The origin of Fire in Cherokee myth originates when the Thunders struck a tree with lightening, igniting the first flame. Many of the great animals attempted to cross the water and bring the fire back, but each failed in their own way. It wasn't until the Water Spider, small and clever, ran across the water and brought back a small coal in her tusti bowl that fire was shared.
While most Cherokees told stories out of amusement and much of earlier culture has been lost, I have come to speculate the symbolism involved in the story and sought to bring a new level of mysticism to the story.
