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.

Four Directions

EastSouthWestNorth

Four Colors

RedBlackYellowWhite

Four Stages of Life

BirthYouthAdulthoodSenior years

Four Elements

EarthAirFireWater

Four Seasons

SpringSummerAutumnWinter

Four Aspects of our nature

SpiritualEmotionalPhysicalMental

Four Animals and Four Symbols

These are of personal preference

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