[the medicine wheel]

We were somewhere on the interstate in North Dakota. Fields stretched out beyond us, quilting the state in corn and hay. The straight, flat expanse of highway had already begun to cast its drowsy spell on us- and, according to Google maps, we still had a hell of a stretch ahead before we’d be in Washington. Like many late August days, the sun was shining in full force. It beat down with such intensity that the car started to feel like a little rolling sauna. I cranked the AC and decided it was about time to take a break from the British yammering of our 28 hour long Harry Potter audio book.

 I forget what I said to trigger this conversation but it started with my best friend Em half yawning and half speaking, “Urs, you’re being so east right now.”

Before that day the Medicine Wheel was a foreign concept to me. A friend of mine had one tattooed on his arm but I’d never really been intrigued enough to ask about its meaning or significance. So, I asked Em to tell me what she knew about the Medicine Wheel. It must have been a few hours before we moved on to a new topic of conversation. I was totally enthralled by it. Perplexed by it. Moved by it. And ever since then it’s been quite a meaningful tool in self -reflection and personal growth.

Originally, the Medicine Wheel was developed amongst First Nations peoples in the US. Nomadic tribes would construct massive stone circles for astronomical, healing, and teaching purposes. They were ceremonial spaces that were made to host rites of passage, seasonal rituals, and generally to celebrate the interconnectedness of life. It’s modern implications are a little different…

Em told me about the wheel- divided into four directions- each direction with a corresponding colour and totem animal. The directions symbolize qualities. Each has its strengths and weaknesses and each is as important to possess as any of the others. The North quarter is white and represented by the buffalo. The South is red and a mouse acts as its totem. The East is yellow and home to the eagle. And finally, the west is black and represented by the black bear.

There are positive and negative qualities associated with each direction and the ultimate goal is to possess the good qualities of each direction in such a way that you are balanced within the circle.

From what I understand, the North is characteristic of strength, perseverance and wisdom. People who are North on the Medicine Wheel tend to be determined and fierce, and sometimes a little stubborn. They are often wise beyond their years. People who are South tend to be very generous and caring. Sometimes they think so much about the people around them that they lose sight of the importance of caring for themselves. They value humility and thoughtfulness but tend to avoid dealing with conflict. People who are West on the wheel know themselves. They are methodical and intuitive. They have systems for doing things and value structure. People of the East are creative and open-minded. Like an eagle soaring high above the land- “Easties” have a gift for seeing the “big picture”.  Because of this grand vision, however, they can sometimes forget the important smaller details in life.

I’m sure there’s a lot more to it- but that’s sort of an overview of what I understand it to mean. It’s helped me a lot to recognize who I am. It’s made me really value my South-East qualities and has also inspired me to work on incorporating the North and West into my life a little more.  

So, something to think about- Where are you on the wheel? Which directions are most prominent in yourself and which could you use more of?

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” -Aristotle