Zuni Bear Medicine Jar

Description

Item: LJ002

This nine ounce medicine jar’s lid has been capped in 26 gauge Sterling silver and is crowned with a genuine Zuni bear fetish, hand-carved by Debra Gasper (see below).

The mineral sodalite forms in igneous rocks that crystallize from sodium-rich magma. It has a hardness of 5.5 to 6.0 on the Mohs scale, and is usually royal blue to blue-violet in color, often with white veining. Named for its sodium content, Sodalite is a chloric sodium aluminum silicate. It is classified as a feldspathoid and is well-known for its rich blue color intermingled with white Calcite, though it may also form as gray, yellow, green, or pink. Quality blue or blue-violet material is used in jewelry, while lesser material is more often seen as inlay or ornamental facing stone, and in carvings. Sodalite occurs typically in massive or granular habit, but can form rare transparent or translucent crystals.

Sodalite was first discovered in 1811 in the Ilimaussaq complex in Greenland, and gained importance as an ornamental stone in 1891 when vast deposits of fine material were found in Ontario, Canada.

Sodalite is a stone of truth, enabling the conscious and subconscious mind to connect with one’s thoughts and feelings, and helps one to recognize and verbalize those feelings and truths objectively. It allows the shadow qualities, those negative traits one dislikes about oneself, to rise to the surface to be acknowledged and accepted without judgment. Sodalite discharges anger and negative thoughts and
empowers the release of core fears, phobias, guilt, and control mechanisms that hold one back. It creates a clear insightful mind open to finding inner peace. The metaphysical qualities of the stone sodalite can help one with communication, logic, rationality, poetry, self-esteem, glandular problems, diabetes, and digestion. The Sterling silver on the lid enhances the energies of the stones around it, while also strengthening the connection between the astral and physical planes.

To the Zuni, the bear represents immense healing and is a symbol of supreme power, strength, solitude, and introspection. The bear is one of the Zuni’s six main directional guardians, protecting the West. It is believed that the power of the Great Spirit breathes within bear. He is a champion in helping us overcome the depression of the spirit that is often connected with the deep introspective cycle of change and growth. Bear reminds us that this type of diminishing is actually a necessary state of hibernation. His wisdom reminds us that solitude is an immense power that we all, at times, need to focus on, in order to connect to our inner world. Bear teaches us how to go within and find the primal source that is essential for our survival. The Zuni regard the bear as invaluable when facing change, transition, and growth.

Place your herbs, medicine, or keepsakes in the Native American Medicine jar to infuse them with these powerful, timeless energies. Debra Gasper is an established Zuni carver who makes bears and mountain lions made from various stones, including; black marble, turquoise, Picasso marble, and fluorite. Debra is part of the well known Teddy Weahkee family of Zuni carvers, including her mother, Dinah, aunt Lena Boone, and cousins Leland and Evalena Boone. Debra is married to Zuni carver, Ray Tsethlikai.

Jar measures: 3 3/4″ tall (without fetish) x 3″ diameter.