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Click
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to the Medicine Wheel page.
Click here to see our Native American
Note Cards. |
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THE RIPE
BERRIES MOON |
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STURGEON
The second moon of Shawnodese, Spirit Keeper of the
South is the Ripe Berries Moon (July 23 to August 22) position on the
Native American Medicine Wheel.
The stone for this position is placed midway between the
southern and western stones in the outer circle of the
Medicine Wheel. Iron and garnet are the mineral totems
for this moon, raspberry is the plant totem, and the
sturgeon is the animal totem. The color is red, and the
Thunderbird clan influences the position.
Iron teaches people in this position about their
strength and garnet shows them their heart is the source
of that strength. From the raspberry they learn about
their sweetness and the thorns they project to protect
this part of themselves from other people. The sturgeon
shows them their depth and their need to teach. The Ripe
Berries Moon teaches them how to work from the heart
center, how to demonstrate affection, how to face fears,
and how to develop leadership abilities. This moon helps
develop courage and power. People experiencing the
sturgeon energy need to guard against impulsiveness,
arrogance, and a tendency to dominate any scenario. |
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ANIMAL:
 Sturgeon is the animal totem
associated with the Ripe Berries Moon. The sturgeon is
known as the king of fishes. A primitive fish that has
probably existed on the earth since around the time the
dinosaurs disappeared, the sturgeon comes in a variety of
sizes, but can reach twelve-foot lengths and at least
300-pound weights.
Sturgeons were considered the royalty of fishes among
the Native people who lived in the Great Lakes area. In
the Ojibwa nation there is a Sturgeon clan that is one of
the teaching clans. To the Ojibwa people the sturgeon
represents depth and strength.
The European people who came to North America did not
have the same respect for this fish. At first they
considered it a nuisance when sturgeons got in their
nets. Later they almost fished it to extinction when they
discovered the value of its roe, which is better known as
caviar. The sturgeon is rarely found now.
Working with the sturgeon can teach you about your
determination, perseverance, depth, knowledge,
generosity, strength, and sexuality. |
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PLANT:
Raspberries, the plant associated with the Ripe Berries
Moon. The raspberry itself is a delicacy, and the leaves
and root of the plant have medicinal properties. The
berries not only delight but also cleanse the system.
They can aid in breaking up and expelling gallstones and
kidney stones and stimulate the action of the urinary
tract. The root is an astringent and has some antibiotic
and healing properties. It can be used as a gargle for
sore throats. The tea as a compress has been applied to
wounds and cuts to slow bleeding. A tea from the leaves
can be used to cure diarrhea, cankers, uterine problems,
and menstrual issues. Raspberry leaf tea is one of the
belt herbal teas for pregnant women, acting as a tonic. A
tea from the twigs is good for colds, flues, difficulty
in breathing, and for balancing blood sugar levels.
Raspberry plants can teach you to find the sweetness
within the thorns of life. |
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MINERAL:
 Garnet and iron are
the minerals associated with the Ripe Berries Moon.
Garnet can help to balance your sexual energies. It is
associated with the heart and blood and can stimulate the
free flow of emotion in its wearer.
Garnet can help to strengthen those who carry it, can
warn of danger, and can help you to lead a good and
honorable life. It can also help you penetrate to the
heart of any matter.
Iron is good for the blood and heart. It can remind
you of the necessity of being tempered by life's
experiences. It can encourage you to have a
discriminating hardness that will allow you to know when
no is the answer that will promote the highest good for
all that are involved. |
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