Post by Lone4eagle on Jan 27, 2008 15:20:50 GMT -6
The four colors of the Medicine Wheel are traditionally Red, Yellow, Black, and White. These represent four races of humans. Each tribe places the order, of colors in a direction, according to their tradition. A few tribes use an alternative color (such as Bluegreen), usually substituting for only one of the directions. A certain Band of Natives, may pick a set of color correspondences which is different, as a way of showing identity. Whatever set of colors you use for the Medicine Wheel, doesn't make your prayers any less effective nor are they any more important to the Great Spirit. At a time when the Native American religion was under attack, some Natives began to walk the Medicine Wheel the opposite direction (instead of Sun-wise). This explains the order of color placement by some Indians. The elements (fire energy, water, etc.) might be adjusted accordingly, in the use of directions also.
East Wind-The Teacher
Air, Illumination, Wisdom, Clarity
Smudging: Tobacco
Season: Spring (Associated with morning)
Medicine: Healthy mind
Relationship: Sun
Life Phase: Elder
Colors:
Red (Wi-sun)
Red for the East, and enlightenment
Anishinaabe-Yellow
Lakota-Red (Most common)
Lakota, Black Elk-White (color of renewal and spirit, is linked to the East)
Lakota, Pine Ridge-East is Yellow which symbolizes the rising Sun and it is the beginning
Old Cherokee-Red (symbolized power and healing)
Some Apache-Black
South Wind-The Healer
Fire, Spirit, Trust, Love, Growth
Smudging: Sage
Season: Summer (Associated with daytime)
Medicine: Strong human spirit
Relationship: Mother Earth
Life Phase: Childhood
Colors:
Yellow (Inyan-rock)
Anishinaabe-Red
Lakota-Yellow (Most common)
Some Lakota (less common): White for the South (Black for the West; Red for the North; Yellow for the East)
Lakota, Black Elk-Yellow (associated with unity and quiet)
Lakota, Pine Ridge-White (represents when we complete the circle of life, going to the Spirit World)
Some Plains Indians use Earth as the element, with Black for the color of this direction.
Old Cherokee-White (symbolized blessings, virtue, the rains that fell from the sky, purity and all that was good)
Some Apache-Blue or Dark Green (same term in Apache)
West Wind-The Visionary
Water, Emotions, Dreams, Experience, Introspection
Smudging: Sweet grass
Season: Fall (Associated with sunset)
Medicine: Healthy emotions
Relationship: Moon
Life Phase: Youth
Colors:
Anishinaabe-Black
Lakota-Black (Most common)
Lakota, Black Elk-Black (color representative of war and confrontation)
Lakota, Pine Ridge-West is Black for the setting Sun, signifying death, the end of our life.
Some Plains Indians use Fire as the element, with Red for the color of this direction.
Old Cherokee-Black (symbolized the doorway to the spirit world, death, and the place of the thunder beings)
Some Apache-Yellow
North Wind-The Warrior
Earth, Body, Physical Cleansing, Purity, Renewal
Smudging: Cedar
Season: Winter (Associated with midnight)
Medicine: Physical body
Relationship: Father Sky
Life Phase: Adult
Colors:
Anishinaabe-White
Lakota-White (Most common)
Lakota, Black Elk-Red (color of law and control, is associated with the North)
Lakota, Pine Ridge-North is Red, for the Red Road that Indians want to walk on.
Some Plains Indians use Water as the element, with White for the color of this direction.
Old Cherokee-Blue (symbolized adversity, struggle, and those things that harmed the human people)
Some Apache-White
Between the Directions
These stones go, one on each side (left and to the right) of the direction stones. If evenly spaced, you will have a well formed circle.
EAST-Northeast/Southeast (2 stones): Flying Creatures, Rooted beings
SOUTH-Southeast/Southwest (2 stones): Earth Walkers (4-leggeds), Ancestors
WEST-Southwest/Northwest (2 stones): Stones, Water Creatures
NORTH-Northwest/Northeast (2 stones): Rainbow Spirits, Earth Crawlers
The Spokes
Between the Four Directions and center are placed four stones (at each direction). The element plus three other stones. This is called the Spokes. Additional stones go around the center. Three stones come between the element stone and the center of the sacred circle. They each have a meaning and are numbered 1-3 under the direction/element. Usually a permanent circle is prepared of stones and smudged first before using for ceremonies.
East-Air (Element)
1. Illumination
2. Wisdom
3. Leadership (Clarity)
South-Fire (Element)
1. Spirit
2. Gentleness (Trust, Love)
3. Growth (Healing)
West-Water (Element)
1. Emotions
2. Dreams
3. Introspection
North-Earth (Element)
1. Physical Body
2. Cleansing (Purity)
3. Renewal (Stamina)
Stones of the Inner Circle
Numbered stones are placed in logical order to surround the center stone.
Center-Universe or Creator stone
1. Father Sky
2. Grandfather Sun
3. Grandmother Moon
4. Mother Earth
5. Stars
6. Planets
7. Milky Way
The Four Directions
Add a stone for to mark each direction (East, South, West, North). The colors associated with each direction varies among tribes. You may chose a stone for the color or for the sacred significance. Maybe a rock from a certain river or stream for the West. Mountains, desert, valleys, are all good places to look.
East Wind-The Teacher
Air, Illumination, Wisdom, Clarity
Smudging: Tobacco
Season: Spring (Associated with morning)
Medicine: Healthy mind
Relationship: Sun
Life Phase: Elder
Colors:
Red (Wi-sun)
Red for the East, and enlightenment
Anishinaabe-Yellow
Lakota-Red (Most common)
Lakota, Black Elk-White (color of renewal and spirit, is linked to the East)
Lakota, Pine Ridge-East is Yellow which symbolizes the rising Sun and it is the beginning
Old Cherokee-Red (symbolized power and healing)
Some Apache-Black
South Wind-The Healer
Fire, Spirit, Trust, Love, Growth
Smudging: Sage
Season: Summer (Associated with daytime)
Medicine: Strong human spirit
Relationship: Mother Earth
Life Phase: Childhood
Colors:
Yellow (Inyan-rock)
Anishinaabe-Red
Lakota-Yellow (Most common)
Some Lakota (less common): White for the South (Black for the West; Red for the North; Yellow for the East)
Lakota, Black Elk-Yellow (associated with unity and quiet)
Lakota, Pine Ridge-White (represents when we complete the circle of life, going to the Spirit World)
Some Plains Indians use Earth as the element, with Black for the color of this direction.
Old Cherokee-White (symbolized blessings, virtue, the rains that fell from the sky, purity and all that was good)
Some Apache-Blue or Dark Green (same term in Apache)
West Wind-The Visionary
Water, Emotions, Dreams, Experience, Introspection
Smudging: Sweet grass
Season: Fall (Associated with sunset)
Medicine: Healthy emotions
Relationship: Moon
Life Phase: Youth
Colors:
Anishinaabe-Black
Lakota-Black (Most common)
Lakota, Black Elk-Black (color representative of war and confrontation)
Lakota, Pine Ridge-West is Black for the setting Sun, signifying death, the end of our life.
Some Plains Indians use Fire as the element, with Red for the color of this direction.
Old Cherokee-Black (symbolized the doorway to the spirit world, death, and the place of the thunder beings)
Some Apache-Yellow
North Wind-The Warrior
Earth, Body, Physical Cleansing, Purity, Renewal
Smudging: Cedar
Season: Winter (Associated with midnight)
Medicine: Physical body
Relationship: Father Sky
Life Phase: Adult
Colors:
Anishinaabe-White
Lakota-White (Most common)
Lakota, Black Elk-Red (color of law and control, is associated with the North)
Lakota, Pine Ridge-North is Red, for the Red Road that Indians want to walk on.
Some Plains Indians use Water as the element, with White for the color of this direction.
Old Cherokee-Blue (symbolized adversity, struggle, and those things that harmed the human people)
Some Apache-White
Between the Directions
These stones go, one on each side (left and to the right) of the direction stones. If evenly spaced, you will have a well formed circle.
EAST-Northeast/Southeast (2 stones): Flying Creatures, Rooted beings
SOUTH-Southeast/Southwest (2 stones): Earth Walkers (4-leggeds), Ancestors
WEST-Southwest/Northwest (2 stones): Stones, Water Creatures
NORTH-Northwest/Northeast (2 stones): Rainbow Spirits, Earth Crawlers
The Spokes
Between the Four Directions and center are placed four stones (at each direction). The element plus three other stones. This is called the Spokes. Additional stones go around the center. Three stones come between the element stone and the center of the sacred circle. They each have a meaning and are numbered 1-3 under the direction/element. Usually a permanent circle is prepared of stones and smudged first before using for ceremonies.
East-Air (Element)
1. Illumination
2. Wisdom
3. Leadership (Clarity)
South-Fire (Element)
1. Spirit
2. Gentleness (Trust, Love)
3. Growth (Healing)
West-Water (Element)
1. Emotions
2. Dreams
3. Introspection
North-Earth (Element)
1. Physical Body
2. Cleansing (Purity)
3. Renewal (Stamina)
Stones of the Inner Circle
Numbered stones are placed in logical order to surround the center stone.
Center-Universe or Creator stone
1. Father Sky
2. Grandfather Sun
3. Grandmother Moon
4. Mother Earth
5. Stars
6. Planets
7. Milky Way
The Four Directions
Add a stone for to mark each direction (East, South, West, North). The colors associated with each direction varies among tribes. You may chose a stone for the color or for the sacred significance. Maybe a rock from a certain river or stream for the West. Mountains, desert, valleys, are all good places to look.