Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: upstatenybowyer on May 21, 2017, 08:47:13 pm

Title: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: upstatenybowyer on May 21, 2017, 08:47:13 pm
I realize this may be a little "far out," but who else can I share my thoughts with on such a random subject?

Anyway, I've worked with quite a variety of woods, but Osage has this strange effect on me. It happens mostly when I'm chasing a ring... the smell of the wood, the shiny look of it's color, the crunchy sound of the drawknife moving through the early wood, I go into a kind of meditative state, and beyond that I really can't find the words. I sort of feel like I'm going back in time. Back to when things were simpler. No crazy technology, rush to succeed and get ahead of the next guy, phones, computers, strip malls, ect. I think it also has to do with the fact that I'm literally chasing away years of growth, targeting one year in particular when the tree grew well.

Anyone else ever have this sort of feeling? Just wondering  :)
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: osage outlaw on May 21, 2017, 08:54:08 pm
I know exactly what you mean. 
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: Hawkdancer on May 21, 2017, 10:52:58 pm
There is a certain feeling that we gain by trying to follow the ancestors that is mystical and comforting in many ways.  I doubt they were simpler times, though, what with the newcomer pale faces from the east, and the daily need to feed and protect the family and the people.  The feeling is worthy of a spirit smoke
Hawkdancer
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: osage outlaw on May 21, 2017, 11:36:38 pm
If you want to take it a step farther, hunt from an osage tree with an osage bow  ;)
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: upstatenybowyer on May 22, 2017, 06:49:24 am
Thanks for the responses guys. Good point HD, perhaps simpler wasn't the right word. Maybe "different" would have been a better choice.  ;)

Glad to know I'm not alone OO.  :)

Maybe I'll get a chance to do that some day.  (AT) :-D
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: Eric Krewson on May 22, 2017, 08:08:58 am
I noticed the same thing, I can see an osage tree shining in the winter sun across a field and get a fuzzy feeling about the possibilities in that tree even though I will never cut it.
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: FilipT on May 22, 2017, 08:23:14 am
Extremely jealous of you osage guys!
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: BowEd on May 22, 2017, 09:30:06 am
Yes osage has that effect on most people.I can easily see why the natives held that wood in a very high regard.I like to call it rerod when dry heat bending it because it acts just like it.Nothing around here like it.I think even out does most amazonian woods with it's bow making versatility.
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: Parnell on May 22, 2017, 11:01:48 am
Start flinknapping!
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: JW_Halverson on May 22, 2017, 02:51:30 pm
Ssssh, don't speak too much about it or you might scare it away.  Just feel the feels.
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: upstatenybowyer on May 22, 2017, 08:19:39 pm
I struggled with even posting this cause I didn't want to take anything away from it by lousing it up with words.
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: BowEd on May 22, 2017, 11:41:01 pm
Don't worry upstate.Much has been said and resaid about the wood.It's still gonna be here.Seems like it's been put on this earth to serve many purposes.The thing about it is that it does'nt take that terribly long to grow either,or if your in real osage country there seems to be an abundance of it.A very prolific propogater and grower,and for some a fairly prosperous wood to have around,but it'll make ya work for it that's for sure.
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: bjrogg on May 23, 2017, 12:41:06 pm
I still haven't meet formally with the Osage sprite. Some day soon, maybe even this weekend. For now I communicate with the HHB sprite for we both share the same land.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: bjrogg on May 23, 2017, 12:44:49 pm
The HHB bow I plan on hunting with this year came from a tree that stood  less than 30 yards from where I was standing when I shot my first Primitive Bow Deer. In fact all those staves I brought to Marshall last year did.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: BowEd on May 23, 2017, 05:03:41 pm
It's the little things in life that are the most fulfilling.
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: upstatenybowyer on May 23, 2017, 08:04:32 pm
BJ, befriending the HHB sprite is no small thing. She doesn't make herself available to just anyone. I'm still trying to convince her my intentions are good. We share the land as well, but she's only given in twice. We're working on a little something together right now, and all is good, but you know her... she can turn on a dime if you piss her off! lol.
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: Linc on May 24, 2017, 07:50:21 am
I don't know about spirituality of osage. I just like working with osage especially when the stave has character. Humps, bumps, twists and turns, thick ring, thing rings, pins, knot holes. It is all good.  :BB
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: rps3 on May 24, 2017, 08:37:48 am
You forgot to mention the therapeutic aroma it emits while heat bending, and fortunately there are not too many staves of osage that don't at least require a little heat. -C-
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: Zuma on May 24, 2017, 09:30:20 am
Perhaps inhaling the dust or smoking  the shavings???? (R (R
Zuma
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: Bob W. on May 24, 2017, 03:24:53 pm
That's what keeps us coming back Jeff,  there nothing else like it and I have no one to talk to personally talk to about it. Even after a run.of bad luck breaking several bows that we're almost completed  I can't get enough.
Title: Re: The spirituality of Osage
Post by: loon on May 24, 2017, 04:57:35 pm
Shot someone's Osage bow (wavy character, dainty tips), I thought it was the sweetest shooting bow I'd ever shot