQINERMUT ILASSINNINNEQ -- SUNRISE CEREMONY
IVIGANNGUIT -- SWEETGRASS
PILANNEQ -- TAKING APART THE ANIMAL
TUPA -- TOBACCO
KATERINNISSAMUT ANGALANEQ -- TRAVEL INTO A JOURNEY
SIUNISSAMIK QINERNEQ -- VISION QUEST
AQQUTIT NALIGIITTUMIK INGERLAFFIGALUGU -- WALKING THE SPIRITUAL PATH WITH PRACTICAL FEET
ARFEQ -- WHALE
ANORIT ALLANNGULERNERI -- WINDS OF CHANGE
ILISIMATUNEQ -- WISDOM
UMIAQ -- WOMEN’S BOAT
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Musk ox - Greenland —photo by Adam Lyberth