HK Item #DCS-19
Turtle Spirit Medicine Shield
Cynthia Whitehawk - Apache

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Hand crafted and hand painted
Native American Ceremonial Healing Art

The Turtle Spirit Shield is hand crafted from a gourd and hand decorated using pyrography (carving with fire) painting with acrylics and enamals. The shield is signed and dated by the artist and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

The hand crafted medicine bag made of honey buckskin is filled with quartz crystals, turquoise and sacred tobacco and sage.

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Paula says -

"This Ceremonial Turtle Medicine Shield depicts Mother Earth Turtle with a Feather Shield on her shell creating a vortex of energy and protection. In the middle of the shield is a Four Directions Medicine Wheel with a clear turquoise cabochon at the center.

"Cynthia Whitehawk is such a talented artist. This Turtle Shield is mounted on a dreamcatcher and was entirely hand crafted, made in ceremony, with attention to detail & durability."

The cascading honey deerskin fringe is beaded with traditional red and gold buffalo horn, glass crow beads, copper and brass beads.

Draped from the base of the dream catcher is a large hand carved carnelian turtle totem and four red agate turtle totems along with turquoise and coral heishi beads, brass and copper beads.

Mother Earth Turtle.

Words from Apache artist Cynthia Whitehawk:

MINIATURES - The techniques used in the creation of this one of a kind art are the most difficult to master. Miniature pyrography (carving with fire) takes the utmost of patience, a precise clear vision, as well as an extremely delicate hand. Not only is miniature work the most difficult, but the most time consuming, add to that working on a slick rounded surface which requires the highest of skill. This art is extremely rare and only practiced by the most gifted of people.

DREAM CATCHERS - Dreamcatchers originated in the Ojibwa Nation and were later adopted by Native Americans of a number of different Nations. The dreamcatcher was based on a willow hoop on which was woven a net or web of sinew. It was then decorated with personal and sacred items such as feathers and beads. Some consider the dreamcatcher a symbol of unity among the various Indian Nations, and a general symbol of identification with Native American or First Nations cultures. Others believe that dreamcatchers protect sleepers from nightmares - the web allows only good dreams to pass through while holding bad dreams to perish in the light of day.

TURTLE - Nurturer, Protector, Mother Energy, Mother Earth. Turtle's medicine includes connection with Great Spirit, journeys of discovery, patience, feminine strength, power to heal female diseases, inspiration, protecting oneself snd others, self-reliance, and tenacity, longevity.

SPIRIT SHIELD - Shields are ancient ceremonial tools, providing protection from that which would harm or divert one from the good path, bringing strength and healing through ones power totems, Spirit Animals and Beings, and Mother Earths elements.

MANDALA - A design symbolic of the universe that is used in Hinduism and Buddhism as an aid to meditation. An Apache mandala is a hoop similar to a dreamcatcher but instead of a web the hoop is filled with yarn, feathers, fur and usually has feathers hanging from the bottom. Mandala is something you hang for prosperity and good fortune on a door or wall inside your office, home, hogan, or tipi.