N A T I V E   A M E R I C A N  J E W E L R Y

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Native American Shields - Turtle, Buffalo, Bear Paw, Bear and Raven

Ledger Art - Reproductions of original ledger drawings

Beadwork - Traditional beadwork designs

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N  A  T  I  V  E      A  M  E  R  I  C  A N      S  H  I  E  L  D      J  E W  E L  R  Y

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Bear Paw Shield earrings with Eagle Feathers measure 2 inches from the top to the bottom of the longest eagle feather. The Bear shield alone is about 1 inch diameter.  These earrings are extremely light weight and can be worn even through the night without discomfort. Made from hand crafted hardened acrylic with surgical steel ear wires.

Native American Symbols and Meanings:

Bear Paw -The Bear Paw is a Native American symbol of healing medicines. Any root, plant, tree or bark that the bear uses to heal him or herself can be used by humans. In the old days we would follow the sick bear to see which medicines it would eat to heal itself.  Since most of these medicine had to dug up from the ground, the bear paw has become a symbol of healing. In mystical traditions if a person was meant to receive “bear medicine” they would have a dream where the bear claws their body and leaves it’s mark permanently. Although, normally there is no physical mark left behind, it is believed that the soul of the person is marked for eternity.

Eagle Feathers - The Eagle Feather will take our prayers, wishes and desires directly to the Creator. The feather is considered a gift from the Eagle who listens intently to our words and even our silent thoughts. The Eagle also closely watches all of our actions. Many of us have watched the eagle as it soars upward in the sky only to see it go so high it literally disappears from sight. This is why the eagle is considered to be in direct communication with the Creator.

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Native Talisman Art on ETSY

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Native American Symbols and Meanings:

Buffalo - The buffalo is a symbol of survival and strength. If you’ve ever observed a herd of buffalo in a winter storm, you will notice they don’t turn their backs to the wind. They always face the storm. No buffalo freezes to death. Yet, in the same storm many cattle die from the cold.

The Buffalo also reminds us that we are provided with everything in abundance. Everything we need is readily available and plentiful. We just have to find it. Like hunting for herds of buffalo in the old days - we just had to find them.

Eagle Feathers - The Eagle Feather will take our prayers, wishes and desires directly to the Creator. The feather is considered a gift from the Eagle who listens intently to our words and even our silent thoughts. The Eagle also closely watches all of our actions. Many of us have watched the eagle as it soars upward in the sky only to see it go so high it literally disappears from sight. This is why the eagle is considered to be in direct communication with the Creator.

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Native Talisman Art on ETSY

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Native American Symbols and Meanings:

Bear - The Bear walking toward the west is an indication of moving toward the “unseen” realms - the worlds of spirit beings, ancestors and wise ones. The paws indicate a medicine is being used or sought after. The West Wind direction also symbolizes courage and fearlessness. It is the unknown and one of the four major entry points for spiritual and mystical energies and entities. If you’ve ever observed bears, they roam as they please unafraid of anything They never turn their back and run. These shield earrings are reminders and symbols to have no fear and walk with bravery, victory and honor.

Eagle Feathers - The Eagle Feather will take our prayers, wishes and desires directly to the Creator. The feather is considered a gift from the Eagle who listens intently to our words and even our silent thoughts. The Eagle also closely watches all of our actions. Many of us have watched the eagle as it soars upward in the sky only to see it go so high it literally disappears from sight. This is why the eagle is considered to be in direct communication with the Creator.

Teachings:

The Bear is a Native American symbol of healing medicines. Any root, plant, tree or bark that the bear uses to heal him or herself can be used by humans. In the old days we would follow the sick bear to see which medicines it would eat to heal itself.   In mystical traditions if a person was meant to receive “bear medicine” they would have a dream where the bear claws their body and leaves it’s mark permanently. Although, normally there is no physical mark left behind, it is believed that the soul of the person is marked for eternity.

$26.95 plus $3 shipping

Available at:

Native Talisman Art ETSY

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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."

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.

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Beadwork Teepee Design Earrings

Symbolism: The beadwork pattern on these earrings represents the home, the family or the clan. There are four tipis (teepees) facing above and below. This represents the past, present and future. It also states that we carry the memories of our ancestors and we are protected and guide by them.  The Eagle Feather will 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: I’m 57 years old and when I began beading many of the old ways were still in effect. I wasn’t allowed to just jump in and start beading. I had to hear the stories about beads and their history. How our patterns and designs came into being and how they changed throughout time. How to earn the rights to various designs and how to dream new ones. Throughout this education some of my favorite patterns were the tipis because they represented family life. I believe these patterns are important to everyone so I created this set of jewelry. I hope you wear the pieces in good health and well-being. Mitakuye Oyasin (We are all related)

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.