Studying the Medicine Wheel
The Medicine Wheel is a springboard of power that will allow you to link up with all the energies of the Universe.
- Sun Bear Chief of the Bear Tribe
Traditional Medicine Wheels
Medicine Wheels, constructed by indigenous peoples of North America for various Astronomical, Ritual, Healing and Teaching purposes (also called Sacred Hoops), were constructed with stones in circular formations on the ground. Most Medicine Wheels follow the basic pattern of having a centre stone with an outer ring of stones and lines of stones radiating from the centre.
Your Souls Inner Intelligence™
At the South of the Medicine Wheel is Coyote and if you follow the stones north you will see Rabbit, Salmon and Wolf. Coyote is your Emotional Self and Rabbit represents your Inner Child. Salmon is your ability to Trust yourself and your True Love is represented by Wolf. Just contemplating this shows us that the connections between the aspects and their position in the Wheel are important, and travelling the wheel describes ways to work on yourself.
Spirit Keeper Animals
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The four Spirit Keeper Animals represent the four Cardinal directions (North, South, East, West). For the Medicine Wheel, the first place is in the East and Creator is at the centre of the circle:
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| Golden Eagle |
The East |
Mental self |
| Coyote |
The South |
Emotional self |
| Grizzly Bear |
The West |
Spiritual self |
| White Buffalo |
The North |
Physical self |
| Any Animal |
Creator |
Connection to Great Spirit |
The Inner Circle
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Continuing in a clockwise direction, the seven positions that surround Creator form the centre circle of the wheel. The first position is slightly to the South of East:
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| Tortoise |
Mother Earth |
Be a universal human being |
| Lizard |
Father Sun |
Increase personal energy |
| Loon |
Grandmother Moon |
Create something new |
| Turtle |
Element of Earth |
Learn to care for all |
| Frog |
Element of Water |
Learn about addictions |
| Thunderbird |
Element of Fire |
Learn to be kind to all |
| Butterfly |
Element of Air |
Honour the coming changes |
The Twelve Moons
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North to East, in a clockwise order of the twelve moons:
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| Snow Goose |
Capricorn |
Create the life you desire |
| Otter |
Aquarius |
Learn to relax and be playful |
| Cougar |
Pisces |
Empowering your inner self |
| Red Hawk |
Aries |
Learn optimisim |
| Beaver |
Taurus |
Learn balance |
| Deer |
Gemini |
The ability to take action |
| Woodpecker |
Cancer |
The ability to be courageous |
| Sturgeon |
Leo |
Access your sexuality |
| Brown Bear |
Virgo |
Learn to experience pleasure |
| Raven |
Libra |
Learn to accept yourself |
| Snake |
Scorpio |
Learn to transform yourself |
| Elk |
Sagittarius |
Learn self responsibility |
The Spirit Pathways
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The Four Spirit Pathways lead from the Spirit Keeper Animals to the centre:
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In the East (Golden Eagle)
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| Hummingbird |
Owl |
Firefly |
| Learn gracefullness |
Learn how to love |
Find the light within |
| Rabbit |
Salmon |
Wolf |
| Heal your inner child |
Learn to trust life |
How to find true love |
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In the West (Grizzly Bear)
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| Whale |
Mouse |
Ant |
| Honour your life |
Reorganise your life |
Find your strength |
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In the North (White Buffalo)
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| Raccoon |
Earthworm |
Dolphin |
| Be truthful |
Rejuvenate yourself |
Learn to be peaceful |
