Talking Stick

Talking Sticks are used across the globe from Australia to North America. A Talking Stick can be compared to a microphone. Whomever holds the talking stick, has the "floor." 

These tokens were used in council meetings and discussions of indigenous nations, to designate who had the authority to speak and for others to listen respectably. In many gatherings, the talking stick wasn't limited to those who were leaders, but all who were in attendance were given the chance to speak. Talking Sticks are also a way to connect to wisdom, guidance, and truth.

Over time, the stick would accumulate the energy of these sacred councils and even just the presence of the talking stick, would bring with it the wisdom of past generations. 

Here's a brief story I include in my Shaman training:

"Shaman tools are not what creates power but can hold residual energy of sacred ceremonies and places. 

The shaman can create a token, power emblem, sacred tool by consistent and regular use, taking it to sacred places, preparing it, offering affirmations and invocations of its purpose. The shaman tool is “set aside” from the world. It is dedicated and created in ritual, once complete, it is only used for spiritual work. 

As the tool is used and reused, it accumulates energy, and that energy carries a frequency. 

Jeffery Olsen, one of the leaders in this shaman lineage, shared about his experience of being invited to sit in a council with elders from the indigenous nations of the United States. As he waited for the council to begin, the elders unwrapped a narrow, small, nondescript wooden box. When it was opened, Jeff said that he could feel a rush of energy enter the room. Whatever was in the box, changed the whole ambience of the space. The weathered hand of the leading elder pulled a feather out of the box. 

Jeff learned that the feather had served as a type of “talking stick” for 200 years in the tribe. Whomever held the feather during council, had the right to speak. For generations, the voices of the wise leaders had infused the feather, and when the wooden box opened- the power of their messages and history was indisputably felt." 

Katie Jo Month One of the Pathway of the Sage Shamanic Training

Creating your own Talking Stick can be valuable for your own personal use and meditation practice. Here are some tips and guidelines to do so:

Find a stick that you can hold easily. I suggest 8-15 inches in length. Before decorating the stick: dedicate it by using the four elements and stating your clear intention for the piece. 

Here's some examples: Dip the stick in water, preferably from a natural source like a river or stream. Smoke cleanse the stick using incense or sage. Place stick outside overnight in the full or new moon. 

You can use beads, carving, paint, or leather to decorate the stick- and it is perfect as it is with no adornments. I suggest refraining from carving or writing words on the stick. This is a tool meant to be neutral and open clear communication for all who use it. Putting your own words on it, can infuse the energy with the words written. However, I do find that carved or painted symbols tend to be more neutral. (see a list of different traditional colors etc. in shared articles below)

I like to wire wrap or use leather to secure a clear quartz crystal at the top of the stick and a grounding stone to the bottom like black tourmaline or stone found from the land where you live. The clear quartz crystal will assist you energetically to connect to higher frequency realms and the grounding stone will anchor the pathway of energy between "heaven and earth."

When using the talking stick in meditation, sit quietly with the clear crystal end of the stick pointed upwards and the grounding stone downward. This is best done sitting upright.  Start a timer and use deep breathing to center your energy. 

Often, I will open sacred space (see attached link on how to) or offer simple affirmations, prayers, and questions to the universe. I speak these out loud. When finished, sit and wait for the answers. If your mind wanders- don't judge, but simply notice and return back to breathing deeply and sensing the way the energy moves in your body. 

                                                                                   How to Open Sacred Space

Often, I receive impressions, visualizations, and ideas. Once the timer goes off, I say "thank you" and write notes about my experience. Over time, these notes paint a picture of the guidance from the higher realms- even if it doesn't appear obvious in the moment. 

To use the Talking Stick in group settings, share at the beginning of the gathering; what the stick is, why and how to respect it's use in the group, including honoring the person speaking with your silence until it is your turn.

In group settings, there are usually "over sharers" who will take the whole allotted time without passing the stick. Some ways that I have resolved this are: having mini hour glass timers of varying time windows. (3 min, 5 min, 1 min, 10 min) There are sets of these available online. (amazon) I explain that everyone will be given equal time to share, and that sharing is optional. Only once everyone has had the chance to share will the Talking Stick be passed to those who have already spoken. When the stick is passed, I turn the hourglass. With modern day technology, it's also possible to have a timer or time keeper who signals when time is up. 

In shamanism, a common perspective is to consider our influence and posterity for seven generations forward. While making a talking stick today may seem to be a small spiritual step; looking forward, the legacy of this step can't be foreseen. Talking Sticks inherently represent equality and that every voice matters. You may find that as you use it regularly, just like the story of the feather above- it will begin to immediately open the energetic portals to wisdom and guidance by just having it near. 

Try it out. Enjoy your journey! 

I am including some articles from other sources about the history, meanings, and practices of the Talking Stick with credit to their sources below! 

ABORIGINAL TALKING STICK NATIVE CUSTOM 

thenewstalkers.com

The Talking Stick is a tool used in many Native American Traditions when a council is called. It allows all council members to present their Sacred Point of View. The Talking Stick is passed from person to person as they speak and only the person holding the stick is allowed to talk during that time period. The Answering Feather is also held by the person speaking unless the speaker address a question to another council member. At that time, the Answering Feather is passed to the person asked to answer the query. Every member of the meeting must listen closely to the words being spoken, so when their turn comes, they do not repeat unneeded information or ask impertinent questions. Indian children are taught to listen from age three forward; they are also taught to respect another's viewpoint. This is not to say that they may not disagree, but rather they are bound by their personal honor to allow everyone their Sacred Point of View.

People responsible for holding any type of council meeting are required to make their own Talking Stick. The Talking Stick may be used when they teach children, hold council, make decisions regarding disputes, hold Pow-Wow gatherings, have storytelling circles, or conduct a ceremony where more than one person will speak.

Since each piece of material used in the Talking Stick speaks of the personal Medicine of the stick owner, each Talking Stick will be different. The Qualities of each type of Standing Person (Tree) brings specific Medicine. White Pine is the Peace Tree, Birch symbolizes truth, Evergreens represent the continued growth of all things. Cedar symbolizes cleansing. Aspen is the symbol for seeing clearly since there are many eye shapes on the truth. Maple represents gentleness. Elm is used for wisdom; Mountain Ash for protection; Oak for strength; Cherry for expression, high emotion, or love. Fruit woods are for abundance and walnut or pecan for gathering of energy or beginning new projects. Each person making a Talking Stick must decide which type of Standing Person (Tree) will assist their needs and add needed medicine to the Councils held.

The ornamentation of each stick all has meaning. In the Lakota Tradition, red is for life, yellow is for knowledge, blue is for prayer and wisdom, white is for spirit, purple is for healing, orange is for feeling kinship with all living things, black is for clarity and focus.

The type of feathers and hide used on a Talking Stick are very important as well. The Answering Feather is usually an Eagle Feather, which represents high ideals, truth as viewed from the expansive eye of the eagle, and the freedom that comes from speaking total truth to the best of one's ability. The Answering Feather can also be the feather of a Turkey, the Peace Eagle of the south, which brings peaceful attitudes as well as the give and take necessary in successful completion of disputes. In the Tribe that see Owl as good Medicine, the Owl feather may also be used to stop deception from entering the Sacred Space of the Council.

(please research the local laws and legality of what feathers you are able to include and have.)

The skins, hair or hides used in making a Talking Stick brings the abilities, talents, gifts and medicine of those creatures-beings to council in a variety of ways. Buffalo brings abundance; Elk brings physical fitness and stamina; deer brings gentleness; rabbit brings the ability to listen with big ears; the hair from a horse's tail or mane brings perseverance and adds connection to the earth and to the spirits of the wind. If an illness of heart, mind, spirit, or body has affected the group gathering, snakeskin may be wrapped around the Talking Stick so that healing and transmuting of those poisons can occur. The Talking Stick is the tool that teaches each of us to honor the Sacred Point of View of every living creature.

Talking Stick: Indigenous Corporate Training LLC.

 

The Talking stick, used in many Indigenous cultures, is an ancient and powerful “communication tool” that ensures a code of conduct of respect during meetings is followed. The person holding the stick, and only that person, is designated as having the right to speak and all others must listen quietly and respectfully.

Talking sticks are most frequently used in council circles, ceremonies and at the beginning of cultural events such as storytelling circles. Some cultures do not use a Talking Stick per se but use an eagle feather, wampum belt, peace pipe or sacred shell.

 

Talking Sticks can be elaborately carved, brightly painted, unpainted, adorned with symbolic items such as fur, leather, feathers or unadorned and simple - the wood, the figures, the colours and the adornments all carry meaning.

 

Talking Stick: University of Denver

Talking sticks, or talking pieces, are often used to facilitate restorative conversations in order to ensure that participants are empowered and participating equally. The talking stick, originally referred to as a speaker's staff, is a tool of indigenous democracy used by many tribes, especially the indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast in North America. The talking stick is passed around the group and allows for multiple people to speak in turn.

Traditionally, talking sticks were used at major events such as Powwows, tribal council meetings, and important ceremonies, but their use was also extended to storytelling circles and teaching children. Talking sticks allow people to present and express their sacred point of view. It has also been used by tribal leaders as a symbol of their authority and right to speak in public.

The particular adornment of the talking stick, including colors, fur skins, feathers, and the animal it may represent, is very symbolic to the actual use and meaning of the talking stick. The reason behind this being that indigenous peoples have the belief that these adornments.