Medicine Wheel Archives

Spirit Realm

I have had the opportunity lead and host many drumming circles, events and ceremonies. In doing so I learned that to study shamanism is one dimension, to practice it, adds another dimension. Exercises to practice what you have learned, do not need to be super complicated. There are many straight forward and simple ways to incorporate shamanic knowledge into your life.

I enjoy celebrating the equinoxes and solstices. Sometimes, I like my stones to absorb the energy of the quarters of the Medicine Wheel. You may need a mesh bag (like onions or oranges come in) to put your stones and other shiny objects in to protect them from thieving Magpies or other opportunistic creatures. Leave the objects outside for seven days prior to the solstice, to be basked in the change of seasons. [Read more…]

Long Snows Moon and Elk

The Long Snows Moon whose guardian is Elk is the last moon on the Medicine Wheel and which places special significance on the importance of the Guardian Spirit. North on the wheel is the place of the four-leggeds, and for me, it is also the Place where the Crystal People dwell. The four-leggeds are the runners, the double receivers. I view them as one foot in each quarter of the wheel, as well as two legs in the Spirit World and two legs in the Human World, that is my interpretation of a double receiver.

Elk cow and bull — Elk Cow & Bull (click to enlarge)

The Elk has told me that he is one of the most sacred four-leggeds. He is regarded in some cultures as the Guardian of the Thunder Beings. The Thunder Beings are usually associated with the evening (darkness, the unknown), and although for some they can be very terrifying, they test our strength and endurance. They help us to realize how really very small and insignificant we are compared to the great powers of The Universe. Thunder Beings are the Lightening which strikes the horns of the Elk, he helps it to flow through and transform the energy. He is the greatest receiver of energy; the energy magician, changing and moving the appearance, feel and effect of energy. Elk is the Keeper of Thunder and Lightening. [Read more…]

Butterfly

We have arrived at the last stone in the Centre of the Medicine Wheel – Butterfly. This stone is the Air Clan, with the Spiritual Face of the Butterfly. They rarely stay in one place for very long. Air is the element of change, transformation, illumination and beginnings. This stone in the Centre is a reminder to each of us, we shift through many layers of transformation and change, as we emerge from our womb, until our last transformation death and decay.

Not surprising Sun Bear chose the Butterfly Weed, in my world, I know it as Milkweed, for the Plant Totem. There are many varieties of Milkweed. Common milkweed is slightly toxic, but not to the Monarch butterfly! By feeding almost exclusively on milkweed leaves, they are able to accumulate enough of the poison in their bodies to make them distasteful to predators. [Read more…]

Thunderbird

Thunderbird, the seventh Stone in the Centre of the Medicine Wheel, and is the Spirit Keeper for the element Fire. If we think of Fire, we may call to mind different colors, but for our discussion, Red is the color we will use for this stone position. The plant spirit chosen to represent Thunderbird is Fireweed. The stone we use to hold this position is Lava Rock.

Fireweed, also known as willow-herb, may be found in every Canadian province and territory, as well as the northern United States. It is usually one of the first plants to grow and bloom on land devastated by a forest fire – or even by a volcanic eruption. Which may be one of the reasons Sun Bear chose to put Lava stone and Fireweed together, to further the lessons of Thunderbird. Fireweed was a very common plant for me to see in and around the farm I grew up on. It has an extensive root system, which helps the earth to heal after the devastation of fire. It is a perennial plant, [Read more…]

Ripe Berries Moon

Keywords:

Full moon in the night sky Continuing our exploration of the Medicine Wheel, we’re going to look at the 20th stone; the Ripe Berries Moon. The dates for this moon are July 23 to August 22. This is the second Moon of Shawnodese, The Spirit Keeper of the South. This is also the 8th Grandmother Moon on the Wheel. This is the time when we are moving through various stages of harvest. This is the time of mid-day, and of Summer; a time of rapid growth and many lessons.

Ripe Berries Moon is the time of the Long Sun~ Summer. On the Wheel, Shawnodese, is the equivalent in human age to that of Youth to Young adult. The Long Sun is so brief in our land of Canada, much like our youth, gone far too quickly. This is the moon where we are encouraged to remember our youth, make mistakes & learn from them. As we move on in chronological age, we have seen more and more summers. Each summer we have, hopefully, learnt from our Youth and are moving into Wisdom. The time of the Wheel is a time to put into action what we have learnt. As any good gardener will tell you, to learn the ways of the Plants, is with patience and practice. The Wisdom Path of the Medicine Wheel, is deepened and understood with each passing season. This is the time of year I harvest my sage in Drumheller, Alberta. The Ripe Berries Moon has an influence on my life every year.

[Read more…]