The Medicine Wheel

All Medicine Wheels are tools for teaching people about their place in the universe and their relationship to all things created by the Sacred Mystery

The Medicine Wheel

Numbers have always played a significant part in traditional Aboriginal life. Four is one of the most sacred numbers used in Aboriginal culture. For example
The Seasons, The Races, The Elements of the Universe, The Stages of Life, The Emotions and Aspects of Human Behavior.

Four Directions
East
South West North

Four Colors
Red
Black Yellow White

Four Stages of Life

Birth
Youth Adulthood Senior years

Four Elements
Earth
Air Fire Water

Four Seasons
Spring
Summer Autumn Winter

Four Aspects of our nature

Spiritual
Emotional Physical Mental

Four Animals and Four Symbols

These are of personal preference

The Medicine Wheel

The Medicine Wheel, which is symbolized by a cross within a circle, is a ceremonial tool and the basis for all teaching wheels.

 The Power of the Four Directions is implied whenever a wheel or circle is drawn. Since traditional Native American cultures view life as a continuous cycle, life mirrors the cycling of the seasons, the daily rising of the sun, and the phases of the moon. They also hold the view that all things are interrelated. The Medicine Wheel incorporates the Powers of the Four Directions and the interrelatedness of all things.

The Medicine Wheel

Used as a reminder of lifes journey
Used to remind us to live a harmonious and balanced life - balance is achieved when you are

in the center of the wheel. We learn as we go along and the goal is to be in the center of the medicine wheel You have natural abilities/talents meaning the direction in which you were born

Which are you?

East
Vision, intuition,energy, inspiration, personable, leadership, spontaneity, performers, and faith

South
Industry, morality, generosity, loyalty, appreciation of arts, independence, loner

West
Respect, Spirituality, sacrifice, supportiveness, deep inner thoughts, dependence,, dependability

North
Wisdom, business sense, thoughtfulness, toughness, analytical thinking, powerful, control, fast paced

A breakdown
East-Air, Animals, White, Receives Energy, Mental Aspect, Wisdom and Logic

West-Water, Plants, Red, Gives Energy, Emotional Aspect, Trust and Innocence North-Earth, Black, Holds Energy, Physical Aspect, Introspection, and Insight South-Fire, Sun, Yellow, Determines Energy, Spiritual Aspect, Illumination and Enlightening

The Medicine Wheel

You may decide that you have qualities

from all four directions try to think of one that is the best fit. You started from somewhere and then learned as you went along

Make your Own

Make your own medicine wheel, take

adjectives from the list in the directions section, in the sun and wind section then do the following:

Make your Own

Make 4 circles yellow, red, black and white. Connect

with pin, Then divide into 4 sections. The smallest circle in the middle will be divided into north, east, west, south then put in terms or words that describe who you are as person from the list
The next one will be summer, winter, spring fall and

sports or things you participate in during those seasons The 3rd section will be divided into environmental beliefs, emotional/relationship,,physical/active and spiritual beliefs

Make your Own

The largest section will be divided into

birth to old age mention major events in your life that happened using Mardenas ideas birth-7 years old Then next age=7-14 As a teenager, now14-21 Finally what you think youll do for the rest of your life, get married, have kids, job type up to old age .ages 21-death