Looking East on the Wheel of LifeThe Medicine Wheel: a brief introduction |
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There are sacred circles in many parts
of the world dating back thousands of years. Although there can be
little concrete evidence, it is widely believed that these circles were
used for teaching, protection and healing, as well as for ceremonial
and ritual purposes. The model I use is very ancient and comes from Central America, probably from the Mayan tradition. In different forms it has been and is still widely used by the Native American Indians. The basic circle is marked into the four compass directions, with North at the apex. Each direction is assigned different attributes, such as colour, and this is where traditions begin to diverge. Between each direction and the next are further markers; some versions show the basic wheel divided like a clock face, with two points between each compass point. The version familiar to me has eight rather than twelve points or directions. This Medicine Wheel comes from the Mayan tradition and sits within a larger construct called the Twenty Count, which offers a creation story and particular view of the ordering of the universe. The Star Maiden's Circle, which may be used as a powerful therapeutic tool, uses attributes of the eight points of this wheel. It is possible to bring a life story or a particular problem to the circle and gain insight by examining it from each direction. South is the place of the child, West of the adolescent, North of the adult, and East of the spirit: the place of beginnings and endings. It is through the 'portal' of the East that our spirits move into our bodies before birth on our life trek around the wheel towards the East again. This is the place where, at death, we move out of our bodies and into spirit: “where spirit comes into matter and where matter touches spirit – the place which is beyond the confines of linear time” (Leo Rutherford, 'Shamanic Path Workbook'). |