Native american tribal emotion jewelry
Native american tribal emotion jewelry
Native Americans, also known as American Indians, were original inhabitants of North America where they lived for centuries. Hundreds of tribes spread across the continent living off the land, hunting and gathering, moving as needed, and developing customs and beliefs, which have been passed down generation after generation. Not only were tribal customs and beliefs passed down, but unique and intricate arts were also passed from mother to daughter and father to son. One such art is that of making Native American Tribal Emotion Jewelry such as necklaces, pendants, earrings, and bracelets. Native Americans primarily utilized two types of jewelry making processes metalwork and beadwork. Until the arrival of Europeans, their metal work was fairly rudimentary. However, after learning the silversmith trade, Native Americans be adept at combining silver setting with breathtaking gems to create unbelievably beautiful and meaningful jewelry. Likewise, Native American beadwork is absolutely stunning. Women sew thousands of tiny beads to garments in the most intricate patterns but tell the most astonishing stories through their work. Native Americans crafted jewelry for a number of reasons including to show status and wealth, to use as barter offerings and trade goods, to serve as protection, to adorn their clothes, and to tell stories with fetishes - small carving of animals thought to hold the characteristics of the animal. Native American Tribal Emotion Jewelry was also often used to identify one tribe from another and express one’s spirituality. Just as fashion dictates much of our cultural nuances today, Native Americans used fashion and jewelry to communicate beliefs, thoughts and emotions. Often, to illustrate emotion or to enhance or protect against an emotion, Native Americans utilized the properties of gemstones thought to possess certain characteristics. Some examples of emotional characteristics assigned to various gems are listed below: * Amethyst is thought to encourage peaceful energy. * Aventurine is said to free one from fears and anxiety. * Charoite believed to promote courage. * Hematite is thought to uplift and energize the spirit. * Jasper is supposed to guard against negative emotions. * Lapis is said to provide self-assurance and emotional strength. * Malachite is thought to clarify your emotions. * Opal is supposed to intensify weak emotions. * Onyx is believed to dismiss negative or bad tempered emotions. * Rhodonite is thought to recapture mental stability and increase positive moods. * Snowflake Obsidian is believed to calm emotional fears. * Sodalite is said to bring about increased courage. By integrating the various gems with emotional properties into the jewelry, often set in silver, Native American Tribal Emotion Jewelry was crafted, and is still created today.
