Medicine Wheel
“The black one is for the west where the thunder beings live to send us rain; the white one for the
north, whence comes the great white cleansing wind; the red one for the east, whence springs the
light and where the morning star lives to give men wisdom; the yellow for the south, whence
comes the summer and the power to grow. But these four spirits are only one Spirit after all.…
also it is for the thoughts of men that should rise high as eagles do.” –Black Elk (1863-1950),
Oglala Sioux holy man
The first residents of the land that is now Tacoma are represented by a Native American
medicine wheel. The medicine wheel, a circle divided into quarters, is a traditional symbol used
by almost all Native American tribes. Like the hieroglyphics of the ancient Egyptians and the
artwork of the Ndebele, the symbols of Native Americans rely on universal geometric shapes to
convey deeper ideas.
An undivided circle can symbolize the Great Spirit, the world, the year, and time itself. A circle
filled with red represents the sun; with blue, the sky. The divided circle likewise has many
meanings. The four quarters can represent:
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The circle of life (birth, growth, death, and regeneration)
The four races of man (yellow, red, black, and white)
The four hills (stages) of man (child, adolescent, adult, and elder)
The four grandfathers/grandmothers (beginning, going along, getting settled, and going
home)
The four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter)
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The four elements (water, wind, earth, and fire)
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The four directions/winds (east, south, west, and north)
The four aspects of our nature (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual)