Study Notes—Native Philosophy of the Medicine Wheel
Medicine Wheelnative peoples thoughts and ideas
Has flexibility to it—have movement within it
everything is separated into 4 quadrants physical world
emotion (feelings)
mental (intelligence) thinking
spirit
Guides you through lifeintuition
Society
Experience
Faith (religion)
Elders (traditional teachings)
native peoples Teachings—sacred tree teachings
Hoop of the nation
different nations may have different names for it, or may not know what it is,
may just be the way they live
teaching people to live in harmony and balance
dynamicthoughts are constantly moving
Use and develop all your skills as a human through it
We are all connected (different yet still all used some version of the medicine
wheel)
it’s a method in which to study (K-W-T)
a way to remember: where came from, who you are, where going
model/template to utilize personally and collectively
everyone has their own truths
 Not meant to be rigid—meant for movement and change
Medicine wheel= power/energy: physical
Emotion
Mental
Spiritual
Some aspect is truly universal or unique to individual
represents vison—want to be whole human beings and it is a multi-dimensional
approach to that
about your dreams, your goals about what you want to be
help answer: who we are, why we are, meant to do, what destiny is
requires Will (freewill or volition) to explore, question things in life
the ultimate will came from the creator—to create life & this
world
he is seen in everything & is all around—gives clarity
moving to determination to stick to what you started
The wisdom ones—Philosophers
Shamanistic Practices (drumming)
Fundamental concepts, templates
(model)—eastsunrise
Tools, technologies, knowledge to Help require
enlightenment (to understand self and world better)
Shamanistic Practices
Shaman native philosophers –search to understand wisdom of the world
‘inner heat’—wisdom/wise people
Associated with drums and dancing—connected to sound waves and people
Inner energy we all carry
masters at utilizing both realms (spiritual & physical) to access knowledge, wisdom, & truth
Symbolshelp native people remember things
Sacred
Drums central and symbolically the heartbeat of mother earth
Small hand drums: can heal people with sound
Everything is alive and connected there is a vibration from the earth which is a
living thing
whatever we do to the earth, it will come back to us
belief in high regard of intuition women and their children’s well-being
common for shaman to use
Sonicssongs without words—just sounds with voice
considered to be more meaniful and connected to the earth than songs with words
Dancing physical connection to healing and enlightenment
Lucive Dreamera person who can control their dreams
Technology and toolsvision quests
Cedar tree connections to the center of the earth (physcial world) and to the universe
in the center point of the circle
The creator something that is always changing (constant)
Native Philosophy fundamental ideas of human being and the world to help us solve problems of our
lives
to become whole humans
Native Philosophers Elders
Shamens
Medicine People
Levels of the Medicine Wheel
Knowledgecan acquire a fair amount, but not equivalent to wisdom
information can be incorrect
information which has been made known through experience, association, or patterns
linkage to one thing to another
Wisdomthe proper use of knowledge—quality of being wise
the ability to make right use of knowledge and spiritual perception
physical—meta-physical (spiritual perception)
native people are highly spiritual
having insight
Truththings you are trying to seek that is true to your
a transcendent, fundamental or spiritual reality ( the ultimate reality?)
what is true for me?—realistic think
Clansspiritual nation
social/society aspect
political aspect (looking after someone)
Different issues between communities and clans organize them
Some have different roles & responsibilities peace keeping
leaders—politics/tactics (deer clan symbols)
bear clan symbol—protector & stand up for right of
others
Gentle ones—able to look at two different things and not be
bias to either side
Some may join a clan because of skills and goals wished to do personal choice (ask to join)
Community (clan notices your qualities will work well with them)
Inherited (pick traits and talents from parents—inherit clan)
CommunalBuffalo: huge powerful animal, can see in the distance (doesn’t notice wholes in ground)
Contract/ Opposite: Mouse: small creature that can’t see what buffalo do (see ground)
need to respect all: old/large and young/small is neither insignificant
Fundamental of Philosophy
Ojibway/ Anishinabe philosophy
looking for the care matter—it’s true care essence
500+ native nations across the Americas, with their own religions, language and culture
can have similarities—their philosophy, connection to spiritual religion & use of oral
teaching
more differences than similarities
1) physical world
2)Meta-physical world—unseen spiritual world
3)everything is alive (energy)
Both are the belief of the world
4) everything is connected (all realities)
5) environment—Nature
looked to environment for their direction in life
observation of the environment and living with and in it
6) Symbols
Circle: connection of the wholeness and unity of people
Square: stability, foundation
Triangle: hopes and dreams/visions
Spiral: transformation and change—circle to another point
no image of god in native communities
Philosophy of the Circle—only thing that is ultimately constant and unchanging is the great
mystery
a way they construct their life—everything is a mirror (reflects back onto us)
The great Mystery—represent wholeness and unity
used to make sense of the world and remember things
this teaching goes back thousands of years
mystery of the great being—spiritual dimension
The great unknown—Dot (represents things in this world that is
constant and unchanged—mystery itself)
outer circle—represent all things are changing
Equal Quadrants of 4—not like Christian cross
Philosophy of circle/cycle
Teaching come directly from the earth
Living in a circular existence
Everything in the environment wants to be in a circular form
water, plants, tress, birds nest, migration, universe, lodges & homes (efficient, integrated
emulated part of native peoples lives), ceremonies & dance, gathering & teachings, tornados,
hurricanes, whirlpools, cells & atoms & life stages of animals
Focuses on energy, movement, change and action guiding native people
Infant
Elder
toddler
Adult
youth
Teen
Philosophy of Balance of Opposites
Male v.s female
sound vs. silent
love vs. hate
passion vs. aggression
Work vs. play
tension vs. relaxation night vs. dark
New vs. old
Illness vs. Wellness—if had no illness, wouldn’t know feeling of wellness
Sad vs. happy—even with all bad things in life the feeling of good keeps you going
Flexibility vs. rigid—important to be open/free or stable/stern
Fear vs. Bravery—survival relied on being afraid...the brave stood up for self
Teaching of Eagle feather—rigid, solid, firm (bottom/ holds in place) vs. flexibility (smaller top)
Physical vs. Meta-physical
Philosophy of 4’s
See and feel that many things that happen in the world happen in 4’s
Seasons
Moon
Plant & Animal stages
Directions
Deep addictions
Colours
meditations
Good base to bring order into lives
Elements
4 Sacred colours East—Yellow (rising of the sun)
South—Red
west—Black
North—White
Center—Green & Blue (can be added facing North & South)
Sacred Medicines—Physical and Spiritual ways
can see pollen/ corn in southern nations—not common for all nations
used both Spiritually and Physically (balance of Opposites)
burned spiritually (smudging yourself) –some can be burned together (cedar & sage)
cedar: East—using the fall to keep away flues and colds
Good tonic—good at balancing unbalanced things in body
Tobacco: South—tied up in thick braid and also put into sacred pipes (only smoked during
important ceremonies)
hard to come by—could be used as a gift
Sage: West—light it for medicine or use to cook
Sweet Grass: North—light is for a spiritual incent/ symbol (mother earths hair)
use as community and bring people together (smudging)
4 elements of True Learning
physical
No way you can be whole and have true learning if you don’t have a grasp on it
Eastemotion (expression of feelings—unhealthy if you hold them)
Southmental (thinking—noticing things in life)
spritualmetaphysical
true
learning
emotion
Westsprit (Unseen word—meta-physical/ afterlife)
Northphysical (harbours everything for us)
mental
4 Healing Slaves/ Ointments
Dancing
Silance
Slaves/
Ointments
storytelli
ng
singing
Eastsinging—Finding your song (death & life songs)
one we enjoy and create/change you
Southstorytelling—tell your story-don’t change it (tell who you are &
what it means to you)
teaching
Westsilence—learning to be comfortable with self
Northdancing –finding your own style
4 Human Archetypes (models) Behaviour
leader/
warrior
teacher
Human
Archetypes
visonary
What is inside each of us—original model
A wisdom way through tapping into our own gifts—a way of being
Often derived from the experience of a culture
Present in the unconsciousness—can be brought into conscious
Cross-cultural, shamanic traditions utilize it to help humans achieve
harmony/balance with their environment and inner nature
healer
EastVisionary—everyone has an idea of something of what they want to do
light, beginning, renewal &innocence
bring voice and creativity into world
seeing situations in perspective (don’t get to emotional)
see it for what it is (focus on present)
concentration & devotion for the service of others
SouthHealer—healed yourself and someone else once (everyone has)
ex)hugging—act of kindness to make someone feel better
ex) addiction to people, alcohol, drugs
sensitivity to the feelings of others—how words and actions come to play
 control of appetite: to be a healthy whole person to control your diet
paying attention to what has heat and meaning
opens people to human resources of love (most potent healing force), gratitude,
acknowledgement &validation
WestTeacher/ Elder—helped someone else understand more about themselves and other things
(commitment to assist development of people)
accesses human resources of wisdom and is a practice in trust—comfortable in the state of
‘not knowing’
openness and unattachment help people recover of wisdom
development of your understanding & the potential of what could happen in the future
every individual is medicine—no one is like you (unique)
use your own Knowledge and experience
commitment to universal life values & high moral code
ancestors Spirits: are important teachers of detachment –been through process of letting go
and experiencing the ultimate unknown (death), can help others prepare for unfamiliar
experiences
Empowerment Tools: Silence
ancestors spirits
sitting mediation
NorthWarrior/ Leader—taken direct action—firm & took a stand for what you believe in
capacity to finish what he started –freedom of fear
consistency in words and action—do what you say
understands and is aware of the cause and effects of actions taken or not
ability to extend honour and respect—appreciate the diversity within self and others
ability to choose to be in the present—allows access to inner resources of…
1) Power of Presence—bringing in 4 intelligences—Mental
emotional
physical
spiritual
present in that moment
2)Power of Communication—aligned Content (what), Timing (when) & context (where)
3) Power of Position—willingness to take a stand
empowerment Tools rattle work
dancing
standing meditation
power animals
4 types of Meditation
Standing
Sitting
Down
types of
Meditation
Walking
Meditati
on
Lying
Down
Looking within self—finding balance between the physical & spiritual
world
Access Knowledge—certain preparation
Gateway to inner selves
EastWalking Meditation (pow wow when just walking—enter another
state of consciousness)
SouthLying Down—common when ill
WestSitting Down
NorthStanding—taking a stand
The way of the Visionary—characteristics
Telling truth without blame or judgement
Non-judgemental truthfulness maintains our authenticity and develops our inner vision and intuition
Brings our voice and creativity into the world—expressing our inner visionary, creative purpose, life
dream, our authentic self, and our truthful and honour the four ways of seeing…
intuition
Perception
insight
vision (false self)
Every individual is original medicine and therefore we bring our personal gifts, talents and resources
forward (help healing of earth)
no one else like you—never will be (uniqueness)
Empowerment toolssinging
bells
walking meditation
contemplation
prayer (asking/ potitioning for something/someone)
vision quest
Movement & changeadd arrows to it
Wholeness, Circles/ Cycles
Balance of Opposites
Quadrants of 4’s
All work together & affect one another
Movement, changing, transforming to change
5 basic states for Volition/Will (3D medicine Wheel)
1)Awareness—knowing what is around you, what you are seeking
Preparation Steps
2) Gaol Setting—developing a vision of where you need to go
3) Initiation—actually doing a think (putting into motion)
4)Perseverance—sticking to what your doing
5)Completing the action—what we have learned and what it means to us and our lives
The medicine wheel has depth/dimension—ever changing elements as well as constants
volition/will leads to true vision –nothing happens without it
will of the creator or individual
it can mean many different things at many different times –don’t take face value
can be applied to almost anything
has different levels—gets smaller and smaller
ends in true understanding of life and it’s meaning
In our world of opposite, paradox (sacred & profane) –beyond is pure spiritunbounded possibilities
pure knowledge
pure wisdom
At the Threshold Video
Something that has been left behind—the connection of life and sense of belonging
too individualistic—independent
lost sense of place, community, & family
Everything is alive and have energy—all connected
stem from the earth/nature/environment
where philosophy originated from
Talking Circles
Circlesacred space
Eliminating what the great unseen has brought upon on us
Limiting, honouring, respecting the teaching of the higher ones
Way in which we communicate, learn & understand knowledge orally
Sharing information and knowledge through other people by respect
Sacred Tools Dreams, meditations…
use as a source of knowledge and inspiration
places or things where you can gather information
No one native culture, but native cultures
Each one is unique (language)—with some similarities (philosophy—metaphysical concepts & principles)
ex) mother earth—living organ (animate/ alive)
Nation a group that shares a common language history, fundamental ideologies and land base
find variations of the medicine wheel—see importance that the environment plays and
influences all aspects of native people lives
Various ways of communication to bring information and knowledge
Bark scrolls—symbols on them
Pictographs—pictures on rock cliffs
Oral Traditions—paramount importance (used for teaching)
don’t have to have to rely on information, knowledge, & traditions from one set group to
make ideas
placed to create own ideas on the environment & philosophical ideas
Laws/rules, codes of behaviour (guideline), conduct told in form of stories/ mythologies
(important information that can be processed through mythologies—sacred/precious beliefs &
thoughts of people)
different stories with variety of purposes
Talking Circle—Coming together orally to express information
Storiesyour information were also told for development of memory skills (listening and seeing
things),Group Cohesion (core and respect form one another—become more close/together through
this experience), referencing and perceiving history and entertainment
attempts to have each listener be allowed to get from it what they can (own interpretation)
everyone from children to elders care to hear one another’s stories
everyone is a teacher
teaches Independence and respect
Need to explain how things are and how arrived at state of being
healing comes out of talking circle
help get over negative situations—addictions/ deep addiction when lost someone
able to speak about true learningEmotion—feelings need to come over
Mental/Intelligence
Spirit
No absolute Truthlife is open to interpretation and debate by all truth
Truth: Great Mystery (no absolute truth in respect to individual)—Unknown