MEDICINE WHEEL

The Medicine Wheel is an ancient power symbol of the Universe that was utilized for the purpose of healing which expresses wellness in all directions of the world. This way of healing supports the emotional, spiritual, mental and physical entities of healing and fosters balance in oneself.

Healing is an understanding of being holistic in body, mind and spirit. The holiness is manifested by striving towards wholeness of spirit and the attempt to incorporate our total selves in our families, our communities and to the environment. The approach is known as holistic, meaning it encompasses all areas of the persons life mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well being of an individual's life. The goal is to balance these elements and having the ability to maintain healthy balanced responses to our surrounding environment. If an area is neglected or affected negatively, it affects all other elements will be affected.

The Medicine Wheel concept strives for harmony and cohesive relationships. Good health is looked upon as a gift that is a reflection of respect of the Creator and oneself. Active lifestyles, positive attitudes, harmonious relationships in both the physical and spiritual worlds are reflections of good health and healing.

Sickness is a representation of imbalance (for example: violence, addictions, suicide). Not taking care of ourselves in healthy ways can cause the imbalance. When our body, mind and spirit are balanced we are able to respond to our environments in a healthy manner. When our body is imbalanced we may struggle with diseases. When our mind is out of balance, negative thoughts and feelings create a place to fester and develop unhealthy ideas. When the spirit is not well, we may live in a way that does not respect our spirit. When we can respond to negatives that foster wellness it protects us.

When we begin our own healing journey, it is very important for us to tune into ourselves and to rebuild our relationship to our origins and return to the teachings of our MOTHER EARTH.

Many have to look at their historical background in order to understand where they come from so they can acknowledge and analyse why life was the way it was. This source of knowledge is very important in order to help break cycles and to confront the oppressing issues. By pinpointing the source of imbalance than one can deal with the issue that create dis-ease. Once this is achieved, the individual can let go of these issues and renew themselves through a rebirth and restarting. Many people resort to The Sweat Lodge and become renewed, recharge, revitalized totally cleansed emotionally and spiritually achieving a sense of balance. This is a process that is a continuum, ever evolving and never stagnant going, from healthy to unhealthy states. When we gage ourselves withing The Medicine Wheel we can reflect and analyse our states. By identifying the patterns of balance and striving towards the continuum of wellness, we can claim our wellness through growing experiences that we are challenged with daily and always return to balancing our lives, by adjusting and making changes to ensure wellness.

The Medicine Wheel is a silent teacher of the realities of things. It shows that many different ways in which all things are interconnected. Beyond that, it shows not only things that are, but also things that could be. It is divided in four specific areas of life that encompasses the spiritual, physical, emotional and mental well being of a person. It teaches us that these aspects of our nature must be equally developed to be a healthy, well balanced individual.

In order to really parent effectively traditionally we must deal with ourselves and our hurts. To break the cycles of oppression that has lead so many families astray from the cultural way of life. Many families are struggling today to live on the sacred path but through the use of The Medicine Wheel teachings and with the resources that we have to move into the wellness realm.

The Medicine Wheel teaches us of the four cardinal directions and the gifts from each with:

• The East: Light, Beginnings and Innocence
• The South: Youth, Generosity, Sensitivity to the feelings of others
• The West: Darkness, Dreams, Deep Inner Thoughts
• The North: Elders, Wisdom, Understanding