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Native American Bear Dreamer - A true Story

In the late '80's I had a vivid dream. It haunted me for months. Little did I know this dream would take me into experiences beyond anything I ever imagined.

After an "Inipi" or "Sweat Lodge" where I was visiting in Green Grass, South Dakota on the Cheyenne River Sioux reservation, I told the dream to a Medicine man. The dream happened to be one that was foretold in prophecy regarding the White Buffalo Calf Pipe. The prophecy was that one or two members of various tribes would have this exact and specific dream and would come to the Buffalo Calf Pipe with it.

The requirement for fulfilling the dream was to fast and pray on a high hill. I was told I had 4 years to prepare. And I took 3 and one half years to do it. I really didn't feel worthy or ready or any number of excuses I held at the time. But after 2 years, I asked my elder uncle to help me prepare for a "Vision Quest" or as it is called in Lakota - "Hanbleceya".

I spent a year and a half preparing by fasting regularly, spending much time in prayer, by attending various ceremonies, especially "Sweat Lodge". Even though I spent so much energy and time preparing, I still wanted to delay the event. But one night a mysterious and still unexplained event happened.

I had just gotten into bed and was ready to fall into a deep sleep. I pulled the blankets up and nestled in, shut my eyes and started to drift from this world. Suddenly, something fell on my chest. It felt heavy. I was startled and a little frightened. Not knowing what to expect, I quickly got out of bed and turned on the lights. There on top of my blanket was a perfectly round ball of South Dakota sage. As soon as I saw it, I heard someone say, "Go on the hill to fast and pray in the middle of May". Without a doubt I knew this was true. I also knew the sage came from another world. I didn't have any South Dakota sage in my house. Nor did I have any kind of sage rolled into the shape of a ball.

After this event, many mysterious and wonderful things occurred. But I will save the stories for another time. Instead, I will briefly tell you what happened during the Vision Quest (Hanbleceya) as I wrote it for the drawing I made of my vision.

"On a high hill, the woman stood alone with her ceremonial pipe. She lifted her voice in a song calling the one she had awaited many years, the Medicine Bear. The Bear heard her song, felt her heart and approached. The woman and Bear loved each other so much that they merged into one being. Just before they became one, the Bear said: "It is the women who know of pain and suffering and it is the women who are the true healers. Many women will dream of me."

Mitakuye Oyasin (We are all related)

Paula Bidwell

Native Talisman Art

This drawing and other vision art are available on the web. Please see my website at: http://www.nativetalismanart.com

Or visit my Etsy store at: http://nativetalismanart.etsy.com

Native American Bird Medicines

Native American Bird Medicines

There are so many bird medicines. They are complex and tricky to describe. I have hesitated to write about them. Then the idea came that it would be better to start by sharing a few and then adding other stories later. The one’s I know are from personal experience and training.

Water Birds

These are the birds that dive to the bottom of lakes and rivers and deposit on the shore the medicines we need for healing. Water birds are one of the important and significant medicines of the Native American Church or Peyote Way.

Song birds

These are the birds that give us songs and enhance our voices with power to heal and strengthen the people. Some of these birds are the Blue bird, the Eagle and Finches.

The eagle has many uses in traditional Native American life. When it comes to singing they bring songs to the singers. That is why northern singers such as the Lakota sing at a very high pitch. They are imitating the sound of the eagle.

Warrior Birds

These birds are generally birds of prey such as eagle, owl, and hawk. Eagle takes our prayers and thoughts up to the higher realms where the "helper" spirits live and also is great protection. Hawks deal more with the earthly realms in areas such as food and shelter. Owls are not just messengers, they have healing ability in their talons, and they guard us.

There are individual types of birds that give us medicine. Their medicines usually come through the usage of their feathers, rather than their songs or behaviors.

Flicker

Flicker feathers from the tail, because of their sharp point at the tip, are used in doctoring to open the area on the body that needs something removed. Such as a blood clot, tumor, or a foreign object. I use the term “foreign object” rather than what Indian people know as “Bad Medicine”. Bad Medicine is when a person “shoots” something into another’s body or sends a spirit or other type of entity to make the target victim ill, to make them die, or to cripple them. Unfortunately, this is quite common.

Flicker feathers are also known as “Love Medicine” which supposedly brings a lover into someone’s life or finds a “soul mate”. This type of medicine is considered lower level of usage of a powerful medicine. I often call this type of use, “manipulative magic”. Because of my lineage and training I am forbidden to use this sort of medicine. I can never change, alter or influence a person’s life without their permission and the permission of the “Tunkasilas” ancient spirits. Manipulative magic doesn’t ask, it invades and is very harmful.

Raven

Raven is a “trickster”. Raven appears in a variety of forms making us think they are another type of bird. Their voice can make us think they are human. They often appear to be another color instead of black. The “trickster” keeps us alert and aware. Honing our skills of observation and broadening our personal perspectives. If we communicate with Raven it is best to remember that they are true “tricksters”. Sometimes the answers they give are straightforward and other times the messages are the opposite of what it should be. The listener must be very in tune with which type of message the Raven is giving. Raven will show us the brighter side of life with sparkling and shiny objects in its beak or when it dives repeatedly at a shiny object on the ground. When raven does this, it is such an uplifting experience and so necessary for our well being in this illusionary world.

To read more see my article and personal story of the Raven Heart Woman. NativeTalismanArt.com.