Medicine Wheel

Introduction to the Medicine Wheel

 

The medicine wheel is a summary of all that is, containing everything known and unknown in the universe. A great cosmic template!  Sometimes called the Sacred Hoop, it can be thought of as an evolutionary blueprint.

It is a Circle of Life – a Circle of Lessons on the Path to knowledge, Self – Knowledge.

A “medicine” wheel -  Medicine, meaning sacred gifts.

Wheel – Circle - all things return to where they began.

The significance of the circle has always been expressed in native rituals. The ending is but another beginning, a new chance to start over. One hour, one day, one month, one season or one year; it is a cyclical pattern that allows us to try again, not linear which never goes back just keeps going.

The ability to relate to it comes with practice.  Like any other spiritual work, it is a process. We must learn to slow down, and ALLOW the process to unfold.  It is a mirrored image of every step before us, as each step we take along the way offers a new understanding of our growth patterns. When we share the wisdom of our life’s lessons, many others may benefit as well.

Think of Shamanism as a system of direct knowledge – knowledge is something that works and stands up to the test of time, unlike belief systems which is taken on from others. The Medicine Wheel is a path/the path to awaken this knowledge. These Sacred Teachings assist us on our path to healing, health and wholeness for our mental, physical, spiritual and emotional enlightenment.

Understanding and learning to follow the Medicine Wheel brings meaning and purpose into your life. It helps us to walk the earth in a good way, in balance and peace. It reminds us that we each dance in from our own unique and sacred place and reflects back to us that WE, are also a part of this great Circle of Life!  

 It is a mirror and model to view oneself, others and nature. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is look ourselves in the eye, it requires courage.  It does not matter where you step in, only that you do!

The vertical lines are above and below, earth and sky energies; the horizontal line is our path or journey on this plane. We take this Walk in Time up and down, back and forth and around with YOU in the center!

Every seeker has a chance to eventually discover this harmonious way of being with all of life around them by ascribing to the precepts of the medicine of this wheel.

Understanding the lessons of the sacred hoop helps us to touch/experience life in a deeper, more profound way.

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Join us this Fall as we embark on a "Journey around the Medicine Wheel" - See the last entry in the Offerings link to the left for more information or the Events calendar.

Happy Equinox!

Fall
Fall

The Autumnal Equinox on September 21st traditionally marks the end of Summer and turns us towards the Western position of the Medicine Wheel. This is the place of the BEAR who offers a reflection of inner vision, inviting us to go deep within (the caverns of our mind/body/spirit) and do a little soul searching. It is an end time for most of our spring and summer projects and for many, a very welcome time of rest and return to more predictable schedules.

Fall is a wonder full time of the year to slow down, integrate new knowledge and reflect on what direction our lives have taken and what we may need to do now to better prepare ourselves for where we are going. Just as we survey our spring and summer gardens, taking note of what fits or what's needed for next year, so too does our spiritual garden now benefit from fall's crisp vision and review. When we look within our own darkness, our outer light just seems to illuminate.

The color black is often associated with the Fall season, which is represented by the West on the Medicine Wheel.

Relative to the 3rd Eye Chakra, the color black encourages us to look beyond the illusions and reminds us that without the dark, there would be no light. The secret is to find the harmony and acceptance within both our shadow self and illuminated self.

This is the visionary's spot atop the mountain, where one easily looks back to see clearly, the footsteps of their chosen path. All of the places we've been and all of the experiences we've had up until this time culminate here in the West.

As BEAR energies of the West remind us to start heading towards the cave for hibernation, it is also a time to reflect on the strength and healing that Bear Medicine brings. Tapping into our spiritual toolbox in this way is a beneficial practice when the Autumnal Equinox announces the arrival of Fall.

In the seasons of life, we do well to pay attention to the cycles of nature. Learning to align with each of these seasonal energies opens us up to experience a more harmonious and deeper connection not only to ourselves, but to all of life that surrounds us. We are all connected through this intricate web of life.

What touches one, touches all. The Lakota term this "Mitakuye Oyasin" - "All our Relations".

Happy cave time to all!

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