Traditionally, a medicine wheel wasa ground-level monument constructed by many indigenous tribal communities, especially North American native groups, and was associated with religious practices. The uses for medicine wheels varied from tribe to tribe, but generally speaking they were wheel-like structures composed with stones arranged in an outer circle with "spokes" radiating from the center. In most instances, the four spokes of the medicine wheel were aligned according to the compass directions: north, south, east, and west.
More recently,New Age spiritual practitioners have adopted the medicine wheel as a symbol or metaphor for spiritual healing, and they also have adopted other symbols from Native American spiritual and shamanic practice—including the use of Power Animals.
In New Age spirituality, the four animals most commonly represented as f spirit keepers for the medicine wheel are the Bear, the Buffalo, the Eagle, and the Mouse. However, there are no firm rules about which animals stand for each of spoke directions of the medicine wheel. Michael Samuels, co-author of "The Path of the Feather," teaches that all native peoples had different spirit animals and interpretationsof the spoke directions, which encourages modern users to choose their own.
The Eagle is the spirit keeper of the eastern direction or air quadrant of the medicine wheel.
In most native tribes, the eagle stood for spiritual protection, as well as strength, courage, and wisdom. Like an eagle in flight, as a totem animal, the bird represents the ability to see broad truths that we cannot see from our normal earth-bound perspective. The eagle is the power animal closest to the Creator.
Interestingly, the eagle has represented similar values for ancient cultures throughout the world. In ancient Egypt, for example, the eagle was revered in a manner quite similar to Native American culture.
The American buffalo, more properly known as the bison,is the spirit keeper of the northern direction or earth quadrant of the medicine wheel.
Much like the animal itself, as a totem symbol, the buffalo represents groundedness, solidness, sheer power, and abundance. It represents strength and a deep, firm connection to the earth.
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Spirt Grizzly, Keeper of the West
The grizzly bear is the spirit keeper of the western direction or water quadrant of the medicine wheel.
The bear is a solitary animal capable of ferocity, and as a totem animal, it signifies the importance of taking command and leading with aloof aggressiveness. It also represents the need for solitary reflection, and it is a symbol to lean on when individual, lone courage is required.
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Spirit Mouse, Keeper of the South
The Mouse is the spirit keeper of the southern direction or fire quadrant of the medicine wheel.
The mouse as a totem animal represents theimportance of small, persistent action. It represents the ability to pay attention to small details and how to discern the important from the irrelevant. Like the actual creature, the totem mouse represents heightened awareness to small details and the virtue of sometimes being timid and sacrificing one's ego. A mouse is able to successfully live on the most meager of materials—a lesson we're well advised to learn.
Each of the Four Directions (East, South, West, and North) is typically represented by a distinctive color, such as black, red, yellow, and white, which for some stands for the human races. The Directions can also represent: Stages of life: birth, youth, adult (or elder), death.
Each of the Four Directions (East, South, West, and North) is typically represented by a distinctive color, such as black, red, yellow, and white, which for some stands for the human races. The Directions can also represent: Stages of life: birth, youth, adult (or elder), death.
THE MEDICINE WHEEL. The Native-American concept of the medicine wheel symbolically represents a nonlinear model of human development. Each compass direction on the wheel offers lessons and gifts that support the development of a balanced individual.
The medicine wheel is a sacred symbol used by the Lakota and others to represent spiritual knowledge and a connection to everything in the universe. It is a symbol of unity, good health, well-being, honor, and recognition.
What do the colors represent? The four colors (black, white, yellow, and red) embody concepts such as the Four Directions, four seasons, and sacred path of both the sun and human beings. Arrangement of colors vary among the different customs of the Tribes.
There are four Sacred Medicines: Tobacco, cedar, sage, and sweetgrass. These are traditional medicines that have physical qualities for medicinal purposes, and a spiritual aspect used in traditional healing and ceremonies. Care and attention should be given when harvesting Sacred Medicines.
The most important number is four, the symbol of the horizontal picture of the world, which is most clearly represented among North American Indians: “In its essence, this symbolism stays for a cycle associated with fertility.
This is a matter of choice and tradition. However, there are some common spirit animals that are associated with the wheel: the eagle, the buffalo, the wolf or coyote and the bear.
The Four Direction Symbol holds a profound significance in Southwestern Native American art and culture, representing the tribes' deep connection to the earth, the natural cycles of life, and the spiritual forces that guide and protect them.
We will be using the number four which is a sacred number for First Nations People. It is the number of four directions, four seasons as well as mental, spiritual, physical and emotional self.
The other familiar medicine wheel image is the iconic circle divided into four separately coloured quadrants. The number four has great significance in most Indigenous cultures. The black, white, red, and yellow medicine wheels that we frequently see in logos, on drums and in art are all somewhat different.
The sacred color of the west is often called black, and the messenger is that of the black eagle. Winter's home is in the north. Its power promotes good health and growth. Those who misbehave look to it for correction and for the wisdom needed to walk the straight path again.
The Medicine Wheel reminds us that we need to balance all four aspects of our being – the spiritual, emotional, physical and mental aspects. When we become out of balance, we experience disease. In using the Medicine Wheel in this manner you might also explore what can be done to become re-balanced.
Four colors in particular—black, white, blue, and yellow—have important connections to Navajo cultural and spiritual beliefs. These col- ors represent the four cardinal directions.
As part of the Lakota culture, when people pray or do anything sacred, they see the world as having Four Directions. From these Four Directions — west, north, east, south — come the four winds.
A Four Directions Ceremony is a native america blessing that calls on the Four Directions (East, North, West & South) to bless a couple's journey in life. The blessing is exclaimed as follows: Blessed be this union with gifts of the East and of Air.
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Introduction: My name is Madonna Wisozk, I am a attractive, healthy, thoughtful, faithful, open, vivacious, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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