Here, it’s All Souls’ Eve. It’s not quite the same thing as Halloween, even under the strictest mainstream interpretation, but in this place, far older indigenous traditions merged over centuries with the outside influences of Catholicism, it has taken on a spirit all its own.
And I use that word deliberately: Spirit. It is essential and quintessential animating force; it is also identity. In our cultures, it assumes a multiplicity of meanings that diverge widely from the way the dominant culture and its subvariants understand the term.
Today, there was little sign of spooks here, nothing supernaturally scary. There was, however, a particular spirit dominating the day’s activities, and so it is she who directs today’s choice of work: the spirit of the horse.
We have four of our own, but this week, we took in, as a temporary border, a horse belonging to a family member. She is a gravely wounded spirit, having been badly injured in recent months, and it is our task to try to help save her. Despite what her body has been through, she remains also a very sweet spirit, gentle and cooperative and surprisingly happy despite the levels of pain she must endure.
Today, she went a full round with a case of colic, one stemming from her injury and subsequent illness, and also greatly complicated by it. We spent about four hours straight working on her and with her, just the two of us, before she had recovered enough to resume her normal activities, such as they are. But she is strong, and determined, this bright red warrior girl in a sorrel coat, with a white blaze on her face and liquid brown eyes. She is a bold presence, a proud spirit, and she has been foremost in my mind all day.
And so, on a day that many cultures the world over to acknowledging and honoring spirits, the only possible choice for today’s featured work is one that embodies the spirit of the horse.
Dawn Horse Carries the Morning Star Flask
Spirit animals can carry us places we would never be able to go on our own, and bring to us the spirits that inhabit other realms. When they do, it’s powerful medicine. Native peoples have carried medicine in hand-made flasks since the dawn of time, and this flask, authentic in every detail, invokes the spirits of the dawn itself. A Morning Star, the light that guides our spirits from the dark into the light of the new day, is overlaid on the center of either side, leading a sunburst of sacred hoops opened into sixteen rays. Concentric circles of hand-stamped traditional patterns ring the center; at the edge, the symbols form a kiva steps design evoking the sacred space whence life and spirit emanate. The outermost edge of the flask is overlaid with a slender strand of sterling silver wire. The removable cap is edged in matched thunderhead patterns set at the top with a cobalt-blue cabochon of lapis lazuli, rings with patterned wire in the form and texture of raised sterling silver beads. On the reverse, at the base of the cap, a tiny malachite cabochon the color of the earth’s green is bezel-set; a loop is attached at the cap’s back, with two more loops at either side. The Dawn Horse’s own tail, the color of the night sky, trails behind via a silver squash blossom from one loop; from the other, a solid and silky sterling silver link chain to hold the flask securely. Flask stands 3-1/8″ high by 2.5″ across; horsehair tassel hangs 3″ (including squash blossom); chain length 23.5″ (dimensions approximate). Other views shown above and below.
Sterling silver; lapis lazuli; malachite; horsehair
$2,500 + shipping, handling, and insurance
The Dawn Horse whose spirit this flask carries evokes the still-dark colors of the pre-dawn sky, of the stars scattered across it like beads upon a blanket. The horse currently in our round pen is another color, the coppery fire of the Autumn sunrise, with a spirit to match.
Despite her injuries, she is beautiful. Perhaps, on this night when the spirits walk, she can draw a little strength from the spirit embodied in this work, a little power, a little Medicine to help her heal.
That would be a fitting occurrence for this night and dawn that span Eve and Day of All Souls — the Dawn Horse bringing Medicine to its earth-bound namesake, across a threshold of the spirits.
~ Aji
All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.
