Medicine pouches are used first and foremost for protection against the seen and the unseen. They are worn to strengthen a person's positive qualities and to keep the negative away from the physical and spiritual self. You yourself may wear amulets or jewellery to protect yourself.
In the old days, medicine pouches were made from things that meant something to the bearer, and from various medicines such as sage, cedar and stones. In addition to other things that were considered power objects. Once the items were gathered, they were placed in a pouch and underwent a power ceremony. This ceremony included smudging to cleanse them of negative energy before the person and the medicine pouch underwent a fasting, pipe or sweat lodge ceremony. During this ceremony, one asked the spirits to place power and blessing into the pouch. Before this ceremony, the pouch was sealed by sewing it shut with a sinew thread. Once the pouch is sealed, it must never be opened again, for then it will lose its power.
A simple recipe for a medicine pouch is to cut out a circle of hide about 10 cm across, making holes around the outer edge of the circle. You then thread hide or sinew thread through the holes and pull it tight. Then sew the top shut. Before you do this, be careful to smudge yourself.
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