Creating The Sundance Medicine Wheel

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Jason Stewart
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1 Creating The Sundance Medicine Wheel Design & Graphics by Soars High - Two Crows Script by Itswoot WaWa Hyiu - Bear Who Talks Much (Chief Roy L. Rochon Wilson) 2011

2 N W CREATOR E S

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Figure 1 The Sundance Medicine Wheel How to set up your wheel The Sacred Alter The Outer Wheel The Inner Wheel The Four Sacred Pathways Figure 2 Mineral Totems Outer Wheel Components Of The Wheel Figure 3 Mineral Totems Outer Wheel Figure 4 Mineral Totems Inner Wheel Figures 5, 6, 7 Animal Totems Figures 8, 9 Plant Totems

4 HOW TO SET UP YOUR SUNDANCE MEDICINE WHEEL Figure 1 Have you ever said to yourself, I would like to set up my own Medicine Wheel, and then asked, But how do I go about doing that? Figure 1 in this manual, along with the Medicine Wheel Workbook, will aid you in accomplishing your desire. Begin with the center stone that represents the Sacred Alter. For more information read chapter three in the workbook. See chapter one in the workbook to aid you in setting up the wheel. The teachings of the outer wheel are in chapter eight. Follow the directions in chapter two for setting up the remainder of your Medicine Wheel. See chapters four through seven for teachings of the Four Directions, chapter nine for inner wheel teachings, chapter ten for teachings which cycle all four of the directions, and chapter eleven for the Four Sacred Pathways.

Sundance Medicine Wheel Search for Truth Oct 24 Nov 21 Freeze up SNAKE Malachite Thistle W EAGLE High

Obsidian Black Spruce Butterfly Transformation Bat Incarnation Dec 22 Jan 19 Earth Renewal SNOW GOOSE

Prepared COUGAR N CREATOR Hawk Insight Fearless Goose Endurance Wolf Pathfinder Protector Family

darkness Sacramental Giver Symbol of Earth Mother Turtle Feb 19 Mar 20 Big Winds COUGAR Turquoise

Giver Potlatch E Apr 20 May 20 Frogs Return BEAVER Chrysocolla Blue Camas Aug 23 Sept 22 Harvest

June 20 Cornplanting DEER Moss Agate Yarrow July 23 Aug 22 Ripe Berries STURGEON Garnet Raspberry S

5 Sundance Medicine Wheel Search for Truth Oct 24 Nov 21 Freeze up SNAKE Malachite Thistle W EAGLE High flyer Spirituality Shaman Sept 23 Oct 23 Ducks Fly RAVEN Jasper Mullein Nov 22 Dec 21 Long Snows ELK Obsidian Black Spruce Butterfly Transformation Bat Incarnation Dec 22 Jan 19 Earth Renewal SNOW GOOSE Quartz Birch Spirit Death Rebirth Grouse Dance of Birth and Rebirth RAVEN OWL BEAR Squirrel Gatherer Prepared COUGAR N CREATOR Hawk Insight Fearless Goose Endurance Wolf Pathfinder Protector Family COUGAR WOLF HAWK COYOTE Jan 20 Feb 18 Rest & Cleansing OTTER Silver Quaking Aspen Owl Guide thru darkness Sacramental Giver Symbol of Earth Mother Turtle Feb 19 Mar 20 Big Winds COUGAR Turquoise Plantain Mar 21 Apr 19 Budding Trees RED HAWK Fire Opal Dandelion Turkey Giver Sacrifice BUFFALO Giver Potlatch E Apr 20 May 20 Frogs Return BEAVER Chrysocolla Blue Camas Aug 23 Sept 22 Harvest BROWN BEAR Amethyst Violet Builder Patience Strength Ant Beaver Industrious Creativity Builder May 21 June 20 Cornplanting DEER Moss Agate Yarrow July 23 Aug 22 Ripe Berries STURGEON Garnet Raspberry S BEAR Warriors Healers Leaders Service June 21 July 22 Strong Sun FLICKER Carnelian Agate Wild Rose Soars High Two Crows

6 SUNDANCE MEDICINE WHEEL MINERAL TOTEMS Figure 2 It is traditional to use a Jasper stone as the center stone for the Sacred Alter, but any stone is appropriate because it represents the Creator of all things. Thus, any item can represent the Creator. You may place an Eagle feather there, or any concept or idea. When I flew to Washington D.C. to discuss the Cowlitz River Basin Comprehensive Plan this plan became the Sacred Alter. The remainder of the Medicine Wheel then served as my guide in the ensuing deliberations. The components of the Medicine Wheel are made up of mineral totems, animal totems, and plant totems. More information regarding the mineral totems for the outer wheel may be found in figure 3, and in the book VOICES FROM THE EARTH MOTHER. Figure 4 offers information regarding the mineral totems of the inner wheel. The mineral totems of the Four Pathways represent the colors of the Four Directions: Yellow or Amber, White, Black, and Red.

7 Quartz N Silver Malachite Obsidian Red Jasper Turquoise Fire Opal Marble Turquoise Fire Opal Hematite W E Yellow Citrine Jasper Petrified Wood Amethyst Onyx Jasper Chrysocolla Dolomite Amethyst Moss Agate Garnet S Carnelian Agate Figure 2

8 SUNDANCE MEDICINE OUTER WHEEL MINERAL TOTEMS Figure 3 The totems of the outer wheel are representative of our own personal medicine powers. Remember, you are the wheel, and the wheel is you. All of these medicine powers are within each of us. Dates are given for each of the mineral totems in figure 3. The date of your own birth will align with the dates of one of those medicine totems. That is your birth totem. These are the medicine powers that flow most naturally through your life; but it is important that you remember that all of the medicine powers are resident within you, for you are the wheel and the wheel is you. You are on the cusp of the powers on either side of your birth totem, and these are fairly strong powers functioning in your life. You need to work at cultivating and developing your weakest powers until you bring them into balance with your strengths,. This will bring the wheel of your life into balance and will reward you with the most fulfilling of life s experiences.

9 Red Jasper Red Jasper Jan 20 Feb 18 SILVER Playfulness, Nurturing Prophetic, Intuitive Inventiveness, Originality Humanitarian, Noble Curious Feb 19 Mar 20 TURQUOISE Initiative Speed Grace Mystery Stalking Territoriality Mar 21 Apr 19 FIRE OPAL Aware, Insight Truth, Adaptability Survival, Deliberation Optimism, Prayer Intensity, Openness Yellow Citrine Citrine Apr 20 May 20 CHRYSOCOLA Security, Contentment Industry, Balance Comfort, Affection Fidelity, Orderly Self-Reliant, Patient Grounded May 21 June 20 MOSS AGATE Sensitivity, Grace Alertness, Protection Adaptability, Clever Nimble, Creative Heart & Spirit Connection June 21 July 22 Carnelian Agate Protection, Courage Joy, Relentlessness Nurturing, Loving Communication, Harmony, Relationship Dolomite Dolomite July 23 Aug 22 GARNET Determination, Teaching Leadership, Consistency Knowledge, Depth Strength, Generous Sexual Aug 23 Sept 23 Caution, Fortitude Sept 23 Oct 23 JASPER Bravery, Fairness Good Decisions, Pleasure Leadership, Organization Grounding, Curiosity Messenger, Spiritual Intelligence, Community Assistance, Wary Encouragement, Mystery Balance, Duality Hematite Hematite Oct 24 Nov 21 MALACHITE Mystery, Adaptability The Feminine Transformation, Healing Life Force, Sensitivity Sensuality, Psychic Nov 22 Dec 21 OBSIDIAN Confidence, Strength Joy, Agility Speed, Protection Justice, Wisdom Responsibility Dec 22 Jan 19 QUARTZ Beauty, Gregariousness Tradition, Transmitting Receiving, Keen Vision Personal Evolution Ceremony Figure 3

10 SUNDANCE MEDICINE INNER WHEEL MINERAL TOTEMS Figure 4 The mineral totems of the inner wheel represent the medicine powers of the Great Spirit, The Creator, or God. Just as you and I have our medicine power totems, so likewise, Great Spirit has His/Her medicine power totems. The question may be asked, How does the Great Spirit, or God, give His/Her powers to all forms of life on Mother Earth, to you and to me? This can be understood by studying the seven powers of the inner circle. You may find it quite interesting to compare the Native American teachings of the seven totems with the Christian teachings of the gifts and ministries of the spirit, with the seven charkas of Hinduism, and with the Tree of Life in ancient Judaism s Kabalism. No doubt, there are teachings from other cultures and traditions that also correspond to these. They are out there for you to discover and enjoy. Four of the seven totems, in the inner wheel, are also in the outer wheel of our personal totems. This reminds us of the ancient teaching that we were created in the image of God. We are chips off of the old block. They suggest powers of our own divinity. We are children of Great Spirit, or God.

11 Marble Turquoise Fire Opal Jasper Petrified Wood Amethyst Onyx Center Jasper Creator Turquoise Protection, safety, ceremonial, rainmaking, healing, spiritual, preventive healing stone Fire Opal Hope, life force, visualization, spirit travel, intense energy, sexuality, power Petrified Wood Renewal, purpose definition, stamina, protection, health, understanding the Earth changes Onyx Grounding, respect, clairvoyance, centering, stability, protection, seeing future, earth balance Amethyst Good judgment, justice and courage, dreaming, catharsis, spiritual attunement Jasper Blessings, grounding, harmony, longevity, stimulation, clarification, balance Marble Old wisdom, knowledge, mystery, paradox, the shadow, the feminine, listening, the unknown Figure 4

12 SUNDANCE MEDICINE WHEEL ANIMAL TOTEMS Figure 5, 6, 7 The animal totems, similar to the mineral totems, represent your own medicine powers. The teachings for the previous figures, regarding the mineral totems, also apply to the animal totems.

13 COUGAR Dec 22 Jan 19 SNOW GOOSE Jan 20 Feb 18 OTTER Nov 22 Dec 21 ELK Hawk Insight Fearless Feb 19 Mar 20 COUGAR Snow Goose Endurance Mar 21 Apr 19 RED HAWK Oct 24 Nov 21 SNAKE Wolf Pathfinder Protector Family Butterfly Transformation Bat Spirit Death Rebirth Grouse Dance of Birth and Rebirth BUFFALO Cr eator EAGLE Owl Guide thru darkness Turtle Giver Symbol of Earth Mother Turkey Giver Sacrifice Squirrel Gatherer Prepared Sept 23 Oct 23 RAVEN Builder Patience Strength Ant Apr 20 May 20 BEAVER Aug 23 Sept 22 BROWN BEAR Beaver Industrious Creativity Builder May 21 June 20 DEER July 23 Aug 22 STURGEON BEAR June21 July 22 FLICKER Figure 5

14 COUGAR Hawk Insight Fearless Snow Goose Endurance Wolf Pathfinder Protector Family Jan 20 Feb 18 OTTER Playfulness, Nurturing Prophetic, Intuitive Inventiveness, Originality Humanitarian, Noble Curious Feb 19 Mar 20 COUGAR Initiative Speed Grace Mystery Stalking Territoriality Mar 21 Apr 19 RED HAWK Aware, Insight Truth, Adaptability Survival, Deliberation Optimism, Prayer Intensity, Openness BUFFALO Turkey Giver Sacrifice Turtle Giver Symbol of Earth Mother Owl Guide thru darkness Apr 20 May 20 BEAVER Security, Contentment Industry, Balance Comfort, Affection Fidelity, Orderly Self-Reliant, Patient Grounded May 21 June 20 DEER Sensitivity, Grace Alertness, Protection Adaptability, Clever Nimble, Creative Heart & Spirit Connection June21 July 22 FLICKER Protection, Courage Joy, Relentlessness Nurturing, Loving Communication, Harmony, Relationship BEAR Beaver Industrious Creativity Builder Ant Builder Patience Strength Squirrel Gatherer Prepared July 23 Aug 22 STURGEON Determination, Teaching Leadership, Consistency Knowledge, Depth Strength, Generous Sexual Aug 23 Sept 23 BROWN BEAR Caution, Fortitude Bravery, Fairness Good Decisions, Pleasure Leadership, Organization Grounding, Curiosity Sept 23 Oct 23 RAVEN Messenger, Spiritual Intelligence, Community Assistance, Wary Encouragement, Mystery Balance, Duality EAGLE Butterfly Transformation Bat Spirit Death Rebirth Grouse Dance of Birth and Rebirth Oct 24 Nov 21 SNAKE Mystery, Adaptability The Feminine Transformation, Healing Life Force, Sensitivity Sensuality, Psychic Nov 22 Dec 21 ELK Confidence, Strength Joy, Agility Speed, Protection Justice, Wisdom Responsibility Dec 22 Jan 19 SNOW GOOSE Beauty, Gregariousness Tradition, Transmitting Receiving, Keen Vision Personal Evolution Ceremony Figure 6

Owl Cougar Hawk Raven Coyote Bear Wolf Center Jasper Creator Cougar Initiative, Speed,

Survival, Prater, Intensity, Openness, Optimism Coyote Trickster energy, Homor,

relationships, Fidelity, Forgiveness, Intimacy, Community, Cunning, Generosity Bear

Raven Messenger, Spiritual, Intelligence, Community, Assistance, Wary, Balance,

15 Owl Cougar Hawk Raven Coyote Bear Wolf Center Jasper Creator Cougar Initiative, Speed, Grace, Mystery, Stalking, Territorialty Hawk Aware, Insight, Truth, Adaptability, Survival, Prater, Intensity, Openness, Optimism Coyote Trickster energy, Homor, Wildness, Endurance, Trust, Survival, Creativity, Mystery Wolf Love, Healing relationships, Fidelity, Forgiveness, Intimacy, Community, Cunning, Generosity Bear Bravery, Caution, Fortitude, Fairness, Good decisions, Pleasure, Leadership, Grounding Raven Messenger, Spiritual, Intelligence, Community, Assistance, Wary, Balance, Mystery, Duality Owl Old wisdom, knowledge, mystery, paradox, the shadow, the feminine, listening, the unknown Figure 7

16 SUNDANCE MEDICINE WHEEL PLANT TOTEMS Figure 8, 9 The plant totems, similar to the mineral totems, represent your own medicine powers. The plant totems not only speak to aspects within your personality and character, as do the mineral and animal totems within the wheel of your life, but they also speak to healing powers that you possess. You may feel that you have never experienced some or any of these healing powers in your life; but that simply states that you have not been aware of their existence within you, and therefore, you have not cultivated and developed them for use in your community. They are there! They may be realized as latent powers, residing within you awaiting your call upon them for use. To better understand these, read about them in the book, VOICES FROM THE EARTH MOTHER.

17 Dec 22 Jan 19 Birch Jan 20 Feb 18 Quaking Aspen Nov 22 Dec 21 Black Spruce Feb 19 Mar 20 Plantain Oct 24 Nov 21 Thistle Mar 21 Apr 19 Dandelion Cr eator Sept 23 Oct 23 Mullein Apr 20 May 20 Blue Camas Aug 23 Sept 22 Violet May 21 June 20 Yarrow July 23 Aug 22 Raspberry June 21 July 22 Wild Rose Figure 8

18 Jan 20 Feb 18 Quaking Aspen Good for congestion Allergies Asthma Toxicity Relaxing Playfulness Feb 19 Mar 20 Plantain A master healer Cools Sooths Heals Blood cleanser Skin and Pain relief Mar 21 Apr 19 Dandelion Nutritional Soothing Healing Calming Cleansing Alkalizing Apr 20 May 20 Blue Camas Good for balancing Purgative Stimulation Nutritional Sustaining May 21 June 20 Yarrow Tonic Diuretic Anesthetic Digestion Strengthener Cleanser Alleviates menstrual pain June 21 July 22 Wild Rose Helps cure colds and Flu Astringent Tonic Soothing Calming July 23 Aug 22 Raspberry Cleansing Stimulating Astringent Balancing Helps in pregnancy Delicious fruit Aug 23 Sept 23 Violet Heals toxicity Blood cleanser Relieves sore throat Cooling Soothing Breathing problems Sept 23 Oct 23 Mullein Messenger, Spiritual Intelligence, Community Assistance, Wary Encouragement, Mystery Balance, Duality Oct 24 Nov 21 Thistle Nutritional Heals brain Heals internal organs Reduces fever Increases milk during nursing Nov 22 Dec 21 Black Spruce Antiseptic Expectorant Inhalant Helps colds Strengthening Dec 22 Jan 19 Birch Good for skin Arthritis Kidney Bladder Digestion & cleansing Communication Ancient wisdom Figure 9

IN THE BEGINNING: FIRST ENCOUNTERS. Native American Myths 1600 s

IN THE BEGINNING: FIRST ENCOUNTERS Native American Myths 1600 s WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MYTH AND A LEGEND? A myth is an anonymous oral story that has been handed down through history that explains