The Guardians – The “Nutiket”
It’s September 22nd. The Autumnal – or Fall – Equinox. The exact moment when the Sun crosses the Celestial Equator while it moves from North to South. This is the beginning of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.
It is also a moment when there will be a unique planetary alignment, or conjunction called a “Planetary Parade” when specific bright planets line up in the Heavens and create what the ancient astrologers used to call a “Planetary Bridge”. This is what the “Nutiket”, or Guardians use to visit Earth.
But to visit our realm, the “Nutiket” have to be invited – on the Autumnal Equinox. The Autumnal Equinox is the one day the Leni Lenape Tribe can summon their Gods. This is the only day they can beseech favors and mercy from the Nutiket.
Who are the Nutiket – or as translated legends call them, The Guardians?
According to the Leni Lenape spiritual belief system called the “Mahtantowi-Manitowikan”, the Nutiket are sacred, powerful spirits that are all-knowing. They are entities that decide the fate of the Tribe and determine the outcome of every event that happens on Earth. Most Leni Lenape tribe members simply call their religion “Manitowikan” which, translated, means “reverence of the all-powerful ones”.
The Leni Lenape Manitowikan has no Bible or rituals or observances that are written down. Select Medicine Men called Metewin commit to memory all of the Tribes religious traditions, beliefs, rituals and sacraments and then pass them on – via “Oral Traditions” – to initiates and apprentices. These “Oral Traditions” are more than just agglomerations of words that – if repeated enough times in sequence – “please” the Deities and “soften them up” to grant human wishes and bestow favors. They are the spoken essence, the foundation of their worship. The architecture of what is sacred and divine in their lives.
Leni Lenape Holy Men or Metewin recite prayers – called Kike-Lendamowikan – to actually communicate with their Deities at the proper time and place. Like the ancient Hebrews who talked to Jehovah through their Arc of the Covenant, the Leni Lenape Metewin ask and receive guidance from their Nutiket in a ritual that is akin to ET phoning home. Nutiket speak to the Tribe in the presence of the Metewin; the Leni Lenape Holy Men don’t disappear behind a curtain and then re-emerge telling everybody what the Nutiket told them. Witnesses to the ritual actually see and hear the Nutiket speak to them in their own language. The Leni Lenape’s sacred and powerful spirits are real – and interactive.
But certain “Big Medicine” pleas to The Nutiket have to be presented by a Nuchihewe or Witch. A woman who carries the blood of a Guardian. An offspring of women who “mated” with a Nukitet back in the ancient days. According to Leni Lenape traditions, there are never more than three Nuchihewe alive in each generation. They are females who bear the Mark – the Kichican. A multi-colored tattoo on the lower back – directly over their tail bone from which their actual tail was cut off when they were born. The Nuchihewe of each generation do not – and cannot – know each other. It is forbidden by the Nukitet.
Only the initiates of the Leni Lenape Nation know these things. There are perhaps two Leni Lenape Indians alive that know of the rituals needed to summon the Nutiket. But none who have participated in an actual Nutemat Wunshimen Patamowagan (sometimes shortened to “Pataman”) Summoning observance
There must be a circle of twelve Leni Lenape “Braves”. There must be a Metewin, or Holy Man. And there must be a Nuchihewe – a Witch – dressed in traditional animal skins that reveal her Kichkican or Mark. The Pataman or Summoning must be undertaken on the Autumnal Equinox – precisely at 9:22PM in a forested grotto that is private and secured. The location must be on traditional lands of the Leni Lenape Tribe – or lands that were conceded only after battles in which Leni Lenape blood was spilled and their heroism was demonstrated.
It’s getting dark- almost seven o’clock. Heinlein and Leeds are in his Ford Explorer police vehicle, rounding the Watchung Circle on Mountain Avenue in Watchung, NJ. Another few miles they’ll hit the turn off up the old Nike Missile Base road and access the Watchung Reservation. About a half mile after that on a rutted, dirt access is the Feltville Historic District – a group of abandoned, ramshackle clapboard houses that everybody in Jersey calls the “Deserted Village”. This is Leni Lenape land from time immemorial.
Heinlein knows this place like the back of his hand. He and his pals used to ride their bikes from nearby Warren to the Watchung “Res” and fish in Surprise Lake – directly across the shoreline of Deserted Village. They spent many a day digging up Leni Lenape arrowheads there, too. The Deserted Village is where they’ll meet Sachem Crow-Feather and his retinue to perform the Nutemat Wunshimen Patamowagan. Tonight is the night, and this is the place – authentic Leni Lenape turf if there ever was any.
Feltville Village was the failed social experiment of a New Jersey by a guy named David Felt, who created a community to print and bind bibles in the “wilderness” of the “Berkeley Heights”. It was to be populated by religious people who shared their possessions and worked for the betterment of mankind. It failed. Then the British fought a battle there during the American Revolution using Leni Lenape Warriors as scouts and trackers. It’s rumored that an entire Leni Lenape village in the Watchung “Res” was burnt to the ground by retaliating American Colonists. All the Indians inside their dwellings were burned to death. The Leni Lenape Nation is petitioning the Bureau of Indian Affairs to declare the place a National Indian Heritage site.
“Look….” Heinlein finally said to Leeds. “You know my reasons for being here – I can hardly refuse, right? But what about you? I see you’re packin’ your Glock – but you’re not here to hunt tonight. It’s about something else. What’s goin’ on? Why all this old Indian spooky-tooth shit? And what does your DNA have to do with the Yakwahe??”
Leeds kept staring straight ahead as she answered him.
“I got my reasons.”
But Heinlein wasn’t letting go.
“You don’t intend to bag a Yakwahe tonight. Don’t Bullshit me. I saw how shocked you were when Crow-Feather reached out to touch the sides of your forehead – looking for Horns. I never seen your ass, but I’m betting there’s some scar from where Doctors removed a vestigial tale when you were a baby. And some kind of “Kichkican” Mark. You were surprised Crow-Feather identified you as a “Nuchihewe” or Witch. That’s when it all clicked – right? That’s when you realized that Crow-Feather can’t help us catch a Cryptoid – at least not yet. He needs the Guardians’ permission…their blessing to proceed. Because the Yakwahe are children of the Guardians, too. You’re the key. That’s why the Sachem needs a Witch to seal the deal. He needs Big Medicine. He’s asking the Guardians to give up one of their own.
The Feds don’t know about this do they? You’re keeping this under wraps for your own reasons, aren’t you? What are those reasons, Leeds? Please…tell me.”
Leeds shifted around in her passenger seat, looking uncomfortable and uncertain how to reply to Heinlein.
I’m gonna’ level with you. Yeah, the Feds and the NJ State Police call me “Mother Leeds” and “Jersey Devil Lady” because of my connection to the Pine Barrens Leeds clan and the legends. I don’t know what raped my great-great-great ancestor…where I got this Damned DNA. But this Yakwahe – this Cryptoid – can mean leaps forward in medical research – cures for diseases. Like mine. I’ve got Cancer. Stage Four Cervical. If this Freak can help science isolate a treatment for Cancer – whatever we’ve got to go through here tonight to find a way to capture one is worth it.”
Heinlein stopped the car. They had arrived at the Deserted Village of Feltville. Sachem Crow-Feather and his retinue – twelve Lenuwachumwak or “Braves” and two “Metaywinway” or Medicine women – were in full Leni Lenape Indian dress and waiting. The Braves clutched small round drums and the Medicine women carried tall poles with feathers fixed to the tops.
Crow-Feather approached Heinlein and Leeds.
“It is time. A fire must be started. The Circle of Braves must commence.”
Crow-Feather handed Leeds a folded animal-skin outfit.
“Change into this, please. It is the clothing of the Nuchihewe – of the Witch. The skirt is cut low to reveal your Kichkican. Your Mark. The Nukitet must see your body. Do not feel embarrassed. I ask you both to control your emotions and fear. The Nukitet will know your thoughts before you do. Think of what you wish to ask them – you don’t have to speak. Be courageous. They will turn their backs on you if you show cowardice. The Nukitet expect you to be Lenuwachumwak – Braves ready for battle. Prepared to die. They are unforgiving. They are the Creators. Prepare your spirits – and forget your White Gods. The White Gods will not help you tonight. Tonight there is only the Nukitet. The way of the Nukitet. The way of the Warrior. Do not disappoint them. You must be worthy.
Copyright, Jon Croft 2025
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