Easy & Meaningful Last Minute Gift

Native American Medicine Pouch
(With Instructions for Filling Too)

Note: If you like this idea consider checking out my E-book "Natural Crafts that Kids Can Make" at: http://waldorftv.weebly.com/e-books.html

A friend of mine gave one of these to my daughter when she was little and I was so touched I have been making them for friends ever since. This year I didn't make any, though. It took a stroll in the neighborhood to remind me about them! I wandered into the local healing and gem shop and saw some little leather Native American Medicine Pouches and I remembered! What a great idea for a last minute gift! I am not making any this year but I had to post it just in case someone else needed this idea :)

A Native American Medicine Pouch is a little bag, made from natural materials that a person uses to put special stones, herbs, gems and small objects in for the purposes of healing the spirit, mind, or physical body. These pouches can also be used for protection or to invite positive energy to a person. It is like a good luck charm, but much more.

To make someone their own special Native American Medicine Pouch you need to start with a small drawstring bag made from cotton or leather. This can be made easily with some simple hand-stitching and by using any old T-shirts, car cleaning leather cloths, old clothes, fabric scraps or any fabric you have. You can find a pattern for this classic "bag" at: http://www.craftycrafty.tv/2007/08/how_to_make_a_drawstring_bag.html

The pattern on the website above is for a larger bag. You want to make yours smaller - about 2-4 inches.

The most important part of the bag, for me, is adding the "starter" charms. I always include a special object that reminds me of the person, represents something special between us or is something that would remind them of me. I also like to include two stones or gems that I choose especially for them. I always include a small stick of cinnamon (to repel negative energy) and then leave the rest of the bag empty so they can continue to fill it with meaningful charms they may already have, or ones they will collect in the future.

If you are like me you already have a lot of stones and gems laying around the house so instead of purchasing some at the store, go into your stash and find some that you think may help the person you are making the bag for. Look up the name of the gem and read about what "powers" it has. If you cannot identify the rocks or gems you have, it also works to look up the color and identify what healing powers those colors have.

Here are some websites to help you with that research:
http://www.reiki4paws.com/reikicolortherapychart.html

or

http://www.healinghq.com/health-articles/spirituality/322-chakra-color-therapy-chart-.html

and

http://www.sobrietystones.com/resources/spiritual_healing_a.htm

or

http://www.sharonsvintagestore.com/catalog.php/web4me2day/pg16609

I enjoy making these as much as the person enjoys receiving them! They also make great group gifts if you are going to a gathering with many people and "don't know what" to bring them all ;)

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND
www.TheWaldorfChannel.com
www.Earthschooling.com