Energy Medicine Wheel - Medicine Wheel

Energy Medicine Wheel - REV. JUDITH BILLSON

The Medicine Wheel

The Medicine Wheel is a powerful metaphor for the totality of life. All aspects of creation and consciousness, inclusive of the mineral, plant, animal, human and spirit realms, are contained within the center and eight directions of the medicine wheel. They overlap and interweave to form the whole. It is in the center of the medicine wheel that we find the void, black hole, sacred zero, the chaos at the source of creation, containing all possibilities. Each of the elements - air, fire, water, and earth - is guided and molded by the sacred life force energy contained within the void. It is the source of chi, which is the driving force of all sacred sexuality. Through sacred sexuality, all forms of all things within the mineral, plant, animal and human kingdoms, have been and continue to be created. Life could not exist without the sexual life-force energy of the void, which is the catalyst for all the powers that are found within the 360 degrees of the medicine wheel.

"Honor the sacred.

Honor the Earth - - - our Mother.

Honor the Elders.

Honor all with whom we share the Earth:

Four-leggeds, two-leggeds, winged ones,

Swimmers, crawlers, plant and rock people.

Walk in balance and beauty."

Anonymous Native American Elder

In the cardinal directions are: East - Fire, spirit, human kingdom; West - Earth, body, mineral kingdom; South - water, emotions, plant kingdom; North - air & wind, mind, animal kingdom. In the non-cardinal directions are: Southeast - self-concept, ancestors; Southwest - dream, symbols; Northwest - cycles, patterns, rules and laws; Northeast - choreography and design of energy.

THE MEDICINE WHEEL:

Circle of Life

In researching past my personal believes of how a Medicine Wheel is represented, I found to my amazement that the construction and what the four (or six) directions and sections varied from different tribes. Some thoughts are common, such as the principle that life is a circle and that the four directions stand for North, South, East and West with Mother Earth being down and Father Sky being above; giving six directions. Some include one more - Spirit seen as either us as a human or as the All that Spirit is; giving then seven. A circle is also used in other practices considered pagan with the same four directions, general color schemes, and even most of the same animal totems. For links to more traditional Native American Medicine Wheels and additional great information on the Medicine Wheel - scroll to the bottom of this page.

What is A Medicine Wheel?

A Medicine Wheel is a physical manifestation of Spiritual energy. An outward expression of an internal dialogue. A mirror in which we can better SEE what is going on within us. It is a wheel of protection and enables us, and allows us, to gather surrounding energies into a focal point and to commune with Spirit, Self and Nature (ALL elemental forces)........Creation!

It helps us with our "Vision," to see exactly where we are and in which areas we need to develop in order to realize and become our potentials. That we are all connected to one another, and by showing us the intricacies of the interwoven threads of life, what our part in it all is. It helps us understand that without our part in the tapestry the "Bigger Picture" is not as it should be. We add colour, dimension and life to each other, to all of life. No matter what colour, race or creed we are, we need each of us to create a beautiful existence and expression of the Whole.

It is a model to be used to view self, society, or anything that one could ever think of looking into. The wheel, once learned how to dance within it, offers a picture to you and also helps to add clarity to a foggy view. Like so many other things...it is a tool to be used for the upliftment and betterment of mankind, healing and connecting to infinite. We are all but one realization of "God" trying to realize self...so lets see what part we ourselves are.

Please remember that all that I am to share with you although taken mainly from Native teachings, are also of my own teachings provided from Spirit and my own experiences. It is with an open heart and mind that I ask you receive these teachings. Not all will be for you. Take what is yours and disregard the rest or set it aside for another date. I will do my best to let you know from which teaching the information that you receive comes from, as there are many interpretations and symbologies applied to the Wheel, but the basic principle is the same.

As we grow, we change like the seasons, passing through the sections of the circle, learning from each. The center of the circle is the touching of the Spirit, the pure of heart, the truth as everything extends from the circle and everything comes together in the middle. For this reason the circle is used for ceremony, especially those that involve contacting the spirit world. This is a safe and protected place of love, a centered and grounding area.

The following are some general beliefs but do not represent the whole collection of varied colors, animal totems, and uses of the sections of medicine wheels. Different tribes use different symbols. I personal think we should use the colors and symbols that best represent what we believe. Here is just a small fraction of possible animal totems, plants, growth patterns, and colors. I think there are no 'right' and 'wrong' colors and animal totems.

To see how to make a medicine wheel click here

How to make a Medicine Wheel - Stone placements

I am Holding Rainbow Warrior Woman of Universal Love, Energy, and Knowledge; of a Rainbow Tribe.

SOUTH - Fire - Passion

Growth in the South it is the time of Summer. From the bloom we transform into the fruit of the labors. It is the time of mid-day, the hottest part of the day, the part when the sun is overhead and no shadows are cast.. Maturing and growing into an adult to be that who was are. It is the time to accept the change and learn, to understand.

Red is for fire, passion, time of fertility. The South is the place of passion in all things, sex, fertility, mating - the fires that burn within. The direction of fire, like the phoenix we can rise from the flames, we take and rise again from childhood into being an adult in the direction of the South.

Animals

The animals in the South represent pride, strength and courage. The eagle with keen sight and strong wings. The lion for the strength and courage to speak out and roar. The wolf so proud to be a team member of a pride.

EAST - Air - Flight

Beginings starts in the east - from where the sun rises we begin a new dawn. Each day is a good new day with a fresh beginning, a new start. East is the direction of the physical body and newness including children and new borns. It is the time of change for all is a new beginning. New ideas and seeing the light. Change. Spring is the season when all things begin to grow and awaken. Yellow is the path of Life, to begin the walk as a warrior, to shine in all that you do. The sun rising in the east empowers each of us. The energy to do and to begin the action of the mind and heart is there.

Animals

Animals of wings and flight include hummingbird, the owl, and the hawk. Our words are given to the east that the smoke in the air or the voices in the air may be carried to Spirit.

WEST ( Blue) Water - Emotions

Later adulthood the time of Fall, the time of the setting sun - twilight. The daylight fades and brings a new awareness in this time of gradual change. When the darkness comes we must look inward to find the light and have courage. To understand what we see in the darkness may not be real but only shadows.

This is the emotional part of ourselves, like the flowing water we must learn to go with the flow of life. The time of the West is when we learn that we are responsible to all things and to each other. It is the time to prepare, to finish things for the time of Winter is coming. We gather ourselves and family, working together to prepare for what is to come. As the place of emotions it is the place of family and love - of responsibility from our hearts because of the love. It is hard work and team efforts. Black symbolizes change from this life.

Animals

The Beaver shows us of the team work and pre-paredness needed for the winter coming. The snake reminds us to shed our skin to grow and change.

NORTH (Green) Earth - Wisdom

As we get older our hair turn white, as we come to our time of winter. White (and purple) also symbolize spirituality. With experience and age we gain wisdom. Now we have time to rest and contemplate the lessons. North is purity and wisdom, a great place of healing. This is the time after midnight, a dream time. The time to be grounded within yourself and deep within, like a bear in a cave.

North is the place of winter. This reminds us to stop and listen. That we must have prepared for the long time of winter. Having been in action the other seasons we now rest and contemplate to understand the wisdom we have been given.

Animals

The white buffalo, Moose and Bear. Each prepared and have a layer of fat to sustain them through the winter. They are also the primary source of meat during the winter time for people. They rest and take things slow, not wasting energy, and with the understanding of what winter brings.

MAKING YOUR OWN MEDICINE WHEEL

MEDICINE WHEEL STONE PLACEMENT

MAKING A CEREMONIAL CIRCLE

The Four directions points should be marked using a compass to find exact North (white), South (red), East (yellow) and West (black). Your first decision in making your own medicine wheel is how big it will be and that is partially determined by if you will have directional stones marking the four directions or a smaller circle indicating the directional points. To help you make that decision consider these questions.

Will you be building a fire within the circle?
Will the fire be in a direction point circle or the middle?
How many people will be the most ever in the circle?
Will you place an alter within the circle? East is common to many pagans.
Will you ever have people representing the four directional points?
Do you have a large enough flat area outside to make the circle?
Eastward is where you enter a circle from.

These four directional stones can be guardian/watchtower stones or a smaller circle of stones with the center point being again the exact direction per the compass. You should select the stones or objects you will be using in your medicine wheel before you begin to make it. Some people will use statues for the directional points in the totem animal for that direction. This is your space and I personally believe what ever things you consider powerful makes them powerful and should be used. Sorry, but I do waiver from some of the traditional Native viewpoints on the construction.

So the first step is to note where the center of the circle will be. The ground should be flat and make sure you have enough room before you start. Since the Tree is represented in the center in Black Elk's Vision, you might have a tree be the center point of the circle. Our if you intend to have a fire pit that would be the center. Think it all out first. If you have a fire make sure that it is far enough away from buildings and trees, and close enough to a water supply in case if get out of control. Unexpected winds should be expected when doing ceremonies in the Medicine Wheel.

The center is the power point of the circle and where ALL comes from. Take a pencil with a string tied on to it and embed the pencil into this exact center point. Having someone help is a big plus, one to hold the center point and the other to mark the edge and the directional points. Next, bring the string out as far as the outside of your circle will be. Tie the string onto another stick or a knife so that you can mark the ground and the points. Walk around in a circle, marking the outside parameter of the medicine wheel by scouring the ground. Then stand in the center and use a compass to locate the exact four directional points. Mark the directional point on the scoured circle. Place your marker at the directional points - either a stone, a circle of stones, statues, alters, etc.. With the four power points marked complete filling in the circle with three stones between each power point. Between these points are three stones each representing months or the three animal totems of each direction.

The inner eight stones make the circle around the Spirit point or the Tree that stands in the center. These eight stones used to make the inner circle represent the four directions, Mother Earth, Father Sky, and Spirit or yourself. Or in Pagan uses the eight stones would represent the eight Sabbaths. The center circle is where a fire could be build or alter, or offerings placed. There are many ways to use the Medicine Wheel/Circle and the more often it is used the more power it will hold for your ceremonies. This is a place of high medicine and should be built with time and care as a permanent place.

Once your circle is made I think it imperative to do an opening ceremony to bless the space. Depending on your believes will determine how you will use the wheel/circle and of course the opening ceremony too. Blessings - and welcome to the circle of life.

What Is A Sacred Site?

by Lauren O. Thyme

A sacred site is a locale where the earth's power radiates more strongly in a vortex of energy. Sacred sites are usually situated on natural energy streams that run beneath the earth's surface. Sacred places can be natural, like holy wells or rock formations, or built out of stone and earth.

Ancient peoples intuited power places, worshipped Nature, the Goddess and other deities there, performed healings and other ceremonies, and used them as "temples of learning."

Often they raised monuments of huge stones containing high concentrations of crystalline substances, using advanced techniques since forgotten or lost in modern times. They aligned their monuments, as distinctly seen at Stonehenge, Carnac in France, and the Egyptian pyramid complex, with the potency of the extra-terrestrial forces of the sun, moon, planets and/or stars to augment the already vital energies pulsating there. Ancient people often built their sites using sacred geometry such as circles, ovals, and pyramids. Furthermore, using arcane knowledge, ancient people were able to "seal in" the immense power of their sacred sites with ritual and ceremony, so that sacred sites still vibrate with wisdom and energy after thousands of years.

With the advent of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism, new religious edifices were often built on top of ancient sacred sites, like Chartres in France and Glastonbury Abbey in England. However, these religions retained intuitive understanding and ancient memories of the mystical and mysterious forces of nature and utilized the power of these sites.

Where Are Sacred Sites?

Sacred sites exist all over the world. Sometimes they are huge complexes, like the Egyptian and Mayan pyramids and temples, Avebury and Stonehenge (England), Carnac (France) and the Callanish Stones (Scotland). Many are small, like Loanhead of Daviot (Scotland) or Stanton Drew (England), quietly tucked away in cow pastures or in a forest wilderness, practically unknown except to local residents or sacred tour groups. However, regardless of their size or reputation, all sacred sites contain vast oscillating intensity. Furthermore, each sacred site is unique and contains its own unique vibrational coding, activity and purpose.

Why Go To A Sacred Site?

They are boundless sacred and holy repositories containing light, energy and wisdom. Sacred sites are believed to have been originally created by ancient peoples for:

• learning psychic and spiritual abilities, higher knowledge and wisdom,

• healing of physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies as well as personal, group and planetary problems,

• power generation and connection - to themselves, each other, other communities, to the earth, other dimensions, and to the sun, moon, planets and stars' dynamism.

Thus, when visiting sacred sites, one can achieve spiritual, psychic, and/or metaphysical development in minutes what might ordinarily take months or years. Another benefit is the advancement of personal and global wisdom and knowledge as well as healing one's self and the planet.

When visiting a sacred site a symbiosis or bonding takes place. In other words, one embodies the sacred site's energy and wisdom, while simultaneously one's conscious human energy activates and expands the resonance and impact of the site. Another special form of linking occurs when visiting a sacred site. One becomes energetically connected to:

• other individuals and groups who've visited the site,

• other sites joined along the energy lines of the site being visited,

• individuals and groups who've visited those other linked sites.

Therefore, since visiting sacred sites creates a connection with other sacred sites and individuals around the world, "global community" and a sense of oneness and unity is both formed and enhanced.

Creating Your Own Sacred Site

Any place can become a sacred site, including one's garden, home, office, or special meditative place. All that is needed is:

• earth (should be situated on the ground floor of a building; outside is even better),

• a water source (preferably running water like a fountain or stream, but can be a simple basin of water),

• intention to make the space sacred and holy,

• group energy to increase the vibrations (two or more people present),

• sacred sound (like singing or chanting),

• natural crystalline rocks (like quartz or amethyst),

• fire (candles),

• prayer (whatever kind you prefer).