(Click photo to view Hi-Res version)
Last weekend, we helped out Geoff's mom with a garage sale. After the sale, she encouraged us to take any items that were of interest to either of us.
Lately, I'm quite enamoured with both coasters and repurposed wood products. I picked out these circular teak wood coasters. She said that they date back to the 60s/70s, and formerly belonged to Geoff's grandmother.
I decided to paint them, using acrylic ink (which is quite a bit more translucent than acrylic paint) with various First Nations iconography.
Numbering each 1-6, L-R, top row to bottom, I will explain them:
1. The Sacred Tree is a place under which to gather, to find healing power, wisdom, and security. It is deeply rooted in Mother Earth and its hands reach outward toward Father Sky. The life of the tree represents the life of the people. It is foretold that the people may wander away from the nourishment and security of the tree, or they may attempt to destroy it. This will bring a great sorrow, where people will quarrel, become unable to deal with each other honestly, fall sick at heart, and are unable to dream. However, the tree will never die - and, as long as the tree lives, so do the people. It is also foretold that they will one day awaken, as though from a drugged sleep, and begin again to search out the protection of The Sacred Tree.
2. I have previously explained the significance of the medicine wheel here.
3. A feather represents the element of air in a smudging ritual. An eagle feather, signaling truth, power, and freedom, is the most spiritual and honoured gift that can be bestowed upon someone.
4. I have been told that the Grandmothers who came forth to say I was their relative communicated that the eagle is my guide. It is the most powerful figure in the skyworld, representing the gifts of the East, such as vision and new beginnings. The eagle symbolizes leadership - and a leader of the people must often travel alone. The eagle has the vantage point to be able to observe the movements of all creatures below, to know the hiding places of even the tiniest amongst them, and to safeguard their well-being.
5. An inukshuk is a manmade landmark, traditionally left by peoples in the Arctic region of North America. It is a symbol by and for travelers - made to alert future visitors that they are both welcome, and not alone in their plight: someone has travelled these lands before.
6. Smudging is a cleansing ritual, often performed with aspects of all four elements: An abalone shell (water), contains one or more of the four sacred medicines (earth), which are lit until smoking (fire), and the smoke is heightened and directed by a smudging feather (air). The four sacred medicines are: sweetgrass (represents love, kindness, and honesty, and is braided to symbolize Mother Earth's hair), sage (cleanses and removes negative energy), cedar (purification - on a fire, it crackles, said to call attention to the Spirit World), and tobacco (represents protection and respect, and traditionally given as an offering, it opens the door to the Spirit World).
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