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Directions and Colors

 

 

Native Americans are taught that everything is circular.

"Black Elk said that Great Spirit caused everything in nature to be round. The sun, sky, earth and the moon are round like a shield; Father Sky is deep like a bowl. Everything that breathes is round, like the stem of a plant. Therefore, humans should look upon the circle as sacred, for it is the symbol of the connection all things in the natural world. The four parts of each Plant are round: roots, stems, leaves, fruit; The Circle marks the edge of the world and therefore the four winds that travel there; It is also represents the divisions of time: the symbol of the year (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter); The day, the night and Mother Earth, Grandmother Moon travel in a circle above the sky, and the four stages of life: birth, adolescence, adult, elder. "

http://www.shannonthunderbird.com/symbols_and_meanings.htm

 

 

The Medicine Wheel depicts:

Each of us is one in the center of the circle. There are endless symbols and teachings connected within and without the Medicine Wheel. These are but a few of them:

The four directions (north, south, east and west)

EAST (yellow): Teacher, Wisdom - from the East, we begin to seek knowledge, the direction where everything is fresh and new. The sacred plant of this direction is tobacco. 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.

SOUTH (red): Healer, Love - from the South we experience growth, the direction where everything in life is replenished and in full bloom. The sacred plant of this direction is cedar. 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.

WEST (black): Visionary, Integrity - from the West we encounter reflection and spiritual insight, the direction where dreams and visions allow you to go within and appreciate yourself and your Creator. The sacred plant of this direction is sage. 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.

NORTH (white): Warrior, Leadership - from the North we experience the purity, the direction where the secret to many cures is found for healing. The sacred plant being the Sweet Grass, to keep you free from evil and make your travels safe. 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.

One suggestion to find your place on the Medicine Wheel is to use your Birthday for the direction section.

East - Mar 21 - June 20
South - June 21 - Sept 21
West - Sep 22 - Dec 21
North - Dec 22 - Mar 20

The four colors of races (red, black, yellow and white)

http://users.ap.net/~chenae/spirit.html

Ethnic color symbolism http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/color2.htm

http://dmla.clan.lib.nv.us/docs/kids/in-colors.htm

 

Other colors often also represent North - White, Birds; South - Red, Fire, Eagle; East - Green, Bears and Moose; West - Blue, Beaver. Each direction has a different animal (s) connected with it.

The four stages of life (spiritual, mental, physical and emotional)

The Medicine Wheel teaches us that the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects must be in balance in order to maintain a healthy mind, spirit and body.

 

http://www.diabeteshealingtrail.ca/traditionalhealing.html

http://www.shannonthunderbird.com/medicine_wheel_teachings.htm

http://www.shannonthunderbird.com/symbols_and_meanings.htm

A different color scheme for the Medicine Wheel

 http://www.spiritualnetwork.net/native/medicine_wheel.htm

http://www.ammsa.com/buffalospirit/June-2000/medicinewheel.html

 

 

Graphics

    Color Wheel - http://www.diabeteshealingtrail.ca/traditionalhealing.html

 

 

 

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