Post on 02-Jan-2016
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
Origin?
The Iroquois Confederation recognized that Indian peoples were more alike than different. – same basic belief systems and followed similar
traditions. Placed in front of every tepee, and
decorated in special symbols, colors, and stones, to let people entering the tribe know about its inhabitants.
Origin?
A reflection of an individual’s strengths and weaknesses – It told people what they needed to learn and
what they needed to teach.
Everyone was ordered to work on themselves, or else leave the tribe.
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.
The Medicine Wheel
Symbolized by a cross within a circle
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. – Life as a continuous cycle
• the cycling of the seasons• the daily rising of the sun• the phases of the moon
– 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 life’s journeyUsed 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 Mardena’s ideas
birth-7 years oldThen next age=7-14As a teenager, now14-21Finally what you think you’ll do for the rest of
your life, get married, have kids, job type up to old age .ages 21-death