From the earliest of times Staffs have been said to represent the bearers power - an extension of ones energy. The shapes and different kinds of Staffs and Sceptres have been wide and varied – some have been associated with the Gods, royalty and Sharman.
In Egypt many artefacts have been found over time including wands made of hippopotamus ivory said to date back to 2800B.C. It is believed that these wands specifically carved and used at the time of birthing in order to protect the mother and child. The wands of Horus were hollow cylinders filled with mystical stones used for healing.
In Greek mythology, Hermes, the messenger god on Mount Olympus had a wand called a Caduceus. The Caduceus is a staff or rod framed by two intertwined snakes and two wings sit on top of the staff. The Caduceus symbolises the spinal column – the nerve energy or the central conduit for the psychic force. This nerve energy stimulates the body’s organs. The places where the snakes cross represent the body’s energy centres or chakras. The Caduceus also makes an appearance on the II of Cups in the Rider Waite Smith Deck - in this context, it is speaking of the energies uniting, healing through relationship and reaching unified understanding.
Talking sticks have been used by indigenous cultures for many many years. Sacred Staffs have been utilized for ceremony and meditation through many times and cultures. In Native American tradition when a council was called the council members used the talking stick to present their Sacred Point of view. The talking stick was passed from person to person as they spoke. Only the person who held the talking stick was permitted to speak – Listening and Understanding helped install respect for those in attendance.
Whether being used for ceremonial purposes or for sacred communication, my personal experience when sitting in circle or sacred space when talking stick ritual has been embraced, has been one that has encouraged honesty when speaking, to speak from the heart and to practice open hearted listening - Something that sadly, can and often does, go by the way side in everyday life.
Some of the Many Uses of Talking Stick
To clarify and establish relationship agreements,
To settle a dispute,
To bring mutual benefit and welfare,
To bring order to unfinished business,
To brainstorm for creative insight or to find solutions to a challenge,
To achieve a consensus within a group, or
To help structure a group into a cohesive team
To encourage heart felt speaking and listening
At weddings and ceremonies this practice ensured that no one was left out of the process unless they chose not to speak.
Talking Sticks were used to teach children to listen, honour their own and other members Sacred Point of view.
The person responsible for holding council meetings were required to make their own Talking Stick and each piece of material used to create the Talking Stick told you a little about the Carrier and the Tribes type of medicine/energy.
The type of tree used is said to bring the specific type of medicine – White Pine is the Peace Tree, Evergreens represent the continued growth in life, Oak for Strength and Fruit for Abundance.
All decorations carried a deeper meaning too. Yellow for knowledge, red for life, white for spirit, black for clarity and focus , green for healing and nature, purple for power mystery and magic and blue for wisdom.
The feathers tied to the talking stick were of great significance - Eagle feather represented truth, freedom and high ideals. While Owl feathers were used to stop deception from entering the Sacred space.
The skins used also carried a great significance. Buffalo for abundance, and the deer for gentleness. If an illness of heart, mind body or spirt entered the group, Snake skin was wrapped around the talking stick to transform the poison so healing could occur.
If you have been considering crafting your own talking stick, it is important to remember that every step, every part of this process infuses energy into your creation. Intention is everything when it comes to the creation of your wand/talking stick. Trust that you will be guided by your intuition.
Did you know that in the Tarot wands are also known by staffs or sticks? They are associated with the element of fire and the element of fire is associated with power, energy, action and movement.
Love Life Big
Big Love
Lu xo