Shamanic Arts and Crafts

02/07/2022

Here’s another “peek at the process”. This one is how I make a tepi for administering to***co and herb s***f.
First I start by selecting the antler that will go into the nose hole and drill into the core and then into the side. I shape the bit that goes up to the nostril with a flex shaft rotary tool and file it with a fine tooth file. The aim is to have the opening be smooth and comfortable with all hard edges softened. The mouth piece is done with a through hole and the facing hole is given the same treatment as the nostril hole. I keep in mind, if it is commissioned, the nostril size and lip shape of the person and will use antlers of the appropriate size that will best fit them, and will modify the mouth piece accordingly. I use a brass tube with diagonal cuts on the end to maximize airflow. All the edges on the tube are filed soft and cleaned throughly. Any embellishments are added. The antlers are aligned glued into place, taking care that no glue gets into the airway. I do an air check to make sure all couplings are sealed and then add the finishing touches.

Thank you Cherokee Roberts for capturing these moments that would otherwise be lost

02/07/2022

Found some old rare “behind the scenes” photos for a the making of the Moon Dancer orgonite dagger!

Started with a couple pounds of rough amazonite, which I pulverized using a hammer and a 2” thick iron block as an anvil. I then separated the results into 3 containers based on approximate particulate size; powder, small, and medium, with the remaining unprocessed rough samples off to the side. I drew and cut two mirrored blade blanks out of 1/8” MDF. Using 1/8” acrylic and hot glue, made mold containment vessels. Had to use two different types of molds because I ran out of the first one and I couldn’t get more of it. So the first was a professional grade silicon pour over onto the blade blank. This is the blueish mold. Super easy to work with and great results. The second one was a brush on latex and took few different tries and many many *thin* layers because otherwise it would dry right and oh good lord I’d have to start again. At one point I thought I had failed the project but I finally made it work as I submitted to patience. Having completed the molds, I mixed a two part pouring epoxy and mixed in some blue phosphorescent pigment because glow in the dark stuff is awesome. I poured this into the molds to fill them 1/2 way. I added the largest rocks first, then the medium bits, and filled in the gaps with the small bits and the powder. After they set, I took them out of the molds and glued the two halves together with two part epoxy glue. At this point the blade wasn’t looking very blade-y. It was a chonky silhouette at best. Using an angle grinder, I got to work shaping the edge and quickly burned out the disk. I looked online and discovered that amazonite is a lot harder on the mohs scale that I had imagined and had to go get a diamond coated disk. That did the thing I needed it to but was very sparky about it the whole time. From there, I added the brass embellishment along the spine and used ostrich leather to wrap the handle. And that was that. This was a very fun project and I learned a lot having completed it. I look forward to doing something similar in the future!

A shout out to my amazing wife, Cherokee Roberts for capturing these work in progress photos. I’m almost always so lost in the process that I never remember to document anything as it happens. You’re the best!

05/11/2020

Completed mask. Fun little weekend project.

05/09/2020

wip paper mache on wire fox(?) mask

12/14/2019

11/24/2019

A mask and it’s human united at long last!

Just received my custom mask completed by . Well worth the wait, and eagerly anticipated. The concept was realized from the 5 observances (Tattvas) of **ra:
1. Sexuality (Maithuna) transforms the tattva of ether
2. Wine (Madya) transforms the tattva of air
3. Meat (Mamsa) transforms the tattva of fire
4. Fish (Matsya) transforms the tattva of water
5. Grains (Mudra) transforms the tattva of earth

By the intelligent enjoyment of the 5 “M’s”, we invoke the power (Shakti) of the elements, bringing it to present within ourselves here and now.

11/18/2019

New batch of glow knots in the works!

07/16/2019

Because sometimes you just gotta beat the demons into submission

07/14/2019

Smudge Wand

07/13/2019

Antler Kuripe
~sold~

07/10/2019

Matrix Fire Opal & Copper