Sacred Ways...

Back in August, when I started searching for native artifacts to fuel my dreams & feed my soul, I found myself at a crossroads.  I was in spiritual need of a medicine bundle, one that could hold my carved fetishes, herbs & selected stones, to maintain a personal harmony with the spiritual,  physical & the supernatural.  I wanted it to be unique, special, & most importantly, I wanted it to be right for me.  My dilemma:  I was told that I should be the one to make my bundle so that it could be created ceremoniously & sacredly in the name of my body, my spirit & my soul.  Exclusively created with my own energy, it would be free from anyone else's positive or negative vibrations/influences.  It would truly be "my very own." 

Or,

it needed to be made for me by a Shaman. 

And,

I only had 2 weeks to get it all together. 

For all who know me well,  you know that I don't settle for less!  And so...Shaman it was!  

I went directly to the best source I knew & placed an order for a custom bundle!  But my request was denied, as she had far too many projects on her plate to devote the time & energy required in taking on custom bundle work!  With my SouLodge e-course about to

begin in conjunction with my vacation to Cape Cod,  I had little time to locate, select, 

purchase, receive, design & create my desired bundle before my formal meditations 

started & the drive to the ocean took place.  So I continued searching, & while surfing

the internet one day, I saw IT...a love at first sight...I saw "The One" for me!

Instead of a medicine bundle, what I had found was a Crow ca. 1880's medicine pouch 

and it was created by the artist John Yashinski!  It is soft sueded leather, beaded & 

amazingly beautiful; so authentically crafted that I thought I had unearthed a genuine 

Native American Indian relic!   I was in total awe!  It was P.U.R.E & it was perfect for me! 

Sacred friends...

The artist, John Yashinski,  lives in a small town out in Montana.   Without a cell phone or a

computer, no email, no voice mail (& a land line he doesn't seem to answer!) he pretty 

much lives off the grid,  yet manages to stay connected with his native spirit & through

Sacred Ways.  He crafts when the "spirits" guide him & sends his pieces exclusively 

to the lovely Emily & Steve @ Sacred Ways...www.SacredWays.com...which is where I found 

him!  Over the course of these past 6months I have corresponded with Steve & Emily 

regularly & I can't say enough about them...but to say,  I consider them friends!

John creates museum quality Native American Medicine Bags, Pouches, Parfleche Bags, 

Drums, Rattles, Turquoise & Bone Jewelry & so much more!  His traditional brain tanned 

bags, using deer/elk/buffalo hides are made using a special smoke process that is very 

labor intensive, making these highly prized pieces!  John studies old Native Indian reference

books & photos & visits museums for his inspiration & design.  His attention to detail is 

remarkable, often using antique trade & Venetian beads, vintage wools & clay paints. 

Since discovering his artwork at Sacred Ways last August, I have become an avid collector!  

I gives me great pleasure to share my John Yashinski collection with you out of desire to 

highlight the true talent of this gifted man!  He is a sensitive soul who enjoys to hear the 

comments & recognition from fans of his work!  So stop by the Sacred Ways website to 

view more of John's work, where you can find the perfect piece for you...the one that 

belongs on your altar or hanging in your studio...the one that belongs draped around

your neck for the times when the wild woman in you ceremoniously howls w/the moon!

& 

drop a note to Steve & Emily, they'd love to hear from you!

&

say that Nancy sent you!