Medicine bags were of significant importance to the tribes of North America. Containing charms and fetishes, these were handed down from father to son or given at ceremonies of initiation to new members of the tribe.
The bag contains materials which are necessary for all tribal members, as well as items of significance to individual. Some of the ingredients include a leather Rattle for summoning good spirits (gourd rattles can be used in its place) and a dried corn cob or some other favorite food as a symbol of food for the spirit. Feathers or fur serve as a reminder that men and animals are brothers and offer special connection for totemic animals and spirit guides. The bag may also contain several smaller pouches of herbs, gemstones or found rocks, and other items which appeal to the owner of the bag.
The bag itself should be as attractive as possible. It can be decorated with a symbol of your personal deities, signs of protection or health, or some design of your own creation. You may purchase a bag or sew one yourself. Making the bag is very simple.
The Medicine bag :
11" X 22" piece of heavy fabric (denim, corduroy, etc)
25 " heavy yarn, twine, or rawhide
needle and thread
paperclip or a long needle with eye wide enough for the yarn, twine, or rawhide
beads, embroidery thread, a patch, etcKeeping in mind that once you are done sewing, you will be turning the pouch inside out so that the side you were working on will be unseen, you will need to affix whatever designs you intend to add to the bag before actually beginning to sew the bag itself.
Take your fabric and fold it over lengthwise. You will need 1/4 inch on either side for sides of the bag, and you will need an inch at the top for the drawstring. These measurements will tell you exactly how much area you have to work with for the design.
Traditionally, the design would be added in beads, but you may design a patch, use embroidery thread, or use your imagination. Choose the side you want to be the front of the pouch and add your design to the bag.
Now that you have the design on your fabric, fold the cloth so that the design faces the inside. Sew along the vertical seams, stopping an inch from the top. Then turn down the top and sew along the bottom of the fold to form a tunnel for the drawstring, leaving one end open.
Now you may turn the bag right side out. Thread the twine, rawhide, or yarn using a long needle or if you don’t have one, a paper clip can be used with a little creative bending.
Medicine Pouches
3" X 6" piece of suede (for each pouch)
8" length of 1/8" leather thong
razor blade
sewing machine or needle and threadFold your suede in half, right sides facing, and fold at bottom. Sew the sides together using a 1/4" seam allowance. Turn right side out. Make small razor slits along top of bag, and thread thong through slits around the bag to form drawstring.
Make as many of these as needed. Your spiritual bags should include representations of your favorite foods. Herbs, stones, and other talismans should be chosen according to your own needs.