ELK hide 8" belt pouch MEDICINE possibles order BAG, jingle cone 8" fringe, plus bonus. Racoon jaw, rabbit fur detail. Strength, freedom, stamina.

DESCRIPTION:
Dark brown Elk Hide Belt Pouch with metal jingle cone tipped fringe that 'sing' with motion like the sound of gentle rain which is believed to be a healing power, glass bead acents and hand beaded opening, racoon jaw bone embellishment made by Choctaw artisan, Tracy (BearWoman). Each medicine pouch will come with a small bag of the most important traditional Native ‘medicines' to get you started. Used for healing by smudging for cleansing and order prayer, the medicines in your bag are Sage, Osha (Bear root), Sweet Grass, and Cedar. Wear this bag tied to a belt loop, a backpack, or as I use mine, tied to a handbag strap. Soft but thick and sturdy tanned elk hide with hand beadwork on the top opening. Large enough to hold many things you need to keep on hand as a medicine bag, a possibles pouch, or as Pow Wow dance regalia.

Medicine bags often hold sacred ‘tobacco', which is traditionally a personal mix of different plants and herbs, and in old tradition, indigenous wild tobacco. It's always carried in a special pouch by those who walk the traditional path to make an offering of thanks and respect to Mother Earth before taking anything…food, drink, a hunt, or materials for making crafts, or when asking for anything in a prayerful way. A Medicine Bag could include anything of significance to the wearer...herbs and plants for protection, stones or personal fetishes, animal parts such as feathers, teeth or claws to evoke the power of the animal. A medicine bag is a very powerful and personal spiritual object, and it is considered bad manners to ask someone what they carry in their bag!

In the days of the mountain man, a "possibles bag" was carried in which they carried everything that could possibly be needed for the day: black powder, powder measurer, flint and steel, lead balls and patch, a patch knife, and a skinning knife, as well as other personal items.

***MORE INFO BELOW DESCRIPTION.

SIZE / MEASUREMENTS:
Bag is 8 inches tall x about 4 3/4 inches wide, with the longest fringe being about 8 inches, although the fringe is different lengths.

MATERIALS:
Tanned elk skin, glass beads, tin jingle cones, rabbit fur, racoon jaw bone.

CONDITION:
New

OPTIONAL SHIPPING UPGRADE : I ship fast, usually the day you order, using USPS FIRST CLASS MAIL (1-5 days ), but for an additional cost you can purchase an upgrade to PRIORITY MAIL (1-3 days) at checkout if you wish.

***FREE SHIPPING INSURANCE ON INTERNATIONAL ORDERS*** :)

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MORE ABOUT THE SACRED MEDICINES:
There are sacred medicines traditionally used among Native People. They are used for healing, purification and prayer, and to communicate with the spirit world through offering. Any time that something is taken from the land, a spirit is being removed from its natural state and environment. This could be the smallest rock to the biggest animal. Because the spirit is being displaced, the People will make a medicine offering to that spirit as a gift for the energy that spirit will now share with them. Each medicine is a gift from one of the four directions and the teachings for each medicine go hand in hand with the sacred Medicine Wheel Teachings.

**Sweet Grass - Wiingash: Sweet grass is a gift from Mother Earth. It is said to be part of her hair and the use of sweet grass promotes strength and kindness. When braiding sweet grass each strand of the braid represents mind, body and spirit. It is also important to remember the teaching of the sweet grass braid and walk that way when wearing a braid in our own hair. The aroma of burning sweet grass has a calming effect and thus promotes kind thoughts. When smudging with sweet grass it is important to honor the hair of mother earth by smudging our own hair with the smoke. Since sweet grass promotes strength and kindness it is often used in healing circles and during ceremony to allow positive energy, kind thoughts and kind feelings to surface through any pain and suffering.

**Sage - Mashkodewashk: Sage is the most common medicine used during ceremonies as it is considered to be the most powerful cleanser. The use of sage during smudging is the cleansing or purification of negative energy and troubling feelings. Ceremonial bundles or objects, places and the body are often smudged by sage. Smudging the body consists of cleansing the five sensory organs, the head, the feet and the back.
Hands: To cleanse what we touch and to touch all things in a gentle and kind way.
Eyes: To cleanse our sight so we see all things that are good and to look at others in a kind way.
Nose: To cleanse our sense of smell so we know the things around us through smell.
Ears: To cleanse our ears so we can hear all things in good way and find the goodness through anything negative.
Mouth: To cleanse our words so that we may speak in a kind and non-judgmental way.
Head: To cleanse our mind so we may think clearly and in a kind and gentle way.
Feet: To cleanse our steps so that we may step lightly and kindly on our mother, the earth.
Back: To cleanse our troubles and lift the weight away.

**Cedar - Kiizhik: Cedar is used for purification and bringing balance into yourself. It is also known for attracting positive feelings, energy, and emotions. Cedar is often hung around the home and laid out on the floor of ceremonial lodges to offer protection from bad or harmful energy. When cedar is offered with tobacco into a fire it makes a crackling sound which is believed to call the attention of the spirits. The spirits will give a stronger passage for the message to be carried through into the spirit world. Cedar can be used in conjunction with smudging because of the properties of purification and balance it brings with its use.

**Osha or Bear Root: The osha plant is also known as "bear root" or "bear medicine," because Native Americans say they have observed bears eating osha when they are sick or weak from hibernation in order to renew their energy. It is used as a medicinal herb, as ceremonial incense, and as an element in a medicine pouch or bundle. Many tribes associate Osha plants with protection, healing, and good luck. Native medicines are chosen based on their uses on all levels of spirit. Osha Root in Native tradition is referred to as “Bear Root” for the Northern Direction as the Medicine Bear Healing Spirit.

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MORE ABOUT ELK:
The Elk as a spirit animal is a symbol of success that is expecting you in a future period, so you don't have to worry. This spirit animal is a symbol of strength, freedom, stamina and pride. The elk as a spirit animal may appear in your waking life, but also in your dream.

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MORE ABOUT RACOON:
The Spiritual Meaning Of Raccoon is numerous. It can be a sign that you need to be more brave and explore your life. Meet new people. And visit new places. Also, spend more time in nature. And can also be a sign that you have to wear masks. Raccoon is symbolic of the generous protector. This creature is the little bandit of the animal kingdom, always looking out for family and tribe, helping the less-fortunate even if that means stealing from the rich to feed the poor. They are a symbol of curiosity and intelligence. Raccoons are also a symbol of secrecy and disguise. They can also symbolize courage and self – defensiveness. Raccoon as a spirit animal is also a symbol of skillfulness. They also symbolize adaptability, flexibility, exploring and adventure.

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MORE ABOUT RABBIT:
Rabbit reminds us to examine and utilize the tools we have within ourselves. Although our instincts are innate, they also need nurturing and development. It may also indicate a need for more planning or to check those plans already set in motion. Do not box yourself in a corner. If rabbit is your spirit animal, you are often unpredictable and spontaneous, have fast reflexes and good coordination, are highly observant and alert, gentle and nurturing as well as clever and quick-witted. Rabbit people are quick to succeed and are highly skilled at success not only in their own lives but in advising those around them. You can instinctively sense what paths lead to danger, and which to success.

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MORE ABOUT THE MEANING OF JINGLES:
There are many teachings surrounding the origin of the Jingle Dance. The dance is known to have been a gift from the Creator to the Ojibway people for the purpose of healing – and has spread among other tribes. The cones are made of various metal materials. Some use other noise making materials, such as bones or deer hooves. Jingle dresses are often decorated with ribbon, and appliqué. Matching beadwork - leggings, moccasins, and hair ornaments – are paired with eagle feathers and plumes that are worn in the hair. Dancers carry a fan that is raised during the honor beats of the song.

The original jingle dress dance is said, by the Ojibwa, to have originated in Ontario. A medicine man's daughter was very sick and through prayer and meditation, he was given a powerful vision about a sacred healing dress from the Creator. "The origins of the medicine dress have not been lost," said Evelyn Thorn, a 76-year-old jingle dress dancer. "We had a dancer that I knew, on our home reserve at Whitefish Bay, named Maggie White. She was the original girl who was supposed to have been sick and it was her father who had a dream about a dress with all these jingling cones hanging off the material. He spent days making the dress, put it on her, lifted her up to try to make her dance and when she finally was able to dance she got better. Maggie passed away, an old women, in 1992," said Evelyn. "My mother has taught me that the healing dress is sacred and that we must be respectful in the keeping and proper care of the dress. In Ojibwa tradition, nobody was allowed to touch or wear another person's dress. We would never lend our sacred dress out to another woman or allow the dress to get wet in the rain."