Paoa
Talking from the Tree

The Talking Stick is an ancient tribal tool used to facilitate group discussion. This is done by empowering people to speak their truth. Use of the talking stick is indigenous to many cultures. I have adopted the Hawaiian Huna talking stick in my art and my healing practice. The Hawaiian name for stick is Paoa, which means"talking from the tree."

Creating a council circle using the Paoa helps in retrieving listening skills and showing honor and respect for the speaker. In this way, we are able to build trust and community in group sharing.

I have been creating handmade talking sticks for ten years. The sticks are made primarily of aspen, after permission to use the wood is requested from the trees. The stick becomes our connection to the earth and all things through its life force, or mana, which is sealed within the Paoa by burning its ends. This life force empowers the holder of the stick to speak his/her truth and speak from the heart. The more it is used, the more mana it will contain until it truly becomes a magic wand!  

~ Ross LewAllen

Custom Talking Sticks

The Talking Stick Circle is effective in such group processes as problem solving, conflict resolution, decision making, and prioritizing. Introduce the circle, or council process -- the origin of which can be traced to the Iroquois, the People of the Plains, and the Southwestern Pueblos -- to your group work.

Call or visit me for a consultation and together we will design a talking stick that is uniquely yours. You will choose special symbols and colors that represent your qualities and directions in life. Here is a very small sampling of symbols you could choose for your special talking stick. In our consultation, I will tell you about many others that would suit you.

Paoa

(Talking from the tree) by Ross LewAllen

The ancient tool used for speaking from the heart and listening compassionately. I have been making talking sticks for 10 years now. This Little Book will help you understand the use of a talking stick and what a council circle is like. If you're interested in owning one of my custom talking sticks e-mail me: oon@nets.com