Origins:
It is my understanding that the first documented account of the appearance of the Irish Wolfhound is found in the Book of Invasions of Ireland. The book states that prior to the arrival of the Celts, there were five other groups of invaders. One of these groups, dating back to 32000 BC, were called “Thuata de Danann”. They are reported to have been different from the existing humans, described as a race of “Hero-divinities”. They are said to have been physically beautiful, tall in stature, red-haired, fair-skinned, powerful, aristocratic beings who were accompanied by great hounds. Their main residences were in and around Boyne Valley and the Irish Valley of the Kings around Newgrange.

Symbolism:
The Irish Wolfhound by it’s very nature is a symbol of the ultimate warrior, who is wise, compassionate, strong, courageous and intelligent. They are also a symbol of survival and a symbol of abundance because of their help with hunting and defense against enemies. Much like the horse which is called “Sacred Dog” in my Native American language, the Irish Wolfhound has been and will continue to be instrumental in the survival and well-being of the people.

The artist Paula Bidwell is Native American and married to an Irishman from Dublin, Ireland. In their many years together they discovered their cultures and traditions are very similar. Paula feels it is important to be able to create jewelry which is significant in it’s meaning whether Irish or Native American and to bring to the future the ancient customs and cultures of both of their people. She also believes strongly that we are all related and there is very little separation between us. Her art resonates with all cultures and peoples.
NativeTalismanArt.com

Symbolism: Turtle Island is another term for the North American continent. I remember hearing the story when I was a little girl. I’ll tell it as best as I can remember.

A long time ago there was a tremendous flood. The survivors were the creatures that could swim and fly. Immediately after the flood, the turtle, dove to the bottom and brought up a clod of earth and placed it on it’s back. Soon the other animals and birds followed the turtle and dove and dove into the water bringing up more and more earth placing it on Turtles back. Suddenly winds from all four directions gusted and gailed and the turtle became large and larger and the clods of earth grew larger and larger eventually making a new earth on the turtles back. Everything re-populated and we have the turtle to thank for saving the North american continent.

Symbolism: The Eagle Feathers take our prayers, wishes and desires directly to the Creator. The feather is considered a great gift from the Eagle who listens intently to our words and even our silent thoughts. The Eagle also closely watches all of our actions.

Inspiration: The turtle shield earrings have a green circle showing the earth and the red and green triangles showing the healing medicines from above and below. Head and tail pointing north and south show us we will never be lost. The Eagle feathers remind us that if we ask we will receive. The Eagle Feathers in these earrings are my design with the black tip in the shape of a Water Bird. The Water Bird dives into the water and brings up medicine from the bottom of lakes depositing them on the shore for us to use. Much like the Turtle, the Water Bird has an affiliation with land and water. These earrings are deeply symbolic and remind us that we have available everything necessary for a successful life in this world.

Teachings: Some turtles are engraved with thirteen segments on their shells. These represent the thirteen moons in a lunar year and the thirteen cycles in a woman’s body.  In each of these moon segments there are teachings. I cannot tell all the teachings, but in general there are lessons of patience in the slow  movement of the turtle, perseverance in the Turtle’s untiring completion of every journey, awareness of surroundings, knowledge that we have everything we need represented by Turtle’s home on it’s back and adaptability represented by the fact that Turtle can live on earth or in the water.

Artist: Paula Bidwell of Native Talisman Art is an American Indian artist, jeweler and author. She is also considered an Indigenous Healer and spent many years on the reservation learning traditional healing and ceremony. She combines being an artist and indigenous healer into her art. Paula believes strongly that we are all related and there is very little separation between us. Her art resonates with all cultures and peoples.

The songs I use, I have been given specific rights to, or they have come to me through the Tunkasilas (Ancient Beings). Although, there are many ways other than mine to get songs. Most important is the heart’s intent. The song can be toning or chanting or just making a series of sounds while your heart is set on it’s intent. I’ve seen some people howl like a wolf or coyote. Growl like a bear. Make a series of tones and sounds. Chant. This all works. Every culture has or had a way of sacred singing. In my youth, I often criticized those who did things different than me and each time, I ended up humiliated. There was always a very good reason for a person’s behavior. Especially, in a sacred context. My Grandmother often said: “Don’t criticize or judge, maybe the Creator is making them do what they do.”

When we sing we connect the heart and mind. This is called “sending a voice”. The metaphysical concept of “sending a voice” is actually based in science. Scientists say that when a sound is made it lasts forever and goes into the universe ringing to infinity. Well, my ancestors knew this a long time ago. That’s why we have so many songs and they are always a part of every ceremony, gathering or event.

There are many types of ceremony songs. The most common are:

“Calling songs” which call or invoke the helpers or spirits or Ancient Beings (Tunkasilas).

“Four winds, powers, or direction songs” which acknowledge the powers symbolized by the wind and/or the four directions.

“Healing songs” these songs are often used during Sun Dance or Doctoring ceremonies. It is said, “They are sung so the people may live.” There are more healing songs than I can count. These songs typically have a fast tempo and a hard drumbeat. In fact most ceremony songs have a quick or fast tempo and hard drum beat to quicken the heart and make us feel alive and well.

“Thanking songs” are sung to thank the spirits, helpers, or ancient beings who came to the ceremony and helped us.

Gathering these basic types of songs will give you a good foundation for ceremony.

The idea for these pieces of jewelry came to me in a vision during a Native American healing ceremony. I was thinking and praying that the poverty concepts I’ve held onto for so long would be eliminated from my life. I prayed to bring in the qualities of abundance and prosperity. At the end of my prayer, I sat in peace and stillness for a few moments. I had my eyes closed. When I opened them, I saw the Prosperity pendant in the center of the ceremony altar. I heard a voice tell me to make these pieces of jewelry and to wear them. Then make more to share with everyone.

At first, I wasn’t convinced that jewelry would help me change my attitudes toward money. But because it came through a vision during ceremony, I figured there was a fairly good chance for success. (I am such a doubter!!!)

Anyway, since the pendant is lightweight and comfortable, I wore it to sleep one night. My dreams were a little more interesting than usual. So, I decided to do it for several nights. After awhile I noticed my general fears about money and finances had definitely lessened. My thinking was more about abundance, prosperity and a healthy and generous life.

One day I went grocery shopping, my list was really long, and I wondered whether I had enough money to make all the purchases. I wasn’t stressed over this as I usually would be. Interestingly, at the end of checkout, my cost was way less than I had anticipated. I thought I knew pretty much the cost of everything and was aware that prices were rising, yet my total was unbelievably small. Coincidence? Delusion? Who knows?

I’m still wearing the dollar bill necklace as a constant reminder that I have plenty of money. It is also a reminder to my conscious and subconscious mind that there is money on me and around me! I love these pendant necklaces and find I feel very empowered, as if anything is possible, when I wear them. Am thinking my next step might be to make on with a twenty dollar bill in it and then make one with a hundred dollar bill! O.K., so I’m not really ready for the hundred dollar bill, but it’s a great idea to move toward.

My most sincere wishes and blessings to all, Paula

Native American handmade Cookbook by NativeTalismanArt.com

Native American cooking and recipes cover a broad spectrum. From the east, south, west and northern regions each with their own indigenous food sources. This article covers the Western Plains Indians, specifically Lakota (Sioux).

Many techniques and methods of cooking are not used today except on rare occasions when a ceremony would require it. In ceremony, the food is cooked outdoors over hot coals or buried in the ground over hot coals. Originally, cooking vessels were rawhide containers. Heated stones were added to the mixture to heat. Most meat and produce were dried. So this method worked well since the ingredients were dried there wasn’t any “cooking” per se, just a heating of ingredients.

Most foods were eaten raw or dried, since the process of building a fire is time consuming and uses a lot of wood. The dried foods were not dull or lacking in flavor. They were mixed with other ingredients. An example of this is what many people know as “Pemmican”. In Lakota it is called “Wasna” (Was-nah).

Wasna is also a traditional food for sacred ceremony. When prepared for ceremony there are specific methods and actions required. I will write another article on Cooking for Ceremony at a later date.

The following is the traditional recipe for making this wonderful and tasty food called “Wasna”.

Wasna

Dried meat without any seasonings, not even salt.

Canpa (choke cherry patties) or raisins

Kidney fat or lard

Sugar

Put dried meat in a pillowcase and pound with a hammer until very fine. Put the

pounded meat into a bowl and mix in the choke cherries or raisins and sugar.

Heat the kidney fat , suet or lard until melted. Cool until you can handle it with your hands and

not burn yourself. Pour enough fat or lard into the meat mixture to slightly moisten and

mix well. You want this mixture to stick together only a bit for ease of eating. Eating is done with a spoon or pinched into the hand.

For a complete Native American cookbook please see my website at: http://www.nativetalismanart.com

Raven heart woman by Paula Bidwell

There are so many bird medicines. They are complex and tricky to describe. I have hesitated to write about them.  Then the idea came that it would be better to start by sharing a few and then adding other stories later. The one’s I know are from personal experience and training.

Water Birds

These are the birds that dive to the bottom of lakes and rivers and deposit on the shore the medicines we need for healing.  Water birds are one of the important and significant medicines of the Native American Church or Peyote Way.

Song birds

These are the birds that give us songs and enhance our voices with power to heal and strengthen the people.  Some of these birds are the Blue bird, the Eagle and Finches.

The eagle has many uses in traditional Native American life. When it comes to singing they bring songs to the singers. That is why northern singers such as the Lakota sing at a very high pitch. They are imitating the sound of the eagle.

Warrior Birds

These birds are generally birds of prey such as eagle, owl, and hawk. Eagle takes our prayers and thoughts up to the higher realms where the “helper” spirits live and also is great protection. Hawks deal more with the earthly realms in areas such as food and shelter. Owls are not just messengers, they have healing ability in their talons, and they guard us.

There are individual types of birds that give us medicine. Their medicines usually come through the usage of their feathers, rather than their songs or behaviors. 

Flicker – Flicker feathers from the tail, because of their sharp point at the tip, are used in doctoring to open the area on the body that needs something removed. Such as a blood clot, tumor, or a foreign object. I use the term “foreign object” rather than what Indian people know as “Bad Medicine”.  Bad Medicine is when a person “shoots” something into another’s body or sends a spirit or other type of entity to make the target victim ill, to make them die, or to cripple them. Unfortunately, this is quite common.

Flicker feathers are also known as “Love Medicine” which supposedly brings a lover into someone’s life or finds a “soul mate”. This type of medicine is considered lower level of usage of a powerful medicine. I often call this type of use, “manipulative magic”.  Because of my lineage and training I am forbidden to use this sort of medicine.  I can never change, alter or influence a person’s life without their permission and the permission of the “Tunkasilas” ancient spirits. Manipulative magic doesn’t ask, it invades and is very harmful. 

Raven – Raven is a “trickster”. Raven appears in a variety of forms making us think they are another type of bird. Their voice can make us think they are human. They often appear to be another color instead of black.  The “trickster” keeps us alert and aware. Honing our skills of observation and broadening our personal perspectives. If we communicate with Raven it is best to remember that they are true “tricksters”.  Sometimes the answers they give are straightforward and other times the messages are the opposite of what it should be.  The listener must be very in tune with which type of message the Raven is giving. Raven will show us the brighter side of life with sparkling and shiny objects in its beak or when it dives repeatedly at a shiny object on the ground. When raven does this, it is such an uplifting experience and so necessary for our well being in this illusionary world. To read more see my article and personal story of the Raven Heart Woman. NativeTalimsmanArt.com.

Bear Dreamer - A true Story

Dreams and visions from Paula Bidwell, artist, jeweler, indigenous healer and owner of the on-line store – Native Talisman Art

In the late ’80′s I had a vivid dream. It haunted me for months. Little did I know this dream would take me into experiences beyond anything I had ever imagined.

After an “Inipi” or “Sweat Lodge” where I was visiting in Green Grass, South Dakota on the Cheyenne River Sioux reservation, I told the dream to a Medicine man. The dream happened to be one that was foretold in prophecy regarding the White Buffalo Calf Pipe. The prophecy was that one or two members of various tribes would have this exact and specific dream and would come to the Buffalo Calf Pipe with it.

The requirement for fulfilling the dream was to fast and pray on a high hill. I was told I had 4 years to prepare. And I took 3 and a half years to do it. I really didn’t feel worthy or ready or any number of excuses I held at the time. But after 2 years, I asked my elder uncle to help me prepare for a “Vision Quest” or as it is called in Lakota – “Hanbleceya”.

I spent a year and a half preparing by fasting regularly, spending much time in prayer, by attending various ceremonies, especially “Sweat Lodge”. Even though I spent so much energy and time preparing, I still wanted to delay the event. But one night a mysterious and still unexplained event happened.

I had just gotten into bed and was ready to fall into a deep sleep. I pulled the blankets up and nestled in, shut my eyes and started to drift from this world. Suddenly, something fell on my chest. It felt heavy. I was startled and a little frightened. Not knowing what to expect, I quickly got out of bed and turned on the lights. There on top of my blanket was a perfectly round ball of South Dakota sage. As soon as I saw it, I heard someone say, “Go on the hill to fast and pray in the middle of May”. Without a doubt I knew this was true. I also knew the sage came from another world. I didn’t have any South Dakota sage in my house. Nor did I have any kind of sage rolled into the shape of a ball.

After this event, many mysterious and wonderful things occurred. But I will save the stories for another time.  Instead, I will briefly tell you what happened during the Vision Quest (Hanbleceya) as I wrote it for the drawing I made of my vision.

“On a high hill, the woman stood alone with her ceremonial pipe. She lifted her voice in a song calling the one she had awaited many years, the Medicine Bear. The Bear heard her song, felt her heart and approached. The woman and Bear loved each other so much that they merged into one being. Just before they became one, the Bear said: “It is the women who know of pain and suffering and it is the women who are the true healers. Many women will dream of me.”

Mitakuye Oyasin (We are all related)

Paula Bidwell

Native Talisman Art

Assimilation Blues

Grandmother, I am sad.

Come, sit. Together we will be sad.

Bowed heads, silently honoring the Sad.

Sometimes a song, sometimes a story,

Sometimes silence,

Breathing the Sad,

Heads bowed sitting with the Sad.

The people come,

Tonight we sing until the sun shows, 

Acknowledging Sad’s message received.

Tomorrow we laugh and eat,

Honoring the Sad;

continuing life.

Assimilation Mother, I am sad.

Don’t be sad.

Have something sweet to eat, something pretty to buy,

Forget the Sad.

Assimilation Doctor, I am sad.

Sad is not real.

Have a pill,

Hide the Sad.

Assimilation Friend, I am sad.

Tell me about it, details, details.

Open the wound,

Cleanse the Sad.

Grandmother, where are you?

There is no one to honor the Sad.

Grandmother, I remember you.

Now I am Alone, with the Sad.

Alone, with the songs,

Alone, the Sad grows great.

Grandmother, where are you?

Crystal amethyst a Talking Stone Medicine

Amethyst — Sending a Voice  Stone  (The Talking Stone)

Amethyst sends a voice out into the universe. Whatever  you’re feeling and thinking,  Amethyst will translate and send. This stone is especially good for people using mantras and the Secret or Law of Attraction.  Use this stone carefully, whatever you think and feel,  it will send and the Universe will manifest.

Wear it in a medicine bag or in a piece of jewelry.  Or use it as a meditation tool to focus your sight on.  Although,  I caution whatever way you use it, use it only on days and times when you are  focused.  It is best to use in an uncut, unpolished, raw form. The “voice” in it’s natural state is clearer and louder with more force and  power. 

There are sounds  and/or songs that resonate with every crystal, stone, rock or mineral.  To find the tonal vibrations, hold and/or look at the stone in a meditative state and wait for a tingling sensation in your stomach (2nd chakra) around your navel. When the tingling begins, without thinking,  open your voice and let the sound(s) or song come out.  It’s a good idea to have a voice recorder, such as tape or digital . Since you are in a meditative state sometimes it’s hard to remember the earthly stuff.

After you have the sound or song that goes with your stone use it every time you use the stone. It will awaken the stone, especially if it hasn’t been used in a long time. Also, the sounds or song will help the stone focus on you, and not on other transmissions and interferences that may be in your environment.  Living in a crowded environment like a city or apartment complex can buffer your intent because of so many other intentions in close proximity.  Use the song to eliminate these interferences.

How do I know that?  During my early training in the ceremonial ways of the Lakota, I found a particularly rare  rock. My teachers taught me how to retrieve the song that belonged to it.  I have used this teaching for every stone that comes to me.  The method for doing this is basically described above,  waiting for the tingling in your stomach navel area and then letting the sound out. 

 I was also taught  several ways to talk with the “rocks”.  Some rocks have ears, some have mouths, some you can put to your ear and hear a buzzing sound. Sometimes it takes years to learn how to work with a particular stone.  Stones have a very different sense of time. Consider that they are the first living beings on the planet. Each one is eons old.  Some of you may know the Lakota word  “Tunkasila”, which is generally translated as “grandfather”,  but the original word means “very ancient rock”. It was an analogy for the Creator, Ancient Mystery, God,  etc. There’s a lot of wisdom and power in that. So, take your time.  Make sure you get something authentic and not a creation of wishful thinking.  I waited seven years for one particular rock’s song. And then it came out with so many songs,  I couldn’t remember them all. Each song was for a particular healing modality.  My teachers say that each of those songs is in my heart and I will remember them when the time comes.