Spirituality and Self Help
The Four Directions and Walking the Medicine
Wheel
This morning, I did twenty minutes of yoga, forty minutes of
meditation, prayed to the Creator and the four directions, smudged
my altar and affirmed positive statements to carry me through an
anticipated fantastic day.
My name is Crystal Wolf and I am a Spirit and Life Consultant, a
Seer and an Intuitive Educator. My home is in the Greater Sudbury
Area. I have been doing spiritual work for over twenty three years
and I travel extensively to do this work.
Today's teaching is on the Four Directions and Walking the Medicine
Wheel.
In the last twenty years, the teachings of the Medicine Wheel have
become an integral path for not only the Native People but for
others all over the world who are interested in maintaining the
balance within themselves and within the Earth Mother.
The Wheel is a universal symbol because it is a circle, and the
circle represents the creation of life as an infinite cycle of
birth, death and rebirth. The Medicine Wheel is one way of honouring
the energy of the earth and of celebrating and strengthening that
energy. The Medicine Wheel is the Native People's idea of the
universe and each individual's place in it. At birth, each of us
enters the
Wheel at one particular beginning point and this entrance gives us
certain powers, gifts and responsibilities within the four
directions on the Wheel. This place gives us our first ways of
perceiving things, that which is the most natural. Throughout a
person's journey around the Wheel, they have the obligation to grow
and to seek understanding from the other directions so that they can
incorporate
these attributes into becoming a full and balanced individual that
can make good decisions along their life's unfoldment.
The construction of the circle begins with twelve to sixteen stones,
each representing a part of the universe. Within the Wheel are the
four spokes that are named for the four directions- East, West,
North and South. The symbolism of the number four is important. The
number four stands for power. To participate in the construction of
a Medicine Wheel or to participate in a Medicine Wheel
ceremony is both an honour and a re-affirmation of a person's
journey within their own Wheel of Life.
My first participation in the construction of a Medicine Wheel and
in a Medicine Wheel ceremony was in 1985 through invitation by a
Cherokee Elder. During this ceremony a buffalo skull was placed in
the centre of the circle and as participants we were asked to wear
head-dresses and animal regalia. Each person entered the wheel from
the East and walked inside the Wheel in a clockwise direction (the
way of the sun) once, until each of us was settled on a particular
position in the circle.
Each cardinal direction is associated by a certain colour, certain
attributes and has an Animal Spirit Keeper that represents this
direction. In the Cherokee teachings, the colour for the East is red
with an Eagle as Spirit Keeper representing illumination and new
beginnings. The South is represented by Yellow or White with a Wolf
Spirit Keeper who represents knowledge, power and family. The West
is Black with a Bear Spirit Keeper representing purification, death,
re-birth and life experiences. Finally, the North
is in White or Pale Blue with a Buffalo as the Spirit Keeper. The
Buffalo represents prayer, health, renewal and spiritual attainment.
The Medicine Wheel, with all it's variations is more than a circle
of stones: it is a road-map to life, a path to follow, and a way to
grow. This is the reason that there are now many Medicine Wheel
gatherings and many Medicine Wheels being built so that the healing
of the sacred circle can prevail within the Earth Mother and within
ourselves.
Everyone has a place on the Wheel. Everyone travels around the Wheel
and depending on one's birth, karma, and growth experiences, one
will acquire the gifts, and powers of the four directions as we come
to them in our life journey.
Affirmation for the day
I am alive, I am thankful, and I shall accomplish this day, for the
benefit of myself, my family and all beings, these three specific
things........for example.... I shall realize my creative gifts
today, I will create better relationships with others, I will not be
attached to
unhealthy foods.
Repeat this affirmation three times. Visualize in your mind's eye
the manifestation of this affirmation.
If you affirm that you want to have a better relationship with
co-workers, then visualize you and your co-workers seated in a
circle, surrounded by pink light, talking heart to heart and working
together. It is important to believe your words and to cultivate
faith that you will manifest your sacred gifts in life.
Aho and Blessings of Light
Crystal Wolf
Sudbury, Ontario
Back to top
