Spirit or Medicine sticks
Some shaman or medicine
men/women carry with them a spirit stick. This is often used to call forth
all spirits to help answer a prayer. By being anchored in Mother Earth
and reaching up to father sky the spirit stick calls all spirits within
all realms.
The sticks are made of a spiritually selected wood, one of the most treasured
and respected woods would be that of a tree that has been struck by lightening.
Wood that has been struck by lightening is very, very strong/hard. It
is almost impossible to cut.
The spirit stick is usually decorated with feathers, fur and bones from
animals that have a spiritual power. They have been known to be decorated
with bear teeth and claws, eagle feathers and buffalo skin, along with
any other animal spirit that the shaman receives strength or endurance
from.
Spirit sticks are often carried by shamans who need very many and powerful
spirits to help fulfil a healing/cleansing or prayer. They are often given
to a shaman upon recognition of their particular strength and skill in
dealing with and removing bad spirits.
A spirit stick should only be made for a shaman who has received wisdom
and has a strong connection to the spirit world and believes very strongly
in truth and self sacrifice for the good of all.
Little
Hawk holds only a few spirit stick workshops each year and
only those she feels have the true spirit to carry a spirit stick are
permitted to participate in the workshop. Therefore she holds an introduction
to the spirit stick workshop before hand so all questions may be answered
where possible and she can feel the spirit of each individual to asses
whether they have the true spirit of the spirit stick bearer.
If you have been selected to do the workshop you will then go on to make
your spirit stick, this will only be a proto type as all that is needed
to decorate your spirit stick can only be found by you and then you can
tie them to your spirit stick. In the workshop you will learn the sacredness
of the spirit stick how to collect and decorate it in a sacred manner.
You will learn of the spiritual power of most animals and some protection
rituals to use when cleansing and healing an individual or place.
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