|
The Medicine Wheel is a very powerful symbol
of Native American spirituality. Because it is a circle, it
represents the many cycles that appear in the natural world: the
cycle of night and day, of the seasons, and of birth, life, and
death. However, it is important to note that each Nation has been
given its own understanding of the Medicine Wheel, and the
colours, order, and other details may differ. This does not mean
that any one understanding is right or wrong; each Nation received
teachings that work best for them. The description that follows is for the Mi'kmaw Medicine Wheel.
THE FOUR DIRECTIONS
As is true of many Native American
traditions, the Mi'kmaw Medicine Wheel contains four colours: red,
white, yellow and black. These colours represent the four races of
man, of which Native Americans were aware long before the arrival
of the Europeans. Also, each direction has an associated spirit
helper, an element, and a sacred medicine.
|
 |
DIRECTION
|
EAST
|
SOUTH |
WEST |
NORTH |
|
Colour
|
White |
Yellow |
Red |
Black |
|
Spirit Animal
|
Eagle |
Thunderbird |
Black Bear |
White Bear |
|
Medicine |
Sweetgrass |
Sage |
Cedar |
Fungus |
|
Element |
Water |
Fire |
Earth |
Air |
|
Season |
Spring |
Summer |
Fall |
Winter |
|
Life Stage |
Infant |
Adult |
Elder |
Ancients |
|
Notes |
|
Women's
direction |
|
Men's
Direction |
|
|
Because the circle represents the passage of
the sun and the seasons, discussion of the Wheel usually starts in
the East direction, where the sun rises, and travels in a
clockwise direction*. This also applies to moving around any
circle during a ceremony.
The East, then, is seen as a direction of
beginnings, including infancy (the beginning of life) and spring
(the beginning of a new year.) The West is seen as a direction of
endings, and is the direction the spirit travels when it leaves
this Earth.
THE SEVEN DIRECTIONS
The medicine wheel is the basis of the four
directions, and to honour each of these directions is to honour
all mankind. However, in some cases we go further, and honour
seven directions. The additional directions are:
-
UP - the direction of Creator, the sky,
Grandfather Sun and Grandmother Moon.
-
DOWN - the direction of Mother Earth
-
INWARD - to honour ourselves, and the
spirit that exists within each of us.
When we have acknowledged each of the seven
directions, we have acknowledged all that is.
|
|
|
|
*Obviously, the ancient Mi'kmaq had no clocks.
Why, then, do we move clockwise around a circle? Consider the
sundial: the shadow follows the motion of the sun, and describes
a semi-circle during the day. Because people were used to
sundials and the motion of the shadow, clocks were designed so
the hands turned in the same direction - which we now call
clockwise! In some cases, you may find this direction referred
to as "sun-wise".
|
|
|
|
