Zuni Table Fetishs

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Traditional Zuni Table Fetishes

Zuni Table \fetishes come from the Zuni tribe of New Mexico. The Zuni are the only tribe that permits the sale or trade of Traditional stone fetish. All tribes used fetishes as a spiritual and artistic medium, and they wee considered intensely personal, and not to be shared.

The Zuni consider the magic and spirit inherent to the fetish is to be shared, and is not diminished by contact with other cultures. This mode of thought goes back many generations with the Zuni, and has played an important part in their social standing among the western tribes of the United States.

Modern man has come to recognize the strength and power of the Traditional Zuni Stone Fetish as a primary link between primitive man and his world.

Fetishes were and are used to increase concentration, create blessings, insure good luck, good health, communicate with the gods and practically every purpose in life which man wishes to have influence.

Horse, cow, goat, sheep, fetishes would be buried in the earth near where favorite animals are kept to insure good health and reproduction. A fish fetish would be placed in a stream or river where one might seek a good catch.

Mountain lion, bear, eagle and wolf fetishes would be worn by hunters so they might absorb the spirit of the animal and gain some of it's hunting abilities and strengths. Now as then fetishes are worn!

If one wished to hunt a certain animal, and have skill and good fortune, a fetish would be made of this animal. An arrowhead might be fasted to it's back with sinew, and prayers said. The strength of ones belief, constant meditation on the hunt, and the blessings of the spirits would direct the outcome. Often a "Heart Line" would be added to the fetish, which looks like a tiny arrow pointing to the heart of the animal. This is to direct the arrow on its journey.

In addition to the fetishes for health, power and the hunting skill, there are the more spiritual "Directional Fetishes". These served top orient one to his or her proper path in life, and keep one mindful of the six directions of influence, North, East, South, West, up and down.