MEDICINE WHEEL TEACHINGS

"All the World Should be at Peace" sung by the fabulous Grade Six students (Class of 2008)
from Downie Central Public School, St.Paul's Station, Ontario

The SONG of Wolf BRINGS the magic of the natural world and connects us to each other, our Ancestors and the Seven Directions.

Thunderbird is a Medicine Wheel Teacher having received her knowledge and teachings from her own intense research and from a variety of Elders who have willingly taught her over the years. Medicine Wheel teachings are among the oldest of First Nations people and are based on the seven directions (North, East, South West, Life above the earth, life on the earth, life below the earth). They are vast and limitless and form the basis of most First Nations belief themes. For example, the natural world was created in groups of four to honour East, South, West and North. They are connected in the centre by Mother Earth's heart beat.

The Wheel's sacred teachings assist us along our healing paths, and the relationships among the teachings form the basis of what it is to be human. After all, humans are the weakest of all creation and therefore, as the world’s ‘takers’, we must be cognizant of what we take, how much we take, who we are taking it from and why we are taking it. This includes: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual realms.

An Elder once told Thunderbird the grains of sand on a beach will never equal the number of teachings contained within the mysteries of the Medicine Wheel. After years of studying and researching these teachings, Thunderbird has come to discover that he was right! Native people on the west coast, including the Tsimshian People did not create Medicine Wheels. Anthropological discoveries have shown that the wheels are mainly clustered in southern Alberta and various spots in North and South Dakota, Montana, meaning tribes such as the Lakota and Blackfoot probably were the main builders and the wheels were created to honour the power of the Sun.

Note: What direction does each of the four colours of human belong? There have been many books written about the Medicine Wheel, and they often differ as to the placement of some of the teachings, for example, there are some Lakota teachers who place the yellow race in the west and the black race in the east; Anishinaabe version places the Red Race in the South and the Black Race in the West; others suggest the wheel is walked in a counter-clockwise direction. As so little is really known, there is really no wrong way to build a wheel, A circular walk after all has no beginning and no end.

It is more of a question of what resonates with each tribal culture as they seek their own understandings through the expression of building a medicine wheel. Thunderbird can only speak from her own knowledge, what has been taught to her over many years and what she has learned based on sheer geographic logic alone, White in the North and Yellow in the east are 'givens'. Black Race in the West and the Red Race in the South. Thunderbird elects this placement because she accepts the logical explanation that the races originated in these directions.

MEDICINE WHEEL AS A UNIVERSAL SYMBOL OF
PEACEful interaction

Over time, Medicine Wheel teachings have evolved into a universal symbol of peaceful interaction among all living beings. They provide a tangible mechanism upon which the healing of individuals, families, communities and nations can be focused. Like all things First Nations, adaptability is the key to survival, therefore, it makes sense for the the medicine wheel teachings to have been adopted by many tribes.

One of Thunderbird's greatest joys is to create a human medicine wheel, with cards containing the teachings and then placing each person in the appropriate place on the wheel. Participants get so much more out of it in terms of understanding their own lives in relation to the bigger picture.

For a detailed description of adult/professional workshop, Click Fire

WALKING your PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT MEDICINE WHEEL

They create a holistic foundation for human behaviour and interaction, individual, community, nation, world. The teachings speak to us at every level of human experience. They are moral guides to our growth as people who live in communion with one another and all of creation. It is our responsibility to care for each other in a manner that allows us to walk our earth walks in emotional, spiritual, mental and physical balance.

The Medicine Wheel assists in helping to seek: strong, healthy bodies (East); strong inner spirits (South), inner peace (West), healthy minds (North). A Medicine Wheel can best be described as a mirror within which everything about the human condition is reflected back to each of us. It requires courage to look into the mirror and really see what is being reflected back about an individual's life because some of it is painful, while others joyful and reflective. However, it is ultimately facing the pain that makes each of us a stronger and better person.

The term "Medicine" as it is used by First Nations people does not refer to drugs or herbal remedies. It is used within the context of inner spiritual energy and healing or an enlightened experience, in other words, spiritual energy. The Medicine Wheel and its sacred teachings assist us along the path towards mental, spiritual, emotional, physical balance and enlightenment.

The central essence of the medicine wheel is that each of us must make our own choices. More often that not, however, these choices are influenced by other individuals (families, co-workers, friends). Not of all our experiences are good, there is a lot of hate, terror, jealousy, fractured families and societies in our very unsettled world which has resulted in an increase in various kinds of cancers. Sometimes we are not successful in working around the pain and we become caught up in a jungle of tangled emotions, followed by ‘not right action’. It is difficult to walk the earth walk with care always looking to our futures in healing, positive and understanding ways, when it is so easy to just give up. But, then, this is the challenge isn’t it? To learn from those experiences that have not elevated our lives, (even though it can be a scary process!) and keep moving forward in a manner that pleases our Ancestors.

A good starting point are our birth dates. The Medicine Wheel is walked in a clockwise direction (the direction of the Sun). The time needed to walk a complete circle is whatever time it takes - time, in other words, time is relative to the process and no one else's business.

DIRECTION	BIRTHDAY
EAST	March 21 - June 20
SOUTH	June 21 - September 21
WEST	September 22 - December 21
NORTH	December 23 - March 20

There is no right or wrong way to walk the wheel or live our lives, how we do it is our choice, as noted above, and how we do it should not be judged by anyone. This is where the five Native Ethics come in, which is a whole other teaching. Suffice it to say, that the Ethic of Non-Interference, teaches it is not our place to judge how another person chooses to live her life. It is our place to be there in friendship, love, balance, support and harmony when needed and even then our personal opinions remain our own.

“All birds, even those of the same species are not alike, and it is the same with animals and with human beings. The reason Wakan Tanka (Creator) does not make two birds, or animals, or human beings exactly alike is because each is placed here to be an independent individual and to rely upon itself.” (Shooter, Teton Lakota Elder)

After all, Great Mystery does not make mistakes, and each person is created as a 'perfect soul' which reflects the central essence of the medicine wheel. It is hard to understand sometimes that where we are at this point in our earth walks is where we are supposed to be, and guess what! We are still perfect!

In other words, moving around the great medicine wheel circle is an ongoing journey of personal redemption and evolution. How we live your life within the great circle is the greatest challenge. If we wish to become a self fulfilling prophecy, it is best to think and walk in a positive way, for if we are angry, remorseful, and bitter, then our earth walks will reflect that anger. The Native People in Hawaii who follow the traditional Huna teachings have a saying, "As you think so it is." In other words, if you believe you are a worthy person, then you are. If you believe you do not matter in the Universe, then you will not matter. In ancestral times, Indigenous People greeted every sacred day with honour songs and prayers because physical life was considered to be a fleeting thing. There were songs to greet the morning Sun, songs to put Grandfather Sun to bed, Songs for Guardian Spirits, Prayers for Mother Earth.

Everyday should be a good day with good thoughts, good feelings and prayer because being called to your day of quiet could be at any time. As one of Thunderbird's teachers once said, "If someone says to me, "I'm not spiritual", I'll say, you breathe, don’t you’? If you breathe you are spiritual for Spirituality is breath." As the beginning of the Great Spirit Prayer says, "Oh Great Spirit whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me...."

The ‘Old’ People say that we are never the same person coming out of a circle as when we went in because so many new connections have been made. All things that live within the Sacred Hoop are equal and protected, because a circle cannot do otherwise, it is not logical. It is a place where people come together in safety, trust and sanctity to share stories and feelings and help each other heal through both communal and individual laughter and tears. Eventually er will return to your starting place older and hopefully a little wiser to begin the process of walking the Wheel again, this time with new understanding, insight and inner strength.

THE CIRCLE

First Nations people believe in a creation-based form of spirituality which has at its centre, the symbol of the sacred circle. The circle represents an harmonious relationship with nature and with all living things who are our relatives and that all things are connected and equal because in a circle there is no beginning and no end. Mother Earth is often referred to as a Medicine Wheel or Sacred Hoop because she is circular and she also turns in a circle.

As Black Elk taught: "Birds make their nests in circles; we dance in circles, the circle stands for the Sun and Moon and all round things in the natural world. The circle is an endless creation, with endless connections to the present, all that went before and all that will come in the future."

Always remember the basic etiquette of a circle - "What happens in a circle stays in the circle!" The safety and confidence with which people speak their truth is sacred and must never be spoken of outside the circle. Only those who were in the circle have the privilege of hearing that truth.

The circle is as sacred to Native People as the Confessional is to Catholics. In other words, "Ain't nobody's business but the members of the circle, the Ancestors and Great Spirit!"

More information, see: Symbols and Their Meanings

CREATING AN ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE WHEEL

We are part of a broken world. How evident has this been, particularly in these past few years with super hurricanes and tsunami’s wrecking havoc across the globe. We are unwilling participants standing on the sidelines of a human world at war with the Earth. What are we doing about it??

Is it not our responsibility to care for the world which includes accountable stewardship of our delicate eco-systems? These were the instructions given to the humans before recorded time, care for it, share it and love it; for thousands of years the world's Indigenous people followed the instructions until we were overwhelmed by other energies that sought to control the earth instead of working with it.

Indigenous people are the oldest conservators of sustainable environments using time-honoured practices that have held us in good stead for thousands of years. The basic premise is that all living beings are connected, from the four elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water), to the Plant, Animal and Human worlds. Indigenous people understand the profound spirituality of these sacred connections and have walked softly upon the earth, never conquering it, but creating holistic foundations and interactions with the Earth that were supposed to last beyond recorded time. Alas this is not the case because the Earth has bowed to those who seek to control it by engaging in customs and practices that overpower it to the detriment of our very lives. Year after year, we experience the same old activities, dig and dig until there is nothing left to dig up; pollute and pollute until the air chokes on its own breath and the waters cannot breathe. We continue to tolerate greed, and possessiveness based on the 'power-over' dynamics of those who seek only fat financial bottom lines and the health and well-being of the whole be damned!

Traditional Indigenous knowledge was based on working with the environment in terms of food preparation, environmental conservation, health and well-being of The People. As one Native Elder once said, “We are not a mountain; we do not overpower a mountain, we go into a mountain, we let it surround us and we give thanks.”

1. Do we really want biased political, economic and short-sighted policy decisions to be constantly at war with social and environmental responsibility?

2. Is it not time to rethink western political practices on what is considered ‘right’ action as regards saving our world, when we all know full well, these practices advantage only a few to the detriment of the whole?

3. Do we really want to continue with the idea that to the victor goes the spoils no matter how they are won, i.e. the sacrifice of Mother Earth's heart beat?

North America’s Indigenous people are strikingly diverse in terms of our cultural and ceremonial practices. However, one thing that is common across all Native Nations is our deep reverence for the land and for the environment as a whole. We cherish that relationship because it forms the basis of who we are as Turtle Island's Original people. We have always had an abiding respect for what the land gives to us and for what we give back to it.

We live in turbulent times, fraught with terrible waste and lack of insightful environmental management. Yet, the teachings are there and have been for thousands of years. They, perhaps for a time, were lost in the mists of time, but, once again they are emerging from the shadows into the light as practical and reasonable alternatives to our present destructive course of action.

It is quite obvious that we cannot continue on the same path that we have been following throughout the twentieth century. For too long, our Earth has been vulnerable to greed and overuse and it behooves us to turn to those time-honoured Indigenous teachings that do not advocate the earth bending to the will of the takers, but the takers, bending to the will of the earth. It is so simple, so very simple, yet look what we’ve done, just look at what we are doing. All My Relations. Kopet, that is all.

IMPORTANT NOTE: When building an environmental Medicine Wheel, each stone (or person) represents an aspect of nature and is placed in a particular direction on the Medicine Wheel. The placement is not how the builder 'feels' but what is right and logical, following the wisdom of the ages.

THE FOUR DIRECTIONS
(clockwise on the Medicine Wheel)

ORIGINAL ELDER SPEAKS FROM THE UNSEEN WORLD

EAST - Ay-ee, this is where all physical life begins, where Grandfather Sun begins his leisurely walk across the breast of Mother Earth's mate, Father Sky admidst the Clouds borne by Air; Eagle flies in the East to assist Great Mystery in bringing messages to me. Men sit in the East, for this is the place of the Physical, where stamina, logic, strength, physical protection thrive, where warriors for peaceful purposes emerge in the fullness of time and energy. It is the place where thoughtful decisions and selfless acts are made for the greater good. It is a time of action and accomplishment. I awaken to Spring which starts a new cycle of life and a new beginning for me. This is the place of the Warrior and the Male Element of Air which I breathe in with humbleness and thanks. I light the Sweetgrass and breathe in its gentle scent and feel a sense of well-being that the decisions I have made this day were the right ones for me and those I love and respect."

SOUTH - "Ay-yee this is where all life is reborn and infused with new and positive energy for health, wellness and 'good ways'. Great Mystery planted a sacred tree - which represented the 'Givers': animals, plants and trees and their sharing/caring ways. They gave themselves to me as food, medicine, shelter and clothing. I let my spirit soar on the breath of warm winds and azure waters. Children/Youth sit in the South for they represent that wonder of learning new things as they look toward their endless horizons. I glory in the Summer for it takes me to the magic of the middle of the circle and growing things. This is the place of the Healer and the Female energy of Earth, where I can I light the Cedar, and drink Cedar Tea or have a Cedar Bath and float in the strong Spiritual realm of my being giving thanks for the confidence I feel within my inner self."

WEST - "Ay-yee I speek for the Fire and the Sacred rocks (Grandfathers). I will stand here for humankind. I carry the history, music and words of the everlasting great circle of life; In my sweatlodge I will pour life-giving, life-sustaining water onto the grandfathers and spiritual, emotional, mental and physical life will regenerate through prayers and the mists of endless time. Women sit in the West and represent Emotions, creativity and the joy of spontaneity and artistic expression. I will hear the teachings from the Ancestors. I will acknowledge the power of my visions/dreams, prayer and humility. I revel in Fall months for the falling leaves take me to a place of quiet reflection. This is the place of the Visionary and the Male element of Fire around which I dance and sing, honoring the teachings the of the ages. I light the Sage and breathe in the scent for a balanced Emotional realm of my being."

NORTH - "Ay-yee, through the Wisdom of the Water and the Soul, Humans will remember Great Mystery. This is where where wisdom and strength of the mind lives. Elders (Wise Ones) sit in the North for they represent the full circle of life and all the wisdom and experiences they acquired during their long journey. I listen to them, for their knowledge lives and sings with the Ancestors, where their stories are spoken around a sacred fire and come out of their dreamtimes. I listen to the songs of white bears and know that the wisdom of the ages courses through them. The season of Winter finishes the cycle. I reflect on all that I have learned and experienced in the previous full moons. This is the place of the Teacher, and the Female element of Water. I scatter Tobacco upon the sacred land, breathe in the Mental realm of my being and give thanks for my health, the teachings, for family, friends, and peaceful relations."

"All My Relations. I have spoken. Kopet, that is all."

FOUR MAJOR ARCHETYPES , ALSO KNOWN AS THE FOUR
REALMS OF HUMAN EXISTENCE

WARRIOR (EAST) - STAMINA, LEADERSHIP We come into our leadership skills by staying in our power, by extending honour and respect. We do this by showing up and being responsible and accountable. In other words, we do not hide or hold back. We respect limits and boundaries. We do not, in other words, power ourselves into someone else's world without being invited. We demonstrate always the right use of power. We listen to the messages from Father Sky and the four great winds. We empower ourselves by using a rattle, dancing, meditating while standing, connecting to nature and finding our power animals. Watch out for the shadow aspects of leadership: rebellion, power-over mentality, riding coattails of powerful people. Stand in the sweet territory of presence, communication, responsibility and position.

HEALER (SOUTH) - LOVE Pay attention to the heart and its meaning. We attend to the condition and well-being of the four-chambered heart (full, open, clear, strong); when we extend acknowledgement and the arms of love to ourselves and others, when we hold a balanced view of health we can experience all kinds of love; Love between mates and lovers, between parent and child, between friends and colleagues, between professional alliances, Love of self, Unconditional or spiritual love. We embrace the sweet territory of Storytelling, Singing, Dancing, Silence. We cradle ourselves in our own self-love and acknowledge our strengths, and the qualities we like about ourselves. We acknowledge the contributions we are making and that we have made. We acknowledge the love we have given and received and the love we are currently giving and receiving. When we recognize ourselves as persons of worth, we can do the same for others. Avoid the following addictions: living intensely (lighten up, in other words), seeking perfection, concentrating on what is not working instead of what is working, you simply don't have to know everything.

VISIONARY (WEST) - INTEGRITY Tell the truth without blame or judgment. Honour the power of prayer and humility; when we give voice to what we see internally and externally and when we bring forward our creative spirit and life dream we bring with us intuition, perception, insight and vision. Stand in the sweet territory of dynamism, magnetism, integration and strength/vigor. Meditate either standing, lying down, sitting up or walking. Align your right words with right action, Honour yourself in equal proportion to others. Avoid the following addictions: Free yourself from patterns of denial and self indulgence. Never say, "I'm just a housewife, I'm just a postal clerk, I'm just a veterinarian. The word "Just" does not exist within the context of the Visionary. Avoid, in other words, self-abandonment, always seeking approval, love, trying to keep the peace, looking for harmony at any cost.

TEACHER (NORTH) -WISDOM When we express the Teacher, we develop our capacities for detachment: we honour our heritage; we become flexible and fluid, like the ocean; we demonstrate wisdom and its four major components of clarity, rightness, objectivity and discernment. We find our inspiration from our Ancestors, immediate family, friends, inspirational and historical figures. We sit in the sweet territory of silence. Immutable laws include: Whomever is present should be there; When it begins, it is the right time; Whatever happens, it is the only thing that could have happened; When it is over, it is over. Avoid the following fears: loss of structure, loss of turf, feeling out of control, feeling abandoned, looking always at a bleak future. Turn to your Healer Self to correct these things.

FOUR DIRECTIONAL PRAYER MANTRAS

EAST Today I acknowledge that my body contains a fantastic genetic code unique only to me. It is a vehicle of expression designed to transport and enable me to function within the physical realm. I do not devalue myself, therefore I will not devalue my body, for my body is the temple that houses the Mental, Spiritual and Emotional realms of my existence. I understand and accept that learning and changing takes time and that leadership within myself is an ongoing quest. I may not be able to expect an overnight miracle but I can expect a miracle over time.

SOUTH Today I acknowledge that I am connected to a spiritual power greater than myself and that this greater power (known as the Breath of the Invisible) loves me and created me in perfect balance with Noo Halidzoks (Mother Earth). I will continue to heal myself by releasing my fear, and loving myself and others unconditionally. I place no boundaries, in other words on the love I give myself. I understand that self-worth comes from within my own soul. I understand that I do not have to be defined by wider world.

WEST Today I will acknowledge that changes in my life must begin with me. Today I will speak from the depths of my wise self. I know that to lock up my heart locks up my emotions. I will listen to my dreams and visions and create a new reality for myself. I will stop denying that problems exist. Instead I will honour them for they have helped make me who I am at this moment in time. To deny my difficulties is to deny who I am. What I will do is dream new dreams for myself and lift up my spirit.

NORTH - Today I will acknowledge that to change my life requires the twin elements of honesty and wisdom. Honesty to understand when a change(s) is necessary and good, Wisdom to change my patterns of behaviour even if they fly in the face of what others think and believe about me. Today I acknowledge that I have a sacred right to live my life as I desire, and I reject any roles imposed or assigned to me in a dysfunctional situation for then the gifts freely given to me by Great Mystery will be wasted and Mother Earth will die a little more.

GREAT SPIRIT PRAYER

Oh Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the wind

Whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me; I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset

Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice

Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people.

Help me to remain calm and strong in the face of all that comes towards me

Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock

Help me seek pure thoughts and act with the intention of helping others

Help me find compassion without empathy overwhelming me.

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brothers and sisters, but to fight my

greatest enemy - MYSELF

Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes

So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.

EAST	SOUTH	WEST	NORTH	FATHER SKY	MOTHER EARTH	CENTRE
East Wind	South Wind	West Wind (Grandfather of the Winds)	North Wind			SELF. A Rose represents the Earthwalk thorns and all!
Birth: Children	Youth	Adult	Elder
Good Life	Fast Life	Wandering Life	Truth Life	Planning Life	Doing Life	Inner Wisdom Life
Courage, Leadership, Stamina, Clarity	Trust, Growth (Sun), Gentleness, Cleansing	Humility, Prayers, Introspection, Dreams, Visions,	Honesty, Wisdom, Honour, Illumination	Respect Growth (Sun)Renewal	Truth, Balance, Nurturing (Moon)	Love of Self, 'Light Bulb' Moments that alter entrenched thoughts
Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Physical Realm	Spiritual Realm	Emotional/Heart Realm	Mental Realm
Warrior	Healer	Visionary	Teacher
Air	Earth	Fire	Water
Yellow Race	Black Race	Red Race	White Race	Blue	Green	Purple
Rooted: Sunflower, Honey, Maple Syrup, Trees, Flowers Wild Rice, Wild Grass Seed After 1500 Wheat, Barley	Vegetables: 3 Sisters: Corn, Beans, Squash Turnip, Onions, Wapato (potatoes), Sweet Potatoes, Peppers Berries: Strawberries Blueberries Cranberries Blackberries	Swimmers: Fish (Salmon), Seal, Walrus, Whale Meat, Shelled Fish (Clams)	Wild Game Meat (Moose, Elk, Caribou, Turkey) After 1500 Pork, Beef, Sheep, Chicken	*Flyers:* Ducks, Pigeons, Partridges, Quail + Bird's Eggs	Nuts & Seeds: Acorn, Hickory, Chestnuts, Walnuts, Pine, Cacti, Sunflower, Pumpkin	*A particular member of the Wild Game Group* Bison and Pemmican
Sweetgrass	Cedar	Sage	Tobacco
Grandfather Sun	Mother Earth	Grandmother Moon	Father Sky
*Male Spirit Guide* Elk, Mountain Lion, Weasel, Fox	*Female Spirit Guide* Deer, Moose, Buffalo, Swan	*Female Spirit Guide* Raven, Bear (Brown, Grizzly, Kermode), Orca	*Male Spirit Guide* White Bear, Caribou, Horse	Male Spirit Guide Eagle, Hawk	Mother Energy: Turtle, Wolf, Kokapelli, Turkey	Female & Male Spirit Guide Bear Paw, Crane, Dog, Opposum, Frog, Dolphin, Otter, Porcupine,
Gemstone Bloodstone, Sapphire, Malachite, Apatite or Azurite	Gemstone Quartz Crystal, Green Tourmaline, Sodalite, Lapis Lazuli, Topaz	Gemstone Rock Crystal, Jade, Amber, Citrine	Gemstone Turquoise, Green Aventurine Coral, Ruby, Black Obsidian	Gemstone Aquamarine	Gemstone Agate	Gemstone Garnet