Prayer Sticks? (Native American)

[TemperanceAngel]

Kiama and Zorya I am unsure of what Forum this should be in, please move it if you think it should be somewhere else!

I purchased a beautiful prayer stick on the weekend. It's made out of driftwood about 10cm long, 2cm at the bottom and 4cm at the top.

There are three eagle feathers at the top and below this a quartz crystal placed in the wood. Underneath threaded on some leather is a carnelion crystal.

It was made in the Northern Territory but definately has a Native American feel to it. I have been Googling about it but am not coming up with very much information.

What I understand so far is that it's used to send prayers to the Creator. I know what the crystals are for. But would love some more information?

What can I use the Prayer Stick for? What's the traditions that go with Prayer Sticks?

Can they be used for smudging/clearing? Is it like a wand?

Many thinks for any wisdom, insights and links

 

[zorya]

yours sounds very beautiful and perhaps it has some other purpose than what i think of as a prayer stick.

when i make a prayer stick, i choose an appropriate feather (usually turkey) and tie it to the top of a stick, then place it in the ground in a sacred location that is on high ground. when the wind blows the feather it carries the prayer upward. the stick can also be chosen for the properties of the wood.

 

[TemperanceAngel]

Thanks Zorya, any suggestions on where I could get some info about prayer sticks?

I think maybe it has been made in the tradition of a prayer stick, but with that quartz crystal facing upward I can't help but feel that it's there to direct enrgy into, to focus into?

 

[zorya]

sometimes gemstones, fur etc. are added to prayer sticks. i occasionally add a small chip of amethyst or rose quartz to mine.

i'm sorry but i really don't have a good source of info for you. there are many different native american peoples, each with their own traditions.

btw, one of the most beautiful sights i've ever seen was at a hopi mesa. at first glance, what appeared to be bushes of white flowers all around the edge of the mesa, turned out to be bunches of prayer sticks, all with white feathers.

 

[zorya]

thinking about your description.... you might have a talking stick, or what could be called a shaman's wand.

 

[TemperanceAngel]

btw, one of the most beautiful sights i've ever seen was at a hopi mesa. at first glance, what appeared to be bushes of white flowers all around the edge of the mesa, turned out to be bunches of prayer sticks, all with white feathers.

WOW What a beautiful sight to behold!

 

[AJ]

I've made three of these this year, I've hung them in my crabapple trees.
I don't do prayer, I call them power sticks, and I think I got the idea from Making The Gods Work For You, which is about astrology
I love the idea of the feather on the top (mine are at the bottom) with the stick tamped into the ground. Now there is a source of power!

 

[BodhiSeed]

AJ suggested I try making a prayer/power stick as I've been dealing with an ongoing resentment that I couldn't seem to let go of. This blog explained things a bit (very simply), but gave other websites if you want more detail:
http://starbear.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/sticky-notes-prayer-sticks-and-feathers/
My stick was a found sycamore branch with several forks. I hung an owl's feather, a bluebird feather, and a dove feather (wisdom, happiness, peace), as well as a shell and a piece of coral (cooling the emotions), and a buddha bead (compassion). I intended to put the stick in the ground outside, but because we have an army of squirrels who dig up anything and everything, I stuck it in sand and put it on my back porch. If nothing else, it will be a constant reminder of my intention.

 

[tarotbear]

thinking about your description.... you might have a talking stick, or what could be called a shaman's wand.

I was about to say the same thing - is it possibly a 'talking stick'? One where the person with the stick has the right to speak and is not interrupted until it is handed over to someone else to speak.