by Jacqueline Smith
"Why make medicine bags?" Here's my long answer ––I'm good at those–– to a question I think is an important one to ask anyone offering someone something; why.
When I was eight, my parents divorced and like many, many others ––even with as frequent as separated families are anymore–– it was a rough time. We, like all families, had our own embellishments of dysfunction to make our story ours. When I was younger, that was the version I'd tell. Today, I find it much more interesting to speak about what brought smiles to our faces in such heavy times. What mattered. What stuck around.
Sometimes we don't know what matters in the moment. Probably most of the time. In the midst of the confusion as a kiddo being bounced around, my mom's friend Sally gave me a Native American Medicine Bag. I remember it being so fragrant ––the herbs inside the leather pouch–– becoming more potent by crushing the stems and dried leafs from the outside in. I loved the sound it made –– like the gentlest mortar and pestle.
Knowing my absurdly high level of self-confidence before middle school happened, I'm sure she gifted me the Medicine Bag because I kept asking about it. Where it was from, what it did, who made it, what was inside –– that last question, I still don't know since I've never dared to open the leather pouch and solve the secret. What she gave me though was protection, not just a leather bag with herbs inside.
I've lived all over. I've moved too many times. I binge organize like people watch Netflix. Of all the things I've kept over the years and been physically unable to part with, this leather necklace with unknown herbs inside and clay beads hits the top of my list. It has always brought a smile to my face. Whether I gave it power from an early age or it came pre-charged, I believe Medicine Bags are medicinal. They matter. That's why.
Shop our Medicine Bags and choose the herbs we hand-gather and stuff inside. Choose from a calming, energizing, grounding blend.