Great Bear Teishin
Most cultures of the world give great significance to the Big Dipper constellation. Not all peoples saw a bear in its form, but the constellation's shape changes over the course of a year in a way that depicts a shift from a four-footed to two-footed figure. This is what a bear can do, move on all fours or stand like a human. Many traditional cultures recognized a deep kinship between bears and humans. The Great Bear Teishin carries a very soft energy. It makes a great stroking tool with its prominent flat side, and is also well-designed for point-specific techniques with its tip.
An interesting side note here that we have both studied with the late Dr. Bear (Iwashina Anryu sensei) from Japan. He was given the moniker by a leader of the Blackfoot tribe in the late 1980s. We are thus honored to have a Great Bear Teishin as a nod to our esteemed teacher.