The Southeastern Ceremonial Complex was a large system of tribes which once included the

Chickasaw homeland. Many southeastern spiritual relics display a forked eye symbol similar to

a falcon, representing one of the three worlds of the Southeast Ceremonial Complex’s religious

belief. Southeastern cosmology included 3 realms- an orderly overworld, the earthly middle

world, and the chaotic underworld, each with their own symbols and spiritual figures. The forked

eye featured was used to represent individuals from the overworld, often depicted as bird

people called Thunderers, associated with the sun, moon, stars, and preternatural power.

Poem:

Like the watchful gaze of a perching falcon

Thunderers overlook a world carefully balanced

By clashes between forces both heavenly and huma