Wolf Tan Leather Medicine Bag by Kim Wilson

Wolf - Inner power, wild, instinctive
Wolves howl at the moon. Howling can be seen as finding our own true inner voice, a voice that is untamed by what society thinks. It is a voice that is entirely natural. Wolf is actually quite a feminine symbol. It symbolises a wild, instinctive and passionate nature that is natural. Stories are common in the past of some lone wolves almost magically outwitting hunters. Some of these wolves even became known by specific names because of their notoriety.

Wolves are not naturally aggressive although they can be if called upon. Wolf is about knowing your inner power in such a sure way that you do not need to demonstrate it. It is much like a black belt in karate not needing to go around beating people up, because they know they have a skill and strength that is hidden and ready to be used if called upon.

Wolves are both family orientated and can be individualistic also just as humans can. Wolves communicate widely within a pack. They have different facial expressions, postures, tail positions and noises that keep the pack together and in order. There is an alpha male and female in each pack but each wolf within the pack has different responsibilities. The wolf is a social animal and different female wolves will aid in the bringing up of the young. If a mother can no longer care for its pup another mother will adopt it. Also wolves will baby-sit for others pups.

To wear or have near you the symbol of wolf is to howl your deeper nature into existence. As humans we become so conditioned by what society and other people expect of us we can lose touch with our wild nature that wants to be let lose. Wolf helps us connect to this our inner power. The moon represents this deeper hidden side and the howling is the call to bring this part of us forward.

Medicine Bag - Bag for sacred objects
A medicine bag is a sacred pouch used in the Native American tradition and hung around the neck. In it you place sacred objects that represent your own personal “medicine”. There is no real limit to what these objects can be but some examples are: small crystals or rocks, feathers, plants, herbs or anything that has significance to you.

Here are three examples of occasions you may wish to put items in your bag:

Add an item that represents your power animal or guides. This helps to reinforce this connection.

If something significant happens to you like a personal breakthrough which you want to anchor into your life, look around for something small to put in your medicine bag to help you make real what has happened.

Place something in your bag that represents a part of yourself that you wish to develop. For example if you wanted to be more loving you may place in there a small piece of rose quartz.

A medicine bag helps you remember who we are. It also acts as a means of personal energetic protection and in certain situations can be held by others to help bring healing and protection to them.

A medicine bag is a sacred bag and should be cared for as such, only being opened by yourself to put in new items. If something accidentally falls from your bag, don’t worry, often you will leave that thing out as it has probably served you and you are ready for something new. As you add new items bless them. Smudge them on the way in if you can. Consciously be aware of what you are wishing for by placing these items in there.

You can add decoration to your medicine bag in whatever way you feel adding beads, feathers or any other items that call to you. When you first start to use you bag it is good if you can smudge your new bag with sage smoke and also put some time aside to set your intention for using the bag and to say some prayers.

Kim Wilson - Winnebago Sioux tribe -
Kim Wilson is a member of the Winnebago Sioux tribe and lives in the USA. We trade directly with this artist making sure they receive a fair price for their work. All items will be good quality but because of the hand made nature of the goods it is possible that crafts such as these may have small differences between them. These small artistic differences (if there are any) should be seen as a testimony to the fact that you are buying authentic Native American crafts.

Deer - Gentleness, kindness
Deer energy is very gentle. Deer energy ignores negativity and bad behaviour and cuts right through this to find the true heart of whatever or whoever they are dealing with. For someone who wishes to hold bad thoughts about others this can be hard to deal with as deer energy offers nothing for them to fight with and just like the five of swords in the Tarot they may just put their sword down and stop fighting leaving themselves open to love and compassion.

The Buddha is often depicted with a deer and in many legends knights (such as Sir Gawain) follow deer deep into woodland to find new adventures and new heart. Deer brings a healing gift because it is so gentle and only sees through the eyes of love. This is a powerful thing as it can cause others to respond back in kind. Thus healing them.