HOW TO USE A NATIVE AMERICAN MEDICINE WHEEL
Native Americans viewed the human journey through life as a series of cycles and circles, interwoven and connected to all living things inhabiting the Earth, the sky and the spiritual realm.
The Native American Medicine Wheel was a working model of how to gain an understanding of the delicate structure and balance of life, the relatedness of actions and reactions in the Universe and, how our individual lives played a role in the Creator's grand scheme. It is a circular symbol of truth, power and knowledge.
Each Medicine Wheel was unique to the specific geographic area and Native American tribe that used it. Though the shape or formation, and the Elements and Powers found within the wheel, may differ in size and directional representation, the basic meanings and purposes possess commonalities.
Before anyone can attempt to use a Medicine Wheel, the basic concepts, structure and meanings must be learned in order to achieve personal and spiritual growth.
A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE WHEEL'S BASIC COMPONENTS
Each wheel works with the number 7, which is the Dream of the Creator's number. The wheel has 4 cardinal directions: East, South, West and North, the center circle makes 5, and the Above and Below, makes 7.
As we journey through life, we will encounter each of these stages in our physical, mental, and spiritual growth.
The associated powers of the 4 cardinal directions:
THE EAST
* This direction's power lies with the rising sun. It represents vision, inspiration, beginnings and endings, where matter and spirit touch, and the springtime planting and sprouting of seeds. It is considered the "high place" where life and all its workings can be contemplated and allows a bigger picture to come into view.
THE SOUTH
* This is the direction that deals with the heart, emotions, innocence, trust and childhood. It is where we are able to see the world through a child's eyes and marvel at the beauty and magic of the world. It is like a mirror, where we are able to undergo self-reflection, viewing our past and how it is affecting our present.
THE WEST
* This is the direction of the setting sun. It represents the need for us to draw inwards and do some introspective work. This power is associated with women and the womb, where new life is created. It honors Grandmother Earth, who is responsible for sustaining all life, as well as providing the need for change, death, decay and rebirth, completing the circle of life. The west is the physical world, the present, and the period in life where we are in our spiritual adolescent stage (27 to 54 years of age).
THE NORTH
* This direction represents the intellect, the mind, and cooperation. It is where one learns to think beyond the self and attain the maturity required to put other's needs above our own and become fully human. This direction helps us realize the need to give back, our impact on future generations and to plan accordingly, while opening our minds to understanding the ancient shaman's ways. True maturity of our spirit and adulthood comes to us at this time (54 to 81 years of age).
At this point, we would "come full circle" and return again to the East, from where we began our journey (now at 81 to 108 years of age). As our bodies age and begin to weaken, we return to our inner self and reflect on how we have lived our lives. We regain the simple childlike view, but with a greater understanding of the Universe, the Spirit-Self, and how much we offered to others on our journey.
This is one of the main reasons why Native American cultures placed such value and honor upon their elders. The elder members of the tribe had acquired the knowledge and power of life's journey through the Medicine Wheel's directions and taught the younger members lessons from their own experiences.
The center of the Medicine Wheel represents our "place of balance." No matter which direction we are at on the wheel, we can return to the center, collect ourselves, and continue steering our lives through the "Great Maze" of life. The center position also allows us a place where we can safely bring all of the directional forces together in harmony.
USING A MEDICINE WHEEL
It is difficult to actually "teach" someone how to use the wheel. There is no written guidebook to follow. The elders passed down the knowledge in the Native American oral tradition, from generation to generation, and its usage is still surrounded in mystery. What we do know is that the wheel was used for praying, fasting, healing, ceremonies, celebrations, spiritual and mental wisdom seeking, and learning how to be a better person.
PREPARATION AND POINTS TO CONSIDER
* Your wheel can be as simple as a drawing on a piece of paper, to a life-sized model made out of stones, in the Native American tradition.
* Make a large, outer circle and place a smaller circle in the center. Place a vertical line, straight up and down, and then a horizontal line, from side to side, to create the 4 directions.
*It is important to grasp the meaning associated with each of the 4 power directions on the wheel before attempting to meditate. It may be helpful to write down each direction's attributes on index cards and place them on their appropriate locations for future reference.
EAST = wisdom, logic, mental energy, beginnings and endings, the rising sun.
SOUTH = trust, self-reflection, enlightenment, spirituality, past and present.
WEST = introspection, physical world, need for change, death, decay and rebirth.
NORTH = intellect, cooperation, maturity, giving back, selflessness, impact.
* There are pitfalls, or enemies, of each direction that must be avoided, like self-glorification and corruption. These enemies include:
EAST = pride, abuse of power over others, denouncement of the earth or spiritual matters.
SOUTH = childishness, pity for self, shunning responsibility.
WEST = depression, fear of death, obsession with self and inertia.
NORTH = judgmental mind, arrogance, knowledge without wisdom, dogma and pedantry.
*We may travel around the Medicine Wheel's 4 directions many times through life, but each revolution offers new wisdom, new understanding, and new growth. No matter what, our connection to all of life's cycles, seasons, natural and spiritual entities, become clearer and more refined as we learn to confront our inner self and gain a better understanding of the workings of the Universe.
* Do not forget the center circle, which represents the center of our life. It is a place of balance that harmonizes the affects of the 4 directions. There will be discoveries that are good and those that are bad, but the center balances these opposites and allows us to see the light amidst the dark and follow the right path to decisions that will help us grow and learn.
* The Above and Below will also play a role in your journey. The Above is the sky and heavenly bodies, while the Below is the soil, the dirt, the Earth.
* Understand that there is no right or wrong way to use the Medicine Wheel. Each person's interpretation and growth is as unique as they are. It is a personal journey of reflection and discovery, offering a way to enrich and fulfill one's life. It will not offer instant answers or cures, or help you win the lottery, but it will give you a chance to focus on where you have been, where you are, and how to get to where you'd like to be.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Native Americans believed in respecting the Creator, Mother Earth and all of its inhabitants, in the need to replace what you have taken to maintain balance, and to treat others in a helpful, selfless manner.
A Medicine Wheel is to be used to achieve a better understanding of ourselves, and the world around us. It can be an insightful tool that offers us a way to see the "big picture," and how our choices and actions impact our lives and the rest of the Universe.
Medicine Wheels have been used successfully in helping people with addictions, HIV/AIDS, depression, and chronic illnesses. It is also helpful to anyone struggling with emotional issues, like the death of a loved one, or overwhelming challenges that instill a feeling of helplessness or defeat.
A Medicine Wheel is an ancient method for focusing and examining our lives and learning to make the right choices through our life's journey.