My view of the Medicine Wheel
By Raven Spirit
Email:Raven Spirit
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I gave this paper some thought before starting. I was wondering what I could teach on (That is what I am doing here). Teaching not only those that read this work but also teaching myself. It was once said that the lesson you most need to learn you teach. This makes sense to me, as we have to know the ins and outs of our subject in order to teach the subject.
So that is what I am looking to do here. To expand on a topic I covered in class and look at it a bit deeper for myself. So I know I fully understand the subject. Thank you for reading this paper. I hope you have as much fun reading and learning as I did.
I would like to start by saying the image of the Medicine Wheel on the front of this paper was created by Sun Bear. It is his Wheel and only appears here as I have used its structure for this paper. I have no desire to take his work and would send anyone to read his book “Dancing the Wheel” as it is where the majority of my class came form. I am breaking away from his line of thought for this paper as I was asked to teach my view. So I will do just that, teach my view.
I guess the best place to start anything is at the beginning. So that is where we will start.
Center:
The Center stone is the Universe. It is everything around you, and it is YOU. Why do I say this? Well it is quite simple really. We are a part of the make up of the universe. In fact you are the center of your own Universe. In fact you are the foundations on which all else is built. The remainder of the wheel is there to make you a stronger person. Notice I did not say Witch or Pagan. I said person as anyone can use this wheel.
How do you connect to yourself? Well that can be a hard question to ask. Why well simply because the Wheel teaches you where you are within your own Universe, as well as the Universe at large. Hopefully we will be able to answer this before this paper is done. This is your foundation of the Wheel.
Hub:
Now we are going to move and discuss the Hub of the wheel. The hub is the stones and the paths we take to branch out to the world around us as well as to ourselves. In order for any wheel to be useful it has to have a hub. The Hub is the structure, the strength for the rest of the wheel. Now every part is important but it is the hub that helps to bind it all together. In Sun Bears wheel you will see seven stones. I have placed eight stones in my wheel. I did this for a couple of reasons. One being it is more balanced. The Wheel teaches balance and it does not make much since to have your hub unbalanced. You would end up going down the road with a lump, and frankly that is annoying.
Sun:
The Sun is the male side of ourselves. Here is the hunter and gatherer. We act as the Sun when we go to work to provide for our families. Do you need a promotion at work? Then shine brightly as the Sun. This is more the personality. It is knowledge and wisdom as well. After all was it not the God that taught the Goddess the mysteries (See Decent of the Goddess). It is in this position that we are also the protector. Here we are the warriors willing to defend our families and ourselves against the threats that may come our way. Something I did not mention before was that this position has four positions with in itself. They are
1. Youth
At the stage of youth you are just born. You are learning and experiencing the world around you. Don’t get me wrong this does not ever stop. You are always experiencing and growing even at the last stage. This is part of the progression from youth to Elder. But it is at this stage that we need more guidance then we normally would. Look with in nature and you can see this stage. You can see the Female animals caring for their young, but still allowing the young to explore and experience the world in which they live. At this point we are drinking milk. We are still young and tender but growing rapidly. It is not long before we will be eating harder foods and then meat. This is on an emotional level as well. I mean you would not give a gun to a small child and ask them to go hunt. You would be asking for trouble. I have seen many adults that are emotionally or physically still in the Youth phase. While it is good to revisit this stage (Remember the laughing God of Spring) even it has responsibilities. In time as we grow older toward Adult hood we learn that what we do has repercussions. The Three-fold law teaches us this. What you do comes back. I have said it many times; you do not plant wheat and expect to grow corn. Everything has to follow the natural order of things.
2. Adult
It is the Adult that starts the family. Here we have more responsibly because we are not just responsible for ourselves anymore. No not by a long shot. We normally have children, nieces, nephews, etc to help care for. It is at this stage that we really begin to branch out and start to teach (Actively)
3. Sage / Elder
At this stage we start to have Great Grand children. As it applies this is the Elders Stage.
Moon:
The Moon is the Sun and Moon combined to watch over us. The Moon is always there to the point that we can see her sometimes in the middle of the day. We normally see her in the nighttime sky. Reminding us we are not alone. The moon shows us our shadow self. The self we try to hide to the world or are afraid to let the sun touch. What we fail to understand is the Sun still touches those areas. It is the Sun that reflects from the moon that touches the Earth. The Sun and Moon act as parents to the children of the Earth.
Where the Sun is the masculine aspect of ourselves the Moon is the feminine aspect. She too has four stone with in herself. They are as listed below. The degrees are the same as listed above.
4. Youth
This is the time of the Virgin Goddess. Please understand that Virgin doe not mean with out sex. In fact it is quite the contrary. The Virgin is a very desirable woman that can stand on her own. Not that she can do this from day one. She has to learn from the Mother about life and responsibilities. How does this relate to you? What responsibilities do you need to learn?
5. Adult
This is the time of the Mother Goddess. She teaches us to care for what we have created. She as with the Crone nurtures her children. This does not mean we are babied. In fact she understands that we all spread our wings and learn to fly. The Mother cares for and supports our physical needs. She (Along with the God) provides the grains that we eat, and the water that we drink. How do you relate to her actions? What can you learn form her?
6. Crone
The Crone is the guide to the Underworld. She takes us to the God for rest at our time. But this is not all she does. She is also a protector. She provides wisdom of life to those that seek inner answers. But BE CAREFUL. There is no fooling around with the Crone. If you are truly seeking answers she will provide them. If you are only offering lip service, well you will be forced to face your fears and you will receive answers as well.
Ancestors:
The Ancestors are the key to the Gods. There is an order to things and they are an important part of it. When we stand in Circle we cast the circle, call the quarters, then call the Ancestors. But why do we do this? Well for a couple reasons really (And one just hit me). The Ancestors would be the Spirit of those that walked the Earth before you. Everyone from Cave man one to Great Grandma Agnes. We are inviting the knowledge and wisdom of humanity from ages past to not so past. We are calling to draw on those we remember and love to share this space with them as well. Now Ancestors can also be referred to as “relations”. This term takes on a new meaning. A relation as the Native American teaches is all of Nature. So in a sense what we are doing is, after calling and giving honor to the rulers of the four quarters, waking up and calling ALL of nature. From the bird to the deer to the humans in Circle with you. How do you relate to the Ancestors/Relations? How do you see these beings? This is important. After all, as they were you are. As you are, they will become. The Ancestors look through our eyes.
Earth:
Earth is the physical planet we live on. Earth teaches us responsibility as well. How? Well because we can physically see the reactions of our actions. The Wheel can also be called a web. If you pluck one of the spokes it will send a reverb through out the rest of the web. Same thing with the Wheel. If we abuse the Earth and do not live in balance, it shows. We continue to make landfills and do not recycle we run out of farmland we have less food.
The Earth is the planet we most associate with giving. She gives us air, water, warmth, food. But what we sometimes miss is that these items are gifts focused and used by the Earth to support all of Nature, not just us.
Sylphs:
Sylphs rule the realm of the Air. Theirs is the kingdom of knowledge and thought. They whisper in your mind by using the breeze. They are the guardians of the East.
To connect to the Sylphs:
Fly a kite
Make a paper airplane
Dance in the wind
Salamanders:
Salamanders rule the realms of fire. You can see them in the sparks just before a bonfire. They are the Guardians of the South standing guard with the flames. Yet teaching us about our own inner fire.
To connect with Salamanders
Drum at a fire
Watch a fire slowly burn (Sometimes the fast and rapid burn is not the best fire)
Light a candle and watch the flames dance
Become actively involved in a project
Undines:
The Undines are the merfolk that rule the watery depths. These can be a river, stream, pond, or the ocean. This is the realm of the blood running through your veins, but not only your, the mothers as well. Undines are the guardians of the Western realms. These are the realms of emotions. Would you rather be a rushing river or a slow moving creek?
To connect to the Undines:
Skip rocks across a lake
Dangle your feet in to running water
Sit by the edge of a creek and look at the water
Gnomes:
Gnomes are the race of rulers that “rule” the realms of the Earth. They are the ones that connect us to the Mother. They are the guardians of the Watchtowers of the North. Strong and steadfast they use the Earth to ground and to steady themselves. But they also teach us how to do the same.
To connect with the Gnomes:
Stick your feet in a sand box
Plant a flower
Climb a tree
Hold a stone
Ring of tools
The next set of stones (first out from the hub) is the ring of tools. These are the stone that we use in ritual to connect us to the Elementals we are working with. It is not so much important which tool you have here, but that you have a firm grasp as to why they are in the quarter they are in. There are some groups that use Air in the North. Are they wrong? No not at all. As long as they understand why.
East - Incense
The Incense is the tool of the East. It scent rides on the breezes and fills our minds. It has the ability to aid in altered states. This stone can be whichever tool you can relate or wish to subscribe to the East.
South - Athame
The tool for the southern realm is the Athame. It is the tool of will. There are discussions as to the blade being sharp or dull. I can see it both ways. The Athame is used to cast circles. Why? Well to me it is a choice of will. You are creating something, shouldn’t it come from an act of will?
West - Cauldron
North - Salt
The Salt is the tool of the Earth. In fact it is a physical gift from the Earth. Salt is a pure spice and can come form the sea (In its purest form) Salt is used to bless the water to bless the remainder of the tools. While salt is no more powerful then any other tool it is very important. You did know that your body is made up mostly of salt water? Something to think about.
Ring of Gifts
This ring is the set of stones out one form the ring of tools (2 out from the Hub). This set is very personal as is delves deep with in yourself. This ring is the emotional ring that is given from the Elemental rulers that reside in the Hub. This set of stones can be anything pertaining to that element. Remember that the Elements can change quarters.
East:
East is the element of knowledge and wisdom. What better way to go about combining these two gifts then with communication? It seems most people don’t really know how to communicate. This can be a magickal process in and of itself. If you are communicating properly you cannot be focused on the TV (Or in my case the PC). Just like communicating with your spouse, SO, Lover, etc you have to know how to communicate with your self. How do you do that? Well by reading this paper is a good start. Find the tools needed for the job.
Open mind
Open heart
That is about all that is really needed. If you have these two things the rest fall in to place. You must also listen to your body. Illness (at least most illnesses) are a form of dis-ease, meaning you are stressed out or that you need to take a break. Listen to your body while you meditate. You can learn allot.
South:
South is the element of passion and desire. What do you get motivated about? What is your drive? The one thing that you enjoy doing, or that person you love more than anyone else. That is your Fire. Fire must be tempered with Air. But that will feed the flames. God I hope so. But remember that Air is knowledge. Fire with out knowledge can get a person in trouble. How do you get in touch with the drive of fire?
Find something you enjoy doing and up all you heart and soul in to it. Share it with your partner. Build that fire together it will be more rewarding in the long run, and will have deeper meaning for you.
West:
West is the element of emotion. You know this has to be one of the hardest elements for me. As a child we have been taught (at least men have been) that it is not cool to show your emotions. I say Bull Pucky. One of the most sacred things we have are our emotions. If you walk through life with no feeling you would be numb. What a waste that would be. Yes there is pain in life but you also have joy and all kinds of other emotions. What gifts do you receive form the West. Look deep with in (remember the cauldron) and see what there is to see
North:
North is the element of grounding and stability. Sometimes we need some serious grounding and centering. Life can be a big bundle of stress and we need to calm down get connected with ourselves as well as the hub. How do you do this? For each person it is different. Maybe it is a bit of rock salt under the tongue (This works wonders) or maybe sitting down with a glass of Johns Wort tea and letting the day roll off. The important thing is NO ONE is invincible. We all need to ground from time to time. Besides it helps put things in the proper frame of mind.
Ring of Sabbats:
7. Imbolc/Spring Equinox (Feb 2 - March 21)
This is the beginning of spring, the flowers are starting to bloom and the Lord and Lady are running through the forest. This is a time of joy and it can be seen in Nature. We will see as the Wheel spins that things happen in cycles. How do these Sabbats affect you and what do they mean to you? We each respond to different Sabbats in different ways. Think about these two Sabbats and what comes to mind?
8. Beltane/Summer Solstice (May 5 - June 21)
The wedding of the Lord and Lady. While some see the wedding at Ostara (The Spring Equinox) an this the time of consummating that marriage. Either way it still brings blessings to our goals and endeavors. This set of Sabbats celebrates the joys of union and at the same time the height of power and the beginning of a fall. What have you joined with over the last year? What do you have that you are willing to share?
As the God starts to wane what do you have that you may need to let go. If you look at the grouping of the Sabbats that go very nicely with the Rites of Passages and the keeping and letting go of things.
9. Lughnasadh / Autumn Equinox (Aug 1 - Sept 21)
The time of harvest is upon us. We are quickly approaching the end of the year. We are starting to harvest the seeds we planted way back at Yule (You do not harvest with out having some seeds land in the soil) Are you happy with the harvest you have received? It is at this time we learn that the harvest is collected and tended by our actions. The way we live life tells us (and others) the kind of crop we will produce. As it states in the Three Fold Law, you do not plant wheat and grow corn. OK it does not say it like that, but what goes around comes around. How are you tending your crop?
10. Samhain / Yule (Oct 31 - Dec 21)
Happy New Year!!! We have turned the Wheel and have reached our starting point once again. You did not like the last turn? How will you do this one different? You had a good trip that last spin, great. What would you do to make it better? Nothing in life is perfect there is always room for growth. This is part of that the Wheel of the Year teaches us. But there is with the death of the old year the promise of life in the New Year. Do you want to change your stand in life? Only you can do it. Meditate on the Wheel and the Samhain Yule combination and see what answers you can find.
Ring of Rites of Passage:
The Ring of time is the four stones on the end of the Elemental pathway. They mark not only times of day but also times of a person’s life. The go hand and hand with the Sun and Moon stones in the Hub. The Ring of Time also shows us the path of our life. From Dawn (Youth) to Midnight (Old Age) the cycle of days shows our life cycle as well as well as our Rites of Passage.
Dawn:
Dawn is the birth of time. The Sun rises over the horizon as the day begins. This is the time of rebirth. The darkness has fled to the other side of the world to work its magick there. It is at dawn that we start to wake up and get moving. The first step on the path if you will. At this stage we are looking at the possibilities and seeing what does and doesn’t work for us. This is the stage of self-discovery. The Rites of Passage for this stage is Wiccaning and Coming of Age. (Dedicate)
Noon:
At this stage we are putting our discoveries in to action. We have spent time formulating our plan now we need to work on it. We can bounce from the Dawn to Noon stage many times in our lifetime as we start and work on new projects. The Rites of Passage for Noon is Handfasting. Here we join with our life partners to continue our journey (Or as long as love does last, depending on your views) At this stage we create our families (Yes we are divine and create our realities), our children, and the remainder of our lives are based on the choices we mahe in the first two Rites of Passage (Dawn and Noon).
Dusk:
Dusk is the rite of passage that can be very hard for some. This is the stage where we start to judge ourselves. Have we done all the things in our life we wanted to do? Did we reach some goals and not others? This is a very happy time for some, and a very dark time for others. I feel either way this time should be celebrated. Dusk is telling you that you still have time and if you have not reached the goals you wanted to achieve, that you need to get your rump in gear. The Rite of Passage for this stage is Mid-Life Crises.
Midnight:
This is the time of completion. But don’t think for a moment that it stops here. Yes to a point this is a time of rest. But you are still responsible for yourself and those coming up after you. You have all the wisdom and knowledge of the past Passages, it is your responsibility to teach this information to the masses coming up the path. Yes you can take things a bit easier, but you cannot just sit back and cost on the things you have done before. The wheel continues to turn, so must you. The rite of passage for this stage is Eldering. Elders should be respected, but also know that their work is not over. The past is gone we need to continue to drive forward. To continue to focus on the past and ignore the future is to stagnate.
Ring of Planetary movement
This ring is the Planetary influence in your life. There are different schools of thought when it comes to planetary influence. Some schools feel that the planets do not influence at all, but rather we show different qualities if we are born under a certain sign. Others feel that the pull of the planets do cause change in our lives. I am not really sure how I see it. But I do know that it is important to look at our Sun sign to see possible influences in our lives. For example I am a Libra. The key words for Libra are Balance, Harmony, and Justice. These are qualities that I try very hard to uphold. Now I am also have a rising sign of Aries. The key words for this sign is Pioneering, leading, New Beginnings. So meditate on both your Sun sign and your rising sign and see what it tries to tell you. I have added the keywords for each sign below for your reference. You will need to have your chart done to find your rising sign (ascendant). There are a number of free services online that can provide this information for you.
Another way to look at the signs would be the blend of the Elements you share. Do you have an Earth/Air mix? Or are you more Water/Fire? Look at the qualities for these signs and see how they connect with your life. Again I am a Fire Air mix. To me this makes a lot of sense. While I did not excel in the public school system, I thrive on Craft related topics and love to teach and share my knowledge. Sit back and give this some thought. How does this relate to you?
Spirals:
Life is a spiral as well. Don’t believe me? Look at a model of the Solar System. The Moon travels around the Earth that travels around the Sun and it all spins around itself. Sounds like a spiral to me. With all of that spinning I am glad I am in a stationary spot or I would get dizzy. Or are we?
We are all on different places on the Wheel. Different spokes and different stones. Each has its own lesson to teach. All we have to do is listen. Please keep in mind listening is not just rolling your eyes and expecting someone else to do the work. You have to be actively listening. In this sense it means with your life.
Every time I sit down to work on this paper I see something new. This is good as it tells me I am on to something fresh and alive. The Pentagram is a cross section of the spiral of life. Five points which are the quarters and Spirit. Looking back at the Medicine Wheel we see the same thing. Also take a look as we travel deosil from the center stone. There are five spirals
Center / Hub
Hub / Ring of Tools
Ring of Tools / Ring of Gifts
Ring of Gifts / Ring of Sabbats
Ring of Sabbats / Ring of Rites of Passage/Planetary Movement
This is a sense is the Pentagram as well. Each spin building on the next to bring what is with in you with out. Only once you reach the most outer point you travel back in to process the information you have gathered and collected. Once you take it in and learn from it, you travel back out to share and teach. Thus the cycle of life begins all over again. So Mote it be.
I hope you have enjoyed this paper and will look at this a bit closer. I consider this to be a living document as we are always changing so should what we teach. I would love to hear any thoughts or ideas you have about this wheel. I would also like to thank Sun Bear for writing his book "Dancing the Wheel" It is a great study on the Native American Medicine Wheel.
For more information on Sun Bears view visit:
