"I have characterized shamanism as an 'earth tradition'. The worlds of Grandmother Earth - the mineral, plant, animal, and human worlds - are in harmony and balance with each other, as sybolized by the teahings of the Medicine Wheels. Shamanism is not, strictly speaking, a revealed religion but a tradition based on dialogue with nature. Nature is perceived to be an uncontrived display of the Great Spirit, and as such is Truth. We can say, then, that shamanism is primarily a dialogue with Truth through the vehicle of nature."
-Joan Halifax Shaman's Journey, Buddhist Path
The Medicine Wheel is a symbol of wholeness, perfection, balance, and completion. If you take a look at nature you'll be hard pressed to find straight lines, instead, you'll find circular paths. Day rolls into afternoon which turns into night and then back to dawn again. The rhythm of the years is a circular pattern of moving from Spring to Summer, Fall, Winter and then back into Spring. And life moves from birth to youth to maturity, death, and then back into life again. The Medicine Wheel is based on this natural pattern and is used as a map, or a compass, to help us navigate our way through life. We use it to help us understand ourselves and our place in the universe and as a framework for honoring the forces of Nature
It can be used as a device used much like the circle of power used by occultists but rather than directing power, one learns to identify with the forces surrounding us.
Basically, the Wheel is divided into four quarters which correspond with the cardinal directions. Each direction has attributes and energies which can be used to map consciousness and personal growth.
We start in the East which is the place of Illumination, sunrise, and holds the energy of 'entering into'. The color is yellow and the element air. Here you learn about new ideas, new levels of understand, and anything new. The East represents dawn, spring, and the quality of enlightenment. the Human world is here with spirit and intuition. Enlightenment comes to those who, as Jamie Sams says:"are willing to look at and remove their self-imposed hesitations or limitations." The Eagle flies highest here as a symbol of the freedomm of thought and the flight of seeking new horizons.
South comes next. The place of midday, summer, fire, and the color red. Here is youth, and emotions and the need to be as a little child in faith, trust, humility, and innocence. This is the place of the Inner Child with his or her irreverence to help you take life less seriously and as a reminder to remember your sense of humor.
We enter the West where the color is black and the element is water, the time of day is evening, the season is Fall, and the life phase is maturity. Here is where the teachings of the Bear fill you with knowledge about introspection, being quiet, learning to listen and to feel.
Last we move into the North, the place of the Elders, ancient wisdom, white, winter, mid night, and old age. This is the place to go if you need the guidance of those who have walked the path before you.
There are three other directions, making a total of seven and adding an element of dimensionality to life. These correspond to the Middle, Upper, and Lower Worlds.
The above world of Father Sky shows us lessons on expanding spiritually, conceptually, and materially. This is the place where we are encouraged to find our own yardstick and to develop ourselves to our full potential.
The Lower World is the world of the Earth Mother, our ancenstry and instinctual power. This is the place to come in order to learn about and develop in our depths -- our deepest self aspects. It's the place of our Truest Self.
Last comes the Middle World which is where all the worlds overlap. It is the place of stillness, the ever-pregant void. The place of the emptiness within where all the other directions may be interpreted. This is the center, totality, and the place of imagination.
"It begins with respect for the Great Spirit, and the Great Spirit is the life that is in all things - all the cratures and the plants and evn the rocks and minerals. All things...have their own will and their own way and their own purpose. This is what is to be respected."
--Rolling Thunder Shamans the First Healers
You use the Medicine Wheel as a physical and mental means of moving to quiet spot within you and then aligning your energies with those of the direction with which you are working. You prepare yourself for this deep contact by quieting the mind and emotions and simply calling to the direction.
The directional energies would, perhaps, be better understood as Intelligent Cosmic Forces. They are not limited to that quarter, instead the quarter and its associations are merely means for you approach and contact these forces. You do not, as is popular in paganism or wicca, summon or command these forces. Instead, you acknowledge their existence and ask for their aide.
For example, if you needed to get in touch with your sense of humor and Inner Child, you might face the South, envision red energy filling you up, and then simply allow yourself to receive whatever input that comes.
Another example might be that you are in need of information about healing. You might set up a physical Medicine wheel using colored stones to represent the quarters, enter in the East -- the place of beginnings -- then walk the circle until you get to the direction that will most help you. Greet that direction with words or gesture or song, whatever works for you. Then ask for help and sit down, facing that direction which, in this case might either be North (for contacting ancestral or hereditary wisdom) or West (where Bear is the great teacher of all healing). Once you are centered and have stated your question clearly wait and see what comes to you while you're seated and, if nothing comes, look for the answer outside the circle for it will come in whatever way you're capable of receiving it.
Of course, there is much more to working with the Wheel and I will be adding more to this section as time goes on. Please feel free to e-mail me with questions or requests for information, there's a link to do that below.
� 1997 [email protected]
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