Yesterday saw a return of the oppressive summer heat and not a little humidity; no rain, just the steamy atmosphere spreading over the land like a wet blanket. By the standards of much of this land mass, of course, it seems like no real humidity at all, but this is a land whose daily average measure hovers around eleven percent.
Theoretically, we have a decent chance of precipitation later today, and the clouds are busy gathering at the horizon now. But there is much more blue sky visible than usual for this point in a truly monsoonal day, and we find ourselves back at the work of praying for rain. This is both the growing season and wildfire season, after all.
It’s a time of summer smoke and ceremony.
Yesterday, I offered a new and rich-smelling tobacco with my prayers; perhaps the spirits will like its taste and scent. Perhaps we will also smoke a little of it, offering those tendrils for their approval and acceptance. Summer is a time of traditional practices, both public gatherings of celebration (mostly denied us last year and this) and closed and private observances of the sacred. A little smoke helps smooth the way in them all.
Today’s featured work is a very traditional manifestation of such practices and their gifts. It’s a replica of such a piece, wrought in the old way by one of Wings’s oldest friends. From its description in the Other Artists: Leatherwork, Antler, and Bone gallery here on the site:
In the old way, serious contemplation or conversation was often accompanied by the ceremonial smoking of a pipe. This small personalized version, expertly hand-carved in vintage style by Joseph “Joe T” Trujillo (Taos Pueblo) is infused with the meditative and spiritual qualities of the old ways. Bowl and stem are all one piece, wrought by hand out of deer antler and inlaid at the bowl’s base and partway up the stem with beautifully grained walnut. Both antler and walnut are covered with clear, transparent stain to strengthen the pipe and seal it against the elements; pipe is fully functional, useable with traditional Indian tobacco, commercial tobacco, or kinnickinnick or other smoking mixtures. Full pipe is a compact 3-3/8″ long; bowl is 1-7/8″ high; stem portion above the bowl is 1-3/4″ high (dimensions approximate). Other views shown below.
Sealed deer antler; sealed natural walnut wood
$125 + shipping, handling, and insurance
The photos here are deceptive with regard to size, magnified as they are to show the finer details of the piece. In fact, it’s small enough to hold in the palm of one’s hand, perfectly sized to single use, or to share as needed. It’s a beautiful work, smooth and cool and finely textured, the contrast between the coarse-grained wood and the polished antler soothing to the touch. And it’s fully functional, the bowl capable of holding small amounts of tobacco and the stem allowing smooth inhalations and exhalations of smoke.
Any use of fire these days carries heightened risk; in what has now been reassessed from a 500-year drought to a 1,200-year one, we are all hyperaware of sources of heat and ignition now. But our peoples have been managing fire, at both the macro and micro levels, for countless millennia: Our ancestors taught us how to manage the land to prevent the devastation colonialism is inflicting on it now; taught us, too, how to harness the tiniest flame as an offering to the spirits.
The is the season for all of it, for management of the land to keep it safe, for sharing joy in celebration, for offering prayers and protecting the sacred. It’s a time of summer smoke and ceremony . . . and if we are fortunate this day, perhaps also a little rain.
~ Aji
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