The Shaman Game of String Figures

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The Shaman's Game of String Figures for Teaching, Healing and Creating

String Figures are found in almost all of the ancient cultures of the world. Most people think of string figures as "just a child's game" In it's simple form it is just that - a game. But on other levels one discovers what has been hidden from view. It is my speculation that the game of string figures was the game of the shaman. A game where small changes were made in the pattern of string. Small changes that brought about outward manifestations of new learning, healing and creation. This lens will help you discover The Shamans Game of String Figures and will give you the secrets on how to use this game for Teaching, Healing and Creating.

Cat's Cradle

Cat's Cradle String Art

Pulling Strings of Memory. The Art of Cat's Cradle.
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Shamanic

Healing Music

Go on a Shamanic Journey as you weave patterns in the string.

String Figure Articles by Lois Stokes

A different way of looking at string figures

BE INSPIRED BY STRING FIGURES!
Give your fingers a rest and read these articles, poems and stories. For those who just can't get enough. More knowledge about string figures.
String Figures and Shamanism
What if string figures are more than "just a child's game"
The Hidden Knowledge of String Figures
Ever wonder what was behind this simple child's game?
This article will start you on that adventure and even teach you how to make the Hawaiian String Figure called "One Eye"
Snaring Time and Space
The Hawaiian word for string figures is Hei. One of the meanings is to snare. But what are we snaring in our string figure net?
Weaving The Prayer Flower
String Figures can be performed as a healing art.
Tales Are Told This Way
Another poem to inspire the storyteller that sleeps within you
The HUNA of String Figures
The secret magic of string figures revealed.
Hei: Hawaiian String Figures and Chants
For those fond of coded messages. Explore the hidden meanings of Hei in definitions found within the Hawaiian Dictionary.
Shaman Tool
What if string figures were the tool of a shaman?
Explore the possibility.
String Figures For Teaching
What did string figures teach in years past? What can they be used to teach today?
String Figures For Healing
How were string figures used to heal? How can we use them in Health, Wellness and Healing Practices today?
String Figures For Creating
In the past string figures like quilting, tattoos, tapa patterns and petroglyphs were a symbolic means of communicating a message. Sometimes the meaning was known only to the creator of the pattern. Today string figures is a living art where everyone is an artist and create something new.
Enter The Dream World of Mu
A Poem inspired by the lost island of Mu.
String Figures are coded messages of ancient times.
Whisper of Aloha
String Figures Promote Peace and Harmony.
Extending Aka Cords
My life as a Virtual Shaman. Explore another reality in the Second Life experience. Yes String Figures are found in Holani a virtual world for shaman and healers.

String Trick Magic

A String Trick

String trick also known as the train goes through the tunnel or the eel goes through the rocks
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Web Of Life

We are all connected in this web of life

Spinning the web of life
the cosmic grid
Connecting cords to the heavens above
the earth below
Shamanic journeys along aka threads

Taking sacred steps
along the Labyrinth path
Following threads of life
while dreaming ancient myths
Moon shadows reflect man's destiny

Weaving ancestor patterns
a simple loop of string
Bringing back
Ancient Spider memories
Ritual is alive as women sit

Creating webs, spiders spin
mandalas of sacred art
Opening portals to the unseen world
Ancient silken strings embrace magic

Honu (Turtle)

How to make Honu a String Figure Turtle from Hawaii

For Pictures to help you make this string figure Click on the link at the bottom of this page or go to Honu http://www.stringfigure.com

Two movements that are often used to start a figure are Position 1 and Opening A:

Surfboard
Papa he'e nalu

Start by facing the palms of your hands together Now put the loop of string around both the left and right thumbs and stretch your hands out so that the string is tight.
Surfs up! Let's catch the wave!

Canoe
Wa'a
(Position 1)

First make the surfboard. Then the little finger of your right hand gets into the loop by picking up from below the far right thumb string. Now the little finger of your left hand gets into the loop by picking up from below the far left thumb string. Remember to stretch your hands out so that the string is tight. The string that goes across your palm is called the palmar string.

Your canoe is large enough to hold more people and don't forget the dogs, coconuts and chickens.

Ocean Wave
Nalu
(Opening A)

After you have made the surfboard and the canoe. Use the index finger of your right hand and "swim across, dive down and come up for air" to pick up from below the palmar string of your left hand (The string that goes across your palm) and swim back. Extend by stretching your hands so that the strings are tight.

Now with the index finger of your left hand swim across and pick up from below the right palmar string making sure that you pull it through the loop that goes around your right index finger. Now swim back and extend so that the strings are stretched tight.

Honu
(Turtle)
Made on Maui and Kaua'i

1. Make the Surfboard.
2. Make the Canoe.
3. Make the Ocean Wave.

4. Thumbs dive down and come up in the middle index loop (picks up the near index string) and little fingers dive down and come up in the middle index loop (picks up the far index string).

5. Navaho the thumbs and little fingers: There are two strings around the thumbs and little fingers. The top string is an X and the bottom string is straight. From the outside, lift the bottom up and over the top. Do this for thumbs and little fingers.

6. Look for the two straight strings (running from little finger to little finger and from thumb to thumb). Thumbs swim across, pick up the straight string on the other side (near the little finger) and swim back. Little fingers swim across, pick up the straight string on the other side (near the thumb) and swim back.

7. Navaho thumbs and little fingers:

8. Again there are two strings around the thumbs and two strings around the little fingers. This time the top string is straight and the bottom string is an X. Lift the bottom string up and over the top. Do this for thumbs and little fingers.

Hawaiian String Figures and Tricks

String Figures Filmed on Location in Hawai'i

String Figures are called Hei in Hawaii and the String Tricks are called pukaula. There are over 115 patterns recorded in the Bishop Museum Bulletin #54. By Lyle A. Dickey in 1928.

Lois and Earl Stokes at www.stringfigure.com are committed to sharing them with you.
E Loli E - Part I
by stokesew | video info

2 ratings | 2,321 views
curated content from YouTube

String Thru Thumb

String Trick

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String Figure Sightings in -- Movies, Television etc.

A String Figure Treasure Map

It's always a delight to find movies where string figures are performed. They are often hidden nuggets that a person may not even notice. We will give you the string figure treasure map to finding these nuggets in Movies.
Whale Rider
See if you can find the string figure performed once in the movie Whale Rider.
Whale Rider Photo
This was a hard scene to catch. A split second was all that you had to see this string figure.
The Horse Whisperer
See if you can find the string figure performed twice in the movie The Horse Whisperer.
Cybersix
String figures sighted in one of the television episodes of Cybersix.
Love
2006 Sergej Trifunovic, Geno Lechner, Peter Gevisser
Can you find the string figure found in this movie? Hint: At the very end.
Sordid Lives
Find the string figures: Jacob's ladder, cup & saucer, witch's broom, and more in the film Sordid Lives.
Sordid Lives Photo
What string figure is being made here?
Japanese String Movies
Incredible what can be done with a piece of string. This group reenacts popular classic movies with string
Wanted
Morgan Freeman makes a string figure pattern.
Washington Square
Cat's Cradle is played to a delightful song called Tales of a String. Lyrics by Marilyn and Alan Bergman. Music by Jan A.P.Kaczmarek
Burning Man
Burning Man installation of Cat's Cradle
Ted Talks - Miwa Matreyek's glorious visions
String Figure sighting is near the end

String Figures Videos

This is just a sampling of string figure videos

For a more complete listing of string figure videos go to:

String Figure Video Theater
http://www.squidoo.com/string-figuresvideoshowcase

The Hanapepe Swinging Bridge String Figure

The Hanapepe Swingin... 2 points

E Loli E - Part I

E Loli E - Part I 2 points

E Loli E - Part II

E Loli E - Part II 2 points

The Kokee Flower

The Kokee Flower 2 points

ALYXZANDER n CASSONDRA AMAZING STRING GAMES

ALYXZANDER n CASSOND... 1 point

How to do the Jacob's Ladder

How to do the Jacob'... 1 point

ALYXZANDERS STRING SARDINES GAME

ALYXZANDERS STRING S... 1 point

ALYX AND THE AMAZING STRING TURTLE

ALYX AND THE AMAZING... 1 point

cats cradle

cats cradle 1 point

Fantastic String Figures

Fantastic String Fig... 0 points

More String Figures

More String Figures 0 points

Jack's Awesome Objects of String

Jack's Awesome Objec... 0 points

Mr. Umake

Mr. Umake 0 points

Piel de Culebra - Snake Skin

Piel de Culebra - Sn... 0 points

FOX/RENARD/%u05E9%u05D5%u05E2%u05DC

FOX/RENARD/%u05E9%u0... 0 points

created by Gillie2tat

String Figure Stores

When you are on a shoestring budget

Get your String Figure supplies here. Never be without a supply of your favorite Rainbow Strings.
Rainbow Strings of Hawaii
You will find the famous Rainbow Strings of Hawaii, Hei: Hawaiian String Figure DVD, The Healing Art of Hawaiian String Figure DVD, Aloha String Figure and Bracelet of Rainbow Blessings Booklet and String.
Cats Cradle - extra strings
Did you lose your Klutz Cat's Cradle Book String? Well now you can purchase extra strings.
David Titus String Figure Store
Buy your String Figure Books, DVD, Notecards, and Strings.
www.stringfigurestore.com

Hei Hawaiian String Figures

DVD

Perfect for Parents, Teachers and Children

HEI Hawaiian String Figures

Amazon Price: (as of 02/17/2012)Buy Now

It is a one of kind DVD. No other like it on Hawaiian String Figures.

The Hidden Knowledge of String Figures

A String figure adaptation of "The Glass Bead Game"

Just like the "Glass Bead Game" you start out with a topic and like the spiders web you reach out to the possible connections. My initial pivot was that string figures are a child's game. The threads then branched out to find that string figures are really much, much, more than a game played by children. You will find many threads to this topic. First exploring the making of patterns from around the world and then extending to the associations found within the study of physics, astronomy, mathematics, architecture, philosophy, ethnology, anthropology, archeology, comparative religions, healing, shamanism and more.

Kumulipo: The Hawaiian Hymn of Creation by Rubellite K. Johnson

Kumulipo: The Hawaiian Hymn of Creation by Rubellite K. Johnson

Follow the thread to the source Hawaiian Creation1 point

Hawaiian Dictionary: Hawaiian-English, English-Hawaiian by Mary Kawena Pukui, Samuel H. Elbert

Hawaiian Dictionary: Hawaiian-English, English-Hawaiian by Mary Kawena Pukui, Samuel H. Elbert

For many years Hawaiian Dictionary has been the de more...1 point

A Dictionary of the Hawaiian Language by Lorrin Andrews

A Dictionary of the Hawaiian Language by Lorrin Andrews

This resourceful dictionary provides a rare and va more...1 point

The Geometry of Art and Life by Matila Ghyka

The Geometry of Art and Life by Matila Ghyka

This classic study probes the geometric interrelat more...1 point

Hamlet's Mill: An Essay Investigating the Origins of Human Knowledge And Its Transmission Through Myth by Giorgio De Santillana; Hertha Von Dechend

Hamlet's Mill: An Essay Investigating the Origins of Human Knowledge And Its Transmission Through Myth by Giorgio De Santillana; Hertha Von Dechend

Ever since the Greeks coined the language we commo more...1 point

Mapping the Mind by Rita Carter

Mapping the Mind by Rita Carter

Today a brain scan reveals our thoughts, moods, an more...1 point

String Figure Discussion Group

The Art of String Figures

Share your thoughts on String Figures
The Art of String Figures
String Figure Discussion Group for those that think there is more to the Art than being a simple game.

String Games and String Figures on Flickr

Butterfly

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string figure.. butterfly??

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Eiffel Tower

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String Games

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Jacob's Ladder

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Room 4 Glenbrae School

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Two at This Game

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2007 - Day 131 - Cats Cradle

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More String Figures and String Games on Flickr

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Great String Figure Buys on eBay

Save Money - Great Buys on string figure books

Do you have a passion for string figures and are looking for a way to save money so you can increase your collection?


Look no further. Here are some great buys on string figure books etc.
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Aloha. I am an artist of the Spirit practicing Shamanism, Hawaiian Healing Arts, Huna and String Figures. Please visit
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