by Claudia Windal

Created on: August 05, 2008   Last Updated: April 11, 2012

We Native Americans speak often of the "medicine wheel." This circle is divided into four equal sections which are used to illustrate many aspects of life and spirit. We believe that each person possesses four "directions" which are physical, spiritual, psychological, and emotional. When any one of those areas is out of balance, the entire person is out of balance.

Simply put, in our traditions, we believe that when our spiritual and emotional selves are at peace, we do not have stress.

Of course, all people possess these four directions and have the ability to be whole and healthy by keeping themselves in balance. This is generally easier said than done and requires that we remain attentive to ourselves and any imbalances that appear to exist.

I begin my day with prayer as I acknowledge each of the four geographic directions, I also recognize my interior directions. I ask Creator to help me walk in balance and in a good way. I acknowledge my weakness as well as my strengths and my need to be whole in order to be healthy and productive. I also pray this for all of my relations (all people, everywhere). We Lakota recognize this relationship in the saying "Mitakuye Oyasin" "All My Relations."

Inevitably, we will encounter times of stress, frustration, confusion, "out of balance-ness" and we will return to contemplating the medicine wheel, our relationship to each of the four areas of balance and eventually to restoring that balance.

When we are strongly connected to the Creator and the Creator to us through prayer, our spiritual selves, we are in a good place to look at stressors as temporary situations over which we have some control. When I am stressed, I often go out to one of our many city lakes and sit on the shore. I feel the warmth of the sun given by Creator, I am calmed by the sounds of birds and water fowl, I often am gifted the sighting of an eagle overhead. Soon, rather than feeling isolated and alone, I feel a part of all of creation and I realize that as I allow myself time in that realization, I also become calm and at peace. The tension in my muscles relaxes, I am able to enjoy the beauty rather than fume over a situation or personal encounter.

Many of our people also regularly participate in the "inipi" or the sweat lodge. This is a practice designed to bring one's prayers and concerns to Creator as well as to begin to heal from situations, wrong doings and other circumstances. The very act of sweating, helps remove the thoughts and feelings that prevent us from being whole.
It is unfathomable to me to not move in and out of my spirituality throughout the day; this connection with my Creator keeps me healthy and whole.

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