Zuni Cougar Medicine Jar

Description

Item: SJ001

This four ounce medicine jar’s lid has been capped in 26 gauge Sterling silver and is crowned with a genuine Zuni cougar fetish carved from Sleeping Beauty turquoise by Michael Laweka (see below).

Turquoise ranges in color from powder blue, to blue green, to a yellowish green. It is formed as a secondary element as the result of weathering and oxidation by water as it dissolves minerals and flows through porous rocks over eons of time. The turquoise accumulates in these cracks and crevices. Turquoise ranges in hardness from 3.0 to 6.0 on the Mohs scale. Turquoise was one of the first gemstones ever mined, dating back to 6000 BCE. Turquoise was very important in several Native American cultures,
where it represented the union between Earth and sky.

Metaphysically, turquoise is used to correct imbalances, dispel depression, combat exhaustion, and bring peace of mind. It is also used to fortify the respiratory system and fight allergy symptoms. Turquoise is thought to foster communication from the heart and help with public speaking. Turquoise is a master healer stone, promoting the flow of the vibration of love.

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise came from a mine seven miles outside of Globe, AZ, which has been closed since exhausting its supply. Sleeping Beauty is popular for its solid, light blue, robin’s egg color. It is also popular because it requires little stabilization or treatment to make it suitable for polishing and jewelry. Prices have skyrocketed since the closing of the mine. The Sterling silver on the lid serves to enhance the energies of the stones around it, while also strengthening the connection between the astral and physical planes.

The Zuni people believe that there are guardians for each of the six directions. There are two sets of guardians, one for hunting and one for healing. In both the healing and the hunting sets, the powerful Mountain Lion, also called Cougar, guards the Northern direction and represents the color yellow. The most powerful hunter amongst the guardians, it represents perseverance, intuition, and resourcefulness. The Mountain Lion is endowed with peculiar powers of sight and smell. He is the older brother of the bear and represents leadership, cunning, clarity, independence, spiritual intensity, fierce protectiveness, and loyalty. Fetishes depicting the Mountain Lion are often used by hunters to ensure a successful hunt, or by travelers seeking protection on their journey.

Placing your keepsakes, herbs, or medicine in the Native American Medicine jar infuses them with these powerful, timeless energies. Experience the power of Native American Medicine and own an amazingly unique fusion of art and ancient wisdom. Michael Laweka is a highly skilled Zuni fetish carver who is well known for his beautifully detailed fetishes. His chosen carving materials range greatly; they include antler, mother-of-pearl, marble, and alabaster. His subjects also vary, ranging from corn maidens to cougars. His fetishes are always very attractive and well done.

Jar measures: 3 1/4″ tall x 2 1/2″ diameter (without fetish).