Flight of the Phoenix
by James Medicine Tree

This Pipe was originally being created to serve as a Ceremonial Pipe. however, part way through the carving process, a small fissure was discovered in the stone that would make it unusable in ceremony. Instead of discarding the precious stone, the artist continued to create the Pipe. Even though it will not be used in ceremony, it still contains its own Medicine, or power. It is the Medicine of the Phoenix, the power of regeneration. The bowl of "Flight of the Phoenix" is made from the red pipestone (Catlinite) found only in ancient quarries near Pipestone, Minnesota. The stem is made of cedar and has a mouthpiece made from buffalo rib bone inlayed with turquoise. All of these materials are considered by the original inhabitants of this continent to posess sacred properties.

The pipestone is considered to be the mix of the flesh of Mother Earth and the blood of Native American ancestors who died during a horrible battle near the quarry centuries ago. It has the power to bring peace and reconciliation. The stone represents the permanent aspects of creation. The bowl is the symbol of the female side of life; the stem is the symbol of the male.

The cedar wood of the stem has the power to repel negative spiritual influences in the same way that the physical properties of the wood repel insects. Wood also represents the temporal aspects of creation.

The buffalo rib represents the perfectly balanced provisions given by the Great Mystery to its children through the bounty of Mother Earth, something referred to as the Great Circle or Hoop of Life (the balance of nature).

The bird carved on the bowl of the Pipe is the Phoenix or Firebird. Both the Phoenix and fire are of great significance to Cherokee life, one that constantly acknowledges the cycles of renewal.

The combination of the red pipestone Phoenix with the blue turquoise eyes is representative of the earth and sky. Turquoise also contains the power to bring protection and healing into one's life.

The brown beadwork is reminiscent of the earth, the white beads of the clouds and the blue beads of the stars, signifying that everything in the universe is connected.

The wood of the display base is raw ironwood. The antlers on the display base symbolize the cycles of life: first growth, then fulfilling of purpose, then the shedding (death) and then renewed growth again. They echo the theme of this work: rebirth and renewal. The entire piece has been polished with a combination of beeswax and bear oil.

Sacajawea Gallery - 301 Main st. Stevensville, MT 59870 - (406) 777-3806