The Path of the Medicine Wheel

There are many paths that lead to spiritual enlightenment. The Path of the Medicine Wheel is but one such means that can help you gain a clearer understanding of your true self, your relationships with others, and your relationship to the Creative Spirit. Medicine Wheel teachings are based in Nature, the world we see around us. The movement of the moons and the flow of the seasons hold meaning for us and can be used to guide our steps. The elements that inhabit Planet Earth such as the rocks, the plants and the animals with which we share this planet, hold lessons for us as well. We need only attune ourselves to the wonder that surrounds us to hear their voices. This book is a comprehensive guide to the holistic teachings of the Medicine Wheel. It is based upon a synthesis of teachings drawn from different Native American traditions filtered with a bit of intuition by the author. It includes exercises designed to help you experience the power of the Medicine Wheel in a practical way. This book will help you to:  Learn the teachings of the Medicine Wheel: unity, balance, movement/growth, and attunement  Understand the meaning and lessons of the sacred four directions  Identify the correspondences of the sacred four directions: elements, seasons, cycles of the day, plants, minerals, totem clans, moons, and spirit animals  Explore the teachings of the Moon under which you were born  Learn how to build your personal Medicine Wheel  Practice guided meditations to identify your natal and present Spirit Animal(s)  Discover your current position on the Medicine Wheel Path Selected excerpts follow: The Medicine Wheel is an ancient means of using the attributes and creatures of the planet Earth to help us better understand ourselves, our associations with others, and our relationship to our Spiritual Source. It is built upon the sacred circle or mandala, which is Sanskrit for circle. The sacred circle dates back to the cave art of Paleolithic times when Cro-Magnon man painted spirals and sun wheels upon cave walls. It appears in Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Gnosticism, Wicca, and other religions. In most religions it is a symbol of introspection and contemplation. In Zen, it is the symbol of enlightenment. In ritual it is frequently used as a means of protection—evil cannot pass through the boundary of the circle. As you walk the path of the Medicine Wheel, you must embrace the qualities of each spirit animal. You must feel the wind rush beneath your wings as Eagle. You must plunge straightforward through the darkness of the sea as Sturgeon. You must run effortlessly and tirelessly as Horse. You must be strength as Bear. You must become the wisdom that Turtle possesses. A Medicine Wheel is aligned with the four cardinal points of the compass: North, East, South, and West. In effect, this creates four quadrants within the wheel. Four is a sacred number to many indigenous peoples. In addition to the four directions, there are four elements, four winds, four seasons marked in the celestial sphere by a solstice or equinox, and four times of the day that also correspond to the phases of our life. There are also four sacred plants, four minerals, and four totem clans. Each directional quadrant contains three seasonal moons and their associated spirit animals. Coyote, the eternal trickster, symbolizes the Blue Moon. Coyote is an animal of contradictions. A central figure of Native American myths, he at times creates the world and at other times destroys it. He is sometimes the hero and sometimes the antagonist. He is both a clown and a wise healer. Coyote thus has the ability to turn the world upside down. Coyote is a survivor who has adapted to life in many different settings, including cities such as Los Angeles and Denver. When Coyote is present, you never know what is going to happen. The lesson of Coyote is to embrace the moment and always be prepared for the unexpected. People born under the Blue Moon are very much like Coyote. They can help you and they can heal you. Or, they can bring disorder and confusion into your life. They can be your best friend or your worst enemy. People of the Blue Moon are often volatile in temperament and prone to extremes; they can turn on you in a moment. You never know what to expect from Blue Moon people nor is it easy to truly know them. Yet, if you take the time to understand them, they can teach you the mysteries of life. Spirit animals stand ready to help and teach us. They will share their knowledge and protect us with their power. As helpers and guides they come to teach us what we need to know. We must listen to them however, or they will leave. If we are willing to open ourselves to the lessons they have for us, they will walk by our side and show us the next step on the path of the Medicine Wheel. The Medicine Wheel Ceremony described above can be adapted to any circumstance and situation, including the size of the area and the number of people involved in its construction. Medicine wheels can be built with flower petals, seashells, pinecones, acorns, or any other material that is readily available. You can vary the number of stones depending upon the time you can devote to construction. If you are traveling, you may want to build a five stone wheel with small stones that you can easily pack into a small pouch. After you are comfortable in building the seventeen stone wheel described above, you may want to expand by adding stones for Mother Earth, Father Sky, Grandfather Sun, and Grandmother Moon… The Medicine Wheel is more than just a sacred circle. It is an ever-ascending spiral that continually moves upward toward God. Once you complete one revolution you move on to the next spiral and continue forward. Spiritual enlightenment is a journey that leads us around and around, yet ever upward to the light of the Creative Spirit…