Zuni Pueblo tradition teaches there are Six Directions in life, assigning a color and animal to each one. Long ago the Father of Medicine Societies, Po-shai-an-kia, established predatory animals as guardians of the Six Directions, each associated with a different color. Regarded as healing and protective, the animals are: Yellow Mountain Lion of the North, Blue Bear of the West, Red Badger of the South, White Wolf of the East, many colored Eagle of the Zenith (the heavens) and Black Mole of the Nadir (beneath the ground).
All the exquisitely carved antler animals by Robert Michael Weahkee have eyes from inlaid turquoise with the exception of the mole whose eyes are etched. The offering bundles are colorful and correspond to the Six Directional colors. The mountain lion and wolf have gold lip shell points, while badger has a red spiny oyster shell point. Eagle is on an abalone point with many colorful beads. Mole has a black lip shell point. Bear has a nice hefty blue turquoise point. Bear measures about 7" long and 2" wide. Eagle is approximately 2 1/2" long, 1 1/2" wide and 2 3/8" tall. Badger comes in at roughly 1 1/4" tall. Don't miss this collectible six piece set, it's outstanding.
Zuni Fetishes book by Hal Zina Bennett makes a wonderful companion to any Six Direction Set. It can be purchased separately here.
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