This work consists of a handcrafted ritual rattle and medicine bag. As nurses, we are often wounded healers, who need to first attend to our own inner woundedness before venturing to care for patients. The sound of the rattle provides a sonic meditation for the nurse to journey within to discover the sources of her wounds, and the methods by which to heal them. The rattle is made of a turtle shall, which carries the energy of Mother Earth. The medicine bag is decorated with beads and sacred items. It is made of deerskin. Deer is known for gentleness. It is the gentle nurse who supplies the environment conductive for healing to occur. The green stone on the bag is moss agate, a stone with healing properties. The shells represent the feminine, caring energies present in the healing encounter, whether the nurse is woman or man. The dove feathers stand for peace, which is a grace of the sacred healing process. The rattle and medicine bag are symbolic of the instruments of healing which we as nurses are as spiritual beings. Many cultures throughout the world utilize shamanism as a vehicle to access inner resources. I have had the blessing of experiencing the depth of shamanic healing within the Native American cultures. Such richness of tribal cultures which are so embedded in respect of Mother Earth has facilitated my self-healing, as well as supplying the energy for me to serve as an instrument to facilitate self-healing for my patients.
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Sigma Theta Tau International