The Medicine Wheel
The Medicine Wheel represents the sacred balance of all life;
from that place we can look within and find oneness.
In Cacao Ceremony we gather in a circle, offering our respect and gratitude for the medicine before we drink. A vital aspect of the ritual involves acknowledging the Four Directions, which is a Shamanic tradition based on the Medicine Wheel.
The Medicine Wheel has long been used by Native American tribes for health and healing. It embodies the Four Directions, as well as Father Sky and Mother Earth. Each of these aspects together represent the cycles of life. Different tribes have varying interpretations of the Medicine Wheel but we’ve included some key points below:
Stages of life
In general East represents birth and childhood. South is youth and growing up. West is mature adulthood or becoming an elder. North is wisdom and death. Though this varies across cultures, death always gives rise to rebirth and renewal.
Seasons
East is spring, South is summer, West is autumn and North is winter, which correlates to the stages of life.
Aspects of life
East represents our physical being, South deals with the intellect, West is emotional and North is spiritual. For further reading we recommend this article by Christine Miskonoodinkwe Smith.
Elements
The placement of the elements varies across traditions. Most commonly, East is fire, South is earth, West is water and North is air.
Animals
Eagle flies in the East, Wolf howls in the South. Bear roams in the West and Buffalo grazes in the North.
Ceremonial plants
Tobacco grows in the East, Sweetgrass in the South, Sage in the West and Cedar in the North.
When we look up to Father Sky we are welcoming the sacred masculine. When we look down and touch Mother Earth, we welcome the sacred feminine. The Medicine Wheel represents the sacred balance of all life; from that place we can look within and find oneness.
Our New Moon Ceremony takes place every month with Sound Healing by Dan and Lillie. Join us on our next Sacred Journey!
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