“We have the opportunity to build a Rainbow bridge into the Golden Age. But to do this, we must do it together with all the colors of the Rainbow, with all the peoples, all the beings of the world. We who are alive on Earth today are the Rainbow Warriors who face the challenge of building this bridge,"
~Brooke Medicine Eagle, Daughter of the Rainbow, Crow and Lakota ~
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THE SACRED CIRCLE “You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the power of the world always works in circles, and everything tries to be round. In the old days all our power came to us from the sacred hoop of the nation and so long as the hoop was unbroken the people flourished. The flowering tree was the living center of the hoop, and the circle of the four quarters nourished it. The east gave peace and light, the south gave warmth, the west gave rain and the north with its cold and mighty wind gave strength and endurance. This knowledge came to us from the outer world with our religion. Everything the power of the world does is done in a circle. The sky is round and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing and always come back again to where they were.” - Black Elk
Native Medicine Wheel
The Medicine Wheel, sometimes known as the Sacred Hoop, has been used by generations of various Native American tribes for health and healing. It embodies the Four Directions, as well as Father Sky, Mother Earth, and Spirit Tree—all of which symbolize dimensions of health and the cycles of life.
The foundation of most Native ceremonies is the Four Directions – North, East, West and South. The medicine wheel and the Four Directions symbolize a holistic and balanced way of living and healing. Within each of the directions, there are many other symbols. We have created a chart that contains some information we have been taught – again, we realize that there are many other interpretations and teachings; we are only putting forward our very limited knowledge of this ancient and sacred teaching tool.
NORTH A place for reflecting & understanding life, old age and an association to the SPIRITUAL aspect of life; Season – Winter; Element – Fire; Colour – White (For the White Nation)Plant – SweetGrass
EAST Where the sun rises – the start of a new day, new life, birth and an association to the PHYSICAL aspect of lifeSeason – SpringElement – AirColour – Yellow (For the Yellow Nation)Plant – Tobacco
WEST A time for harvest, deeper understanding, adulthood and an association to the EMOTIONAL aspect of life; Season – Autumn; Element – Water; Colour – Blue (or Black for The Black Nation) Plant – Cedar
SOUTH A time for growth and development, adolescence and an association to the MENTAL aspect of life; Season – Summer; Element – Earth; Colour – Red (For the Red Nation)Plant – Sage.
At the centre of the medicine wheel is the Creator, because without our Creator nothing would exist.
His teachings are based on the sacred teaching of four. It is commonly referred to as the center being "Spirit".
Each of these four parts of our nature -the physical, the mental, the emotional, and the spiritual – must be equally nurtured in order for us to be a healthy, well-balanced person. When we give equal emphasis to each of these areas, we help put ourselves in balance. All of the quadrants rely on each other. For instance, if someone becomes ill and was failing physically, of course, their mind would be affected too.
The directions used in the wheel are used in a clockwise direction because that is the way the sun moves, rises and sets. If we start in the East, this represents our physical birth. We are babies then. The sun begins its new day in the direction of the east. That is where the sun rises… as the sun gives birth to a new day, we think about birth. We can also think of birth as a season, which is spring. When you think of spring you think of growth and new beginnings, new life. Our physical selves begin when we are born.
The next quadrant, the south, represents the summer. At this point the seeds have grown from babies to teenagers. This quadrant represents the mental aspect…when we get to the teenage years we start to use our mind a lot more.
The next stage of the medicine wheel after south is the west, which represents the autumn season. The teenagers then become adults this is the emotional part of life.
The north, which represents the season of winter, represents the Elders. When people get older they tend to focus more on their spirituality. The seeds are carried on throughout the life cycle.
In the four directions we look to the east and see the eagle representing the things that fly, all the birds that fly. When we go to the next direction, which is the south, we think about the things with four legs, as in the buffalo. We then go to the west where we can think about the two-legged ones, which are the bear and us. Even though we have the wolf with four legs in the north, we also have represented in this direction those that crawl on the ground or swim.
All of these are related in the medicine wheel. So already when we look at this diagram, we think of balance and harmony. We start to see that if people worked together in this circle, everything will be balanced. If one side of the circle does not co-operate with the other side, then you have unrest and wars and there is no peace and harmony. That is why the oriental people, black people, our white brothers and sisters, talk about world peace, because there is so much unrest in the world. There is little balance in the world because we as humans can’t seem to get along.”
The medicine wheel has been explained as a mirror within; it calls for bravery to look into the mirror with honesty to truly see what is being reflected back – to see how we are really living our lives. By using the medicine wheel we can perhaps look at areas we need to work on, get help with, or let go of. Our culture and our Spirituality lead us to believe that by reaching a place of true balance and a deep level of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual self awareness, we will find a sense of the inner peace many of us yearn for.
Sage is commonly used in smudging ceremonies; in fact, it is the most commonly used plant in smudge because the smoke is said to be the most purifying.
During one of these ceremonies, dried sage is usually bundled into sticks which are then burned so that the smoke can be fanned over a participant with a feather, drawing out negative energies and restoring balance. Afterwards, sweetgrass is sometimes burned to bring in positive energy after the negative energies are expelled.
It should be said that sage is very sacred plant with countless spiritual and ceremonial uses and different meanings. It is a powerful plant with life improving potential and although care should be taken that it is used properly and respectfully, this plant’s amazing properties should definitely be enjoyed along with its beautiful, earthy aroma.
Sage may primarily be known for its use in cooking, but also has a bounty of benefits for the body, mind and spirit. The aroma of sage has also been said to clear out unhappy thoughts and feelings. It is particularly de-stressing and helpful in cleansing negativity from a person’s spirit during difficult life periods.
Historically, sage has been used by Medicine People to bring unwell people back from the negative place in which their body and soul lay during illness. It is also commonly used in modern times as a cleansing herb, and can be used (under medical advisement) to cleanse the body when brewed into a strong tea. The oil, when extracted, has antibacterial and antiseptic properties which have proven to be helpful in aiding infection.
Sage is also represented in the Medicine Wheel in the northern, red section. The Medicine Wheel is a complex teaching tool and each of the four sections of the Wheel has a special meaning. The northern part including sage is symbolic of the mental aspects of life, including growth and development. The physical, spiritual and emotional aspects are represented in the other three sections and the Wheel itself is circular to represent the circle of life.
Sweetgrass –
Although sweetgrass has different meanings and uses to different North American Aboriginal groups, in most traditions it is considered “the sacred hair of Mother Earth.
It has a sweet, pleasant aroma, traditionally used by Aboriginal people to scent hair and clothing, which is said to exist as a reminder of Mother Earth’s compassion and love.
Pieces of sweetgrass are typically dried and braided and each of the three sacred strands of “hair” are meaningful – representing mind, body and spirit.
The braid itself is a symbol of strength and unity because, although a strand of sweetgrass can easily be broken, a completed braid is strong. These braided sticks of plant are usually used for ceremonial purposes such as smudging or even being chewed during religious fast to relieve hunger pains.
During a smudging ceremony, smoke is washed over a participant by being fanned from the smouldering plant (which is lit in a smudging bowl then extinguished) by hand or with a feather, which purifies the heart, mind and body and initiates a sacred moment in time.
Sweetgrass is particularly used in a smudge to attract positive energy, usually after sage or cedar are burned to expel negative energy and to bring protection.
Besides this, its beautiful aroma is very pleasant, calming and clarifying which is a reason why the scent of sweetgrass is commonly used in incense.
This amazing plant also has many healing properties and, under the recommendation of a medical professional, can be brewed into a tea which has proven to be helpful with colds, sore throats, fevers, infections and pain relief.
It has calming properties and was traditionally used to perfume clothing and hair, sometimes being braided into the hair itself.
Sweetgrass is one of the four sacred plants traditionally associated with the Medicine Wheel along with sage, cedar and tobacco and is represented in the northern section of the wheel. This section is also associated with wisdom and logic and is the part of the wheel which emphasizes reflection and understanding as well as the spiritual aspects of life.
This “hair of Mother Earth” not only has a lovely scent, but also has many spiritual, symbolic and physical qualities which is why it a truly valuable plant.
Tobacco Brown Color –
When thinking of tobacco, the first associations that come to mind for most people are negative ones like smoking, disease or cancer. For many Aboriginal groups, however, it is considered one of the most sacred plants.
According to Aboriginal legend, tobacco is the first plant given to people by the Creator. It is commonly seen as a way to communicate with the spirit world and is sometimes said to absorb wishes and prayers, carrying them to spirits to be granted.
Tobacco is often sprinkled on the earth as an offering, for example, before taking medicinal plant-life from it. Some make an offering of tobacco every morning as the sun rises to show thanks.
Tobacco is also used as an offering for ceremonial purposes and is often given to an Elder along with a gift when asking for help or advice.
Perhaps the best known Native American ceremony using tobacco is the Peace Pipe, which differs among different groups. There are many kinds of pipe ceremonies but it should be noted that these are typically special occasions.
Bundles known as prayer ties can also be made by placing a pinch of tobacco in a small square of cloth and tying the cloth at the top. These ties are taken to various ceremonies, such as the sweat lodge, and are sometimes burned as an offering to the spirit world. They are also used in prayer and meditation.
Tobacco is represented in the Medicine Wheel. The Wheel, which is divided into four sections, has many different meanings and its teachings are many and varied. Four plants, ages, colours, elements and more are represented in the sections, and the Medicine Wheel as a whole is a symbol of balance.
The quadrant where tobacco is represented is the eastern section, which is usually yellow and symbolizes energy, fire, new life and birth. It represents the sun, as it rises in the east. It also represents enlightenment and the spiritual aspect of existence, tobacco being a spiritual plant.
Cedar –
Cedar trees have been called the “trees of life” for their many functional, spiritual and aesthetic purposes. The fact that these trees of life grow during the cold winter months can serve as a reminder that healing is always available through nature.
Cedar trees are important and sacred plants among many Aboriginal people, so much so that some groups believe Cedar trees possess a soul just as humans and animals do. When a Cedar tree is cut, waste is not necessary as every part can be used and serves a purpose from building canoes and weaving baskets to healing and its many ceremonial uses.
Cedar is a protective plant that can be hung in any area where protection is desired, like the home. Some Aboriginal tribes also traditionally put newborn babies in a basket of Cedar or use it to surround caskets of the recently deceased.
In sweat lodge ceremonies (a sacred healing and cleansing ritual using intense, sauna-like heat), Cedar is commonly used in and around the lodge as a form of symbolic protection during the ceremony.
Much like sage and sweetgrass, Cedar is a purifying plant and can be burned in smudging ceremonies, where the plant is burned and the resulting smoke is fanned over the participant. Cedar boughs are also traditionally brushed over the body of someone who is in particular need of spiritual or mental purification to cleanse their spirit.
Under medical advisement, a healing tea can be brewed using Cedar twigs and branches. This tea is physically cleansing and has been shown to help symptoms of flu, fevers, rheumatic problems and chest colds, possibly due to its high vitamin C content. Cedar baths are also popular for physical purification and refreshment.
According to the teachings of the Medicine Wheel, Cedar is placed in the west section. This section is also tied the emotional aspects of life and represents a deeper understanding of all things. The other three sacred medicines, sweetgrass, sage and tobacco, are represented in the other sections of the Wheel.
There are many different varieties of Cedar trees that grow in Canada’s forests today and Cedar is the most functionally used of the four sacred medicines.
