Exploring the Sacred Four Directions and Medicine Wheel in Native American Culture
The Native American tradition of recognizing the Four Directions—East, South, West, and North—and the central concept of the Medicine Wheel capture profound spiritual significance and cultural values across numerous indigenous communities. This revered system honors not only the physical elements of the world but also the stages of life, sacred directions, and the cycles of life inherent in Mother Earth. This article delves into the symbolism of each direction and the comprehensive meaning of the Medicine Wheel in Native American tradition.
Insights into the Four Directions
Each of the cardinal directions represents unique attributes, colors, animals, and spiritual messages, crucial in the sacred ceremonies and daily lives of Native American tribes. Below is what each direction symbolizes:
East – Air
- Color: Yellow
- Animal: Eagle
- Significance: The East, where the sun rises, brings light and marks the beginning of a new day. It is a symbol of wisdom, understanding, vision, and spiritual leadership. The rising sun energizes the day with clarity and enlightenment, embodying spiritual power.
South – Fire
- Color: Red
- Animal: Buffalo
- Significance: Characterized by the warmth of the growing season and gentle summer breezes, the South represents growth, life, strength, abundance, and community—key elements resonating with nature’s nurturing aspect.
West – Water
- Color: Black
- Animal: Bear
- Significance: Associated with the setting sun and the completion of the day, the West signifies introspection, the end of life cycles, healing, and renewal. Water here symbolizes the emotional and spiritual cleansing necessary for new beginnings.
North – Earth
- Color: White
- Animal: Moose
- Significance: The North, representing the cold and challenges of winter, stands for the hardships, endurance, stability, and resilience necessary to overcome life’s difficulties. It teaches patience and underscores the importance of strong foundations.
The Medicine Wheel: A Symbol of Life’s Continuity
The Medicine Wheel, a sacred emblem among indigenous peoples, represents the interconnectedness of all life, underscoring the perpetual nature of the circle of life. It integrates the elements of the Four Directions with life cycles, spiritual teachings, and natural rhythms, reflecting:
- The Circle of Life: Symbolizes the endless nature of life and death, growth and decay, in an eternal cycle.
- Interconnectedness: Emphasizes the relational ties among all beings and the environment, affirming that everything on Earth is interconnected.
- Health and Healing: Acts as a guide to spiritual, mental, and physical wellness.
- Spiritual Beliefs: Represents deep spiritual connections to higher entities such as Father Sky, Mother Earth, and the Great Spirit.
- Tribal Heritage: Showcases the rich histories and teachings of various tribes, such as the Navajo and Lakota, who may have unique interpretations of the Medicine Wheel.
Ritual of Calling in the Four Directions
Engaging in significant life events or seeking spiritual guidance often involves the ritual known as “Calling in the Four Directions.” This ceremony honors each cardinal direction and invites the energies and spirits associated with them into the ritual space. A typical script for this ceremony might include:
- East: “From the East, the land of the rising sun, we invite the spirit of the Eagle, bringing us vision and enlightenment.”
- South: “From the South, the realm of the warming sun, we call upon the spirit of the Buffalo, offering us strength and growth.”
- West: “From the West, where the sun sets, we summon the spirit of the Bear to bring healing and reflection.”
- North: “From the North, the place of the cold winds, we ask the Moose to join us, teaching resilience and wisdom.”
Assignment: Find Your True North
Knowing the cardinal directions and where you stand in relation to them is an essential aspect of connecting to the natural and spirit worlds. Ancient cultures of the world, in tune with the cycles of the seasons and the stars, knew how to orient themselves if lost and likely intuited their location naturally due to practice.
Set a reminder to locate true north intermittently throughout the day; for example, at sunrise, midday, and sunset, use a compass to find north. Stand facing north and notice the angle of the sun and landmarks that may guide you without a compass.
Four Directions Ceremony: Open Sacred Space
Call upon the four directions in this invocation from the Q’ero shamans of Peru to ask for a blessing from the spirits in your endeavors. Consider creating an altar representing each direction. To begin, take some deep breaths, let go of mental preoccupations, and align with your heart’s intention to create sacred space. As you face each direction, smudge or fan sage, blow scented water, or shake a rattle and say the prayer aloud.
Face the south with one arm up and the other palm open to receive.
To the Winds of the South,
Great Serpent,
Mother of the life-giving waters,
Wrap your coils of light around me.
Remind me of how to let go and shed old ways of being.
Teach me to walk the way of beauty.
Face the west with one arm up and the other palm open to receive.
To the Winds of the West,
Mother Jaguar,
Support me as I see my own fears.
Teach me how to transform my fears into love.
Remind me of how to live with impeccability.
May I have no enemies in this lifetime or the next.
Face the north with one arm up and the other palm open to receive.
To the Winds of the North,
Royal Hummingbird,
Ancient Ones,
Teach me about your endurance and your great joy.
Come to me in the dreamtime.
With honor, I greet you.
Face the east with one arm up and the other palm open to receive.
To the Winds of the East,
Eagle or Condor,
Great Visionary, remind me to lead from my pure heart.
Teach me to soar to new places, to fly wing to wing with Spirit.
Place one palm on the earth and the other arm up.
Mother Earth – Pachamama,
I pray for your healing.
Let me soften into your wisdom.
May I take great care of you, so that my children and my children’s children
may witness the beauty and abundance you offer me today.
Raise both arms to the sky.
Father Sun, Grandmother Moon, to the Star Nations,
Great Spirit – you who are known by a thousand names,
And you who are the Unnamable One,
Thank you for bringing me here at this time.
Close the Ceremony
When you have finished your ceremony, sacred space must be closed. This can be done silently or spoken aloud, but it must be intentional. Thank the serpent, jaguar, hummingbird, and eagle for their wisdom. As you release their energies back to their four directions, take a few deep breaths, acknowledge yourself back in the space you are in, and witness any changes in your being. Take any inspiration gleaned from your sacred space and share it with the earth, your family, and your community.
About the Author
The Story of Santa Claus Might Come From Mushroom-Eating Shamans
Is it possible that the folktale we know and love about Santa Claus finds its roots in the psychedelic mushroom-eating shamanism of people living in boreal regions of Europe? While there is some contention around this theory, there are a number of undeniable motifs connecting Santa’s yearly trip drawn by flying reindeer, and the analogous rituals of an isolated peoples’ use of the psychedelic Amanita muscaria mushroom.
For those unfamiliar with Amanita muscaria or Fly Agaric as it’s also known, you’ve probably seen it depicted in pop culture from Super Mario to Alice in Wonderland, to the toadstool your average garden gnome is seen akimbo beneath.
Known for its distinctive red and white speckled cap, Amanita muscaria is one of the most recognized mushrooms in the world. Though it can be deadly when consumed improperly, some cultures eat it for sustenance after boiling away its toxins. For those looking for an otherworldly experience, its ibotenic acid-rich contents have led many on psychedelic journeys over the thousands of years of its known use.
If you live in a wooded area in the Northern hemisphere, there’s a good chance you’ve seen it growing near an evergreen tree, especially a pine or fir. In fact, the mycelia of the mushroom intertwine with the roots of the tree in a mycorrhizal relationship—in this case, a positive symbiosis. And it’s here that we find the first instance of Amanita’s connection to the story of Santa Claus—the mushroom growing under the Christmas Tree.
