“We have the opportunity to build a Rainbow bridge into the Golden Age. But to do this, we must do it together with all the colors of the Rainbow, with all the peoples, all the beings of the world. We who are alive on Earth today are the Rainbow Warriors who face the challenge of building this bridge,"
~Brooke Medicine Eagle, Daughter of the Rainbow, Crow and Lakota ~
(510) 761-4448; Email: kmtribe@aol.com
Today, the tide of medical theory has begun to swing back towards an approach that recognizes and respects every aspect of the individual, including his or her mental and spiritual states. As a result, Native American medical practices are once again becoming popular with natives and non-natives alike.
Many are concerned about the toxicity, addictive properties, and side effects of pharmaceutical products and are turning to natural herbal remedies. Quality Native American products have often been developed and used over many centuries to deal with various illnesses. While not universally true, herbal remedies tend to be far less toxic and have far fewer disagreeable side effects than many prescription drugs. When choosing herbal remedies, look for carefully controlled and formulated products that use the highest quality organic ingredients and strict pharmaceutical levels of manufacturing.
Like any other medication, herbal products should be used appropriately. Follow directions and use in the proper form and at the proper dosage level.
Plants, primary food sources, tools, materials for basket making, healing provide many images. Flowers are usually connected with the sun. Common ones such as corn, symbol of life, squash, beans, beansprouts and seeds are very often found in pottery. The image here, is from a Navajo healing sand-painting, and each plant corresponds here to a compass direction as well. One unusual symbol, the open flower at the end of the "Squash blossoms" on Navajo necklaces, were not originally from squash at all. They were symbolic of the pomegranate, brought in by wealthy Spanish colonial settlers, and symbols of the new prosperity the Spanish introduced. As squash blossoms were already symbols of plenty, the new image took hold easily. Other plant images include trees, weeds (such as Devils Claw or Jimson Weed) and seed shapes. Whirling Logs, an ancient symbol from many cultures, the North American symbol depicted the cyclic motion of life, seasons and the four winds. Taken from the image of a tree in a whirlwind, this image is found in Navajo sand paintings frequently. It is considered a powerful medicine.
Feathers - Feathers are symbols of prayers, marks of honor idea sources. Their use represents the creative force. For example, taken from birds and used on arrows, the line of the arrow should be straight and long as in the migration of birds. Goose feathers would be an excellent representation of this idea. One might look at the use of eagle feathers as honored or close to the gods.
Prayer Sticks - A prayer stick is a stick-shaped object used for prayer to the Creator or to the Kachinas. For example, the rituals of the Pueblo contain many prayers; thus the Zuñi have prayers for food, health, and rain. Prayer-sticks, that is sticks with feathers attached as supplicatory offerings to the "spirits", were largely used by the Pueblo. These sticks are usually made of cottonwood about seven inches long, and vary in shape, color, and the feather attached, according to the nature of the petitions, and the person praying. The stick is intended to represent the "god" to whom the feathers convey the prayers that are breathed into the "spirit" of the plumes. The Hopi Indians had a special prayer-stick to which a small bag of sacred meal was attached. Green and blue prayer-sticks are often found in the Pueblo graves and especially in the ceremonial graves of Arizona. These prayer-sticks are also found in Navajo designs.
Arrows - Arrows appear with many different symbolic representations. Meanings include direction, force, movement, and power. The import is much the same as that of the bear and deer. they are a life force or pathway. In the animal spirit it is often referred to as the "heartline."