American Indians have used fetishes throughout
recorded History; especially the Indians of the Southwest.
Fetishes may be of any form or material. Regardless of the form
or material, however, a fetish has one paramount purpose; to
assist man or woman against any real or potential problems. The
problems can be those of the mind, the body or the Universe.
A Fetish can be owned by an individual, a family, a clan, a kiva
society or an entire tribe.
Regardless of the ownership, the care of a fetish is always the
responsibility of an individual. Special care must be taken to
see that the fetish is properly fed, admired, and cared for.
Fetishes are believed to feed on cornmeal while they are kept in
a special pot or pouch. Ground turquoise is often mixed with
cornmeal.
A fetish is made and "decorated" with turquoise, arrowheads,
coral, etc. as a means of adornment. This adornment is a show of
affection and appreciation by it's maker and/or owner. The better
treatment a fetish recieves, the better performance it is likely
to provide.
Most fetishes relate to animals. Most always these animals are
animals of prey. These are acknowledged as the most powerful
providers in life; so, they are likewise accepted as having the
greatest fetish powers. They are generally admired for their
strong hearts. Many believe the strong heart makes them dominant
and, therefore, survivors; the hunter rather than the hunted.
The Zuni Indians of New Mexico believe strongly in six cardinal
guardian fetishes. Each is symbolic of a direction and has a
specific color which is synonymous with the direction. The
guardian fetish of the North is the mountain lion [YELLOW].The
South [RED] is the badger. The West [BLUE] is the bear and the
East [WHITE] is the wolf. Additionally, the mole is the guardian
of the Nadir or inner earth [BLACK] and Zenith is the eagle [all
colored bird forms].
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