New - Extensive, FREE Native American Medicine Wheel Guide!CLICK HERE. Email Address Password Login My Cart (0) Checkout Forgot Your Password? Register My Account Our Guarantee Like 6.6k Shipping & Returns Help Shop by category Colors Shapes Types Free Guides & Resources Galleries Go Advanced Search HOME / Medicine Wheel Guide Native American Medicine Wheel & Crystal Totems Guide Are you seeking a new beginning in your spiritual quest? Perhaps a clear quartz crystal, a Native American totem for the Earth Renewal Moon, would be helpful. Or are you seeking the freedom to Dnd your own path? A blue crystal totem such as an azurite from the Air Elemental ButterFy Clan might help.
Maybe you need a Spirit Guide Wabun, Spirit Keeper of the East Wind, may help. You may not be familiar with the rich spiritual traditions and beliefs of the Native Americans but these traditions and beliefs can bring a new spirit to your life. Read on you might Dnd what you are seeking. In this Guide you can work through the entire medicine wheel. You will Dnd instructions and links to pages that discuss every element of a medicine wheel. You can also use the handy Birthday chart page to Dnd the elements of the Medicine Wheel that pertain to people born at certain times of the year. The Medicine Wheel may well be a valuable tool for you or a family member as you deal with the myriad of issues modern life seems to be throwing at all of us. We often Dnd that getting in touch with our past can help in aiding our present and future. We believe the Native American Medicine Wheel is one of the best ways to achieve this. There are many Native American tribes, each with its own spiritual beliefs and customs. Although each has its own culture, all of them share a common, deep appreciation and genuine reverence for Mother Earth and the Creator, otherwise known as the Great Spirit. They all share a belief that all nature is to be respected - the land, trees, animals, rocks, and resources that make up our home this Earth. We can all learn a great deal from them as we seek to live in harmony with our own natures and the nature of this earth. Native American spirituality is an extensive and rich cultural treasure developed over many centuries, and one in which the Native Americans take great pride. Many of their teachings and practices are rightfully restricted to their tribal members. This is only right. One area of the Native American culture that we believe needs to be shared now, more than ever, is their reverence for the Earth we all need to preserve. While each tribe s practices and beliefs are theirs alone, their concept of the Medicine Wheel we Dnd resonates with those of other cultures, many of which have traditions of spiritual circles. It seems the stone circle is a somewhat universal symbol of the relationship of the physical and spiritual world across cultures. Such monuments have been constructed in many parts of the world throughout history for many different reasons. From Atlit Yam in Israel to Stonehenge, they have been an integral part of the beliefs of many of us. Perhaps the Native Amercian Medicine Wheel with its similarity to other culture s icons, can help all of us be better people and better stewards of this planet. We have found it to be so for ourselves. We believe learning about the Native American Medicine Wheel can help those of us in other cultures appreciate the important values of the Native Americans. We cannot teach those values, but we can at least provide a visual aid to help in understanding them. We offer the crystal Medicine Wheel as only that a way for everyone to begin to appreciate and respect the beliefs of a different culture. This guide, and the Wheel it presents, is taken from the writings of Sun Bear, who died in 1992, and according to Wikapedia, was a sacred teacher of Ojibwe (Anishinabe) descent. While we are aware of the objections to his approaches in the 1980s to sharing the traditions of his tribe with outsiders, we have found that his writings provide a Medicine Wheel that has been public knowledge for a quarter century. As you explore this Guide, and use the Medicine Wheel, you may Dnd yourself pleasantly surprised with the opportunities they bring you to form new relationships, have more energy, and to develop characteristics you desire. It will certainly bring you a deeper appreciation of the Native American culture and a deeper understanding of your role in preserving this Earth upon which we all depend for life itself. In using this Medicine Wheel or one of your own devising, take time to appreciate the wisdom and deep spirituality of the Native Americans' culture. There are no right answers in spirituality. Each person, family, tribe, culture, and nation Dnds its own way. You may Dnd the Medicine Wheel as helpful to Dnding your way to spirituality as we have.
The Native American Medicine Wheel The Medicine Wheel, representing the many cycles of life, is an ancient symbol that has been used by Native Americans for thousands of years. The circle is representative of life's never ending cycle (birth, death, rebirth) and each stone or spoke placement in the wheel focuses on a different aspect of living. The Wheel is a ceremonial center, an astronomical laboratory like Stonehenge, a place to pray, a place to meditate, a connection to nature, and a focus for enabling connections with all creation. In the words of Sun Bear, found in his book, Dancing with the Wheel, Medicine Wheels are energy vortices, springboards that will allow you to link up with all the energies in the universe. In Compass of the Heart, Loren Cruden tells us that there is no one traditional medicine wheel and many tribes do not use a circle of stones to honor the spirits of the cardinal directions. She does point out, however, that most spiritual paths do honor the four directions (sometimes six - counting Earth and Sky) and the medicine wheel is a good way to name and use the orientation of the circle in a spiritual quest. The Medicine Wheel is, as Sun Bear observed, a powerful energy vortex when constructed that brings the energy focus many of us can use in our lives. When you have constructed a Medicine Wheel you will Dnd that you are constantly moving around the wheel to Dnd the energies your life needs at a given time. Each part of the Wheel brings different mixes and balances of energy. The crystals and stones will often seem to glow with pulsing energy that leaps around the Wheel in the areas that you need it most. We suggest you start with understanding the Creator and Inner Circle elements and then work outward. The journey will be rewarding and most certainly enlightening. Below you will Dnd information on constructing and using your Medicine Wheel. We trust you will Dnd this guide as useful in your journey to spiritual enlightenment as we, and many others around the world, have. Setting Up Your Medicine Wheel Here we will teach you how to construct and use one wheel in particular the Medicine Wheel of Sun Bear, which has evolved to attract a world-wide following. However, do not become overly focused on his vision and teachings. The Medicine Wheel you make must be yours. The symbols and crystals used must be meaningful to you. We will show you some ideas, but mold and shape them to your own spirit and needs. The Medicine Wheel of Sun Bear is a Native American compass of energies essentially a circle bisected horizontally and vertically to divide the circle into four equal parts. The dividing lines are oriented to the four cardinal directions of
North, South, East, and West. No, it does not give you directions to a physical place; though it does assist your needs of guidance. In the Native Americans language, most times medicine means power. Another way to look at a Medicine Wheel is as a power wheel. The power it brings to us is highly spiritual. The structure of our Medicine Wheel consists of thirty-six very different and powerful crystals and stones that form a Center, an Inner Circle, an Outer Circle, and four Spirit Paths that connect the Center to the two circles. The Center The Center is where the crystal representing the Great Spirit is placed. This is because the Great Spirit, also known as the Creator, created everything and is the source of all life. The Inner Circle The Inner Circle is composed of seven crystals which are the foundation of physical life since they hold the fundamentals of building life. Within the Inner Circle of seven stones are stones representing the Earth Mother, Father Sky, Grandmother Moon, and the Four Tribes. These are not physical tribes like the Apache or the Iroquois, but rather the Tribes of the Turtle, the Frog, the Thunderbird, and the ButterFy. These tribes represent the four Elements Earth represented by the Turtle Clan, Water represented by the Frog Clan, Air represented by the ButterFy Clan, and Fire represented by the Thunderbird Clan. Each of these Clans brings a special energy. We will explore how each of them may contribute to your spiritual life and growth as we progress through this guide. So our Medicine Wheel has the Creator surrounded by his physical creations the sun, the earth, and the moon, along with the elements that are the foundation of those creations earth, water, air, and Dre. Review information about each element of the Center and the Inner Circle in the tabs below. From there you can click on the name of the section to read more. Inner Circle The Creator Earth Mother Father Sun Grandmother Moon The Earth, Sun, and Moon
The inner circle of the Medicine Wheel immediately surrounds the Creator Stone. It has seven stones. The first three stones give life and vision to the Creation for us: Father Sun, Earth Mother, and Grandmother Moon. Click through the tabs to find out more about The Creator, Earth Mother, Father Sun, and Grandmother Moon. The Four Clans Turtle Clan Frog Clan Thunderbird Clan Butterfly Clan The Four Clans On the Medicine Wheel we have positions for the four clans: the Butterfly Clan, The Frog Clan, the Thunderbird Clan, and the Turtle Clan. These are Elemental Clans - associated with the elments of Air, Water, Fire, and Earth. The Elemental Clan into which you are born (see Birth Totem Chart), represents which element (Fire, Water, Air, Earth) that you relate to, share characteristics with, and have a personal responsibility for. Clans in this respect are not to be confused with Tribal Clans, such as family groups. Click through the tabs to find out more about the Turtle Clan, Frog Clan, Thunderbird Clan, and Butterfly Clan. The Outer Circle The Medicine Wheel also consists of an Outer Circle. The Outer Circle Drst contains four anchor stones that represent the Spirit Keepers of the cardinal directions Kabibonokka the Spirit of the North, Wabun the Spirit Keeper of the East, Shawnodese the Spirit Keeper of the South, and Mudjekeewis the Spirit Keeper of the West. Each of these Spirit Keepers have an energy and spirit you may well need in your life. These four stones of the Spirit Keepers divide the Outer Circle into four quadrants, into which twelve stones representing the twelve moons of a year are placed. Each of the twelve moons is represented by a stone or crystal which aids in bringing the energy and spirit of that time of the year and that phase of
spiritual life to you. We will explore each of these moons in this guide to allow you to choose the right energy that you need in your life. The Outer Circle is also the circle of the spirit world, just as the Inner Circle is the circle of the physical world. The Winds The winds were personided in Native American lore and names were given to represent their character for each cardinal direction. Mudjeekeewis is the Spirit Keeper of the west wind, father of all the winds. The other winds and their representative keepers are Wabun, the Spirit Keeper of the east wind, Kabibonokka, the Spirit Keeper of the north wind, and Shawnodese, the Spirit Keeper of the south wind. While the personidcation is steeped in lore, it remains that the winds themselves, the actual movement of energy and air, the changes in weather, and destiny they portent are powerful elements sometimes beyond role. Each wind is represented on the wheel by its designated Spirit Keeper. While you will Dnd pages for both the wind and the Spirit Keeper, keep in mind that they are both presented on the Medicine Wheel as one. The Spirit Guides of the Winds Kabibonokka Wabun Shawnodese Mudjekeewis The Spirit Guides of the Winds The Native American Spirit Keepers, Shawnodese in the South, Wabun in the East, Mudjekeewis in the West, and Kabibonokka in the North each guard the spirit of a season. These are both the seasons of the year, and the seasons of your life. From the Book of Revelations to ancient Native Americans, the four spirits of the winds have been invoked to bring us the power of the four directions, the four times, and the seasons of the year and of our lives. Click through the tabs to find out more about the Spirit Guides of the Winds: Mudjekeewis, the Spirit Keeper of the west wind, father of all the winds; Wabun, the Spirit Keeper of the east wind, Kabibonokka, the Spirit Keeper of the north wind, and Shawnodese, the Spirit Keeper of the south wind. You can also see a brief overview of all of the Spirit Guides here. You can also read about how to communicate with your Spirit Guide here. The Winds North Wind East Wind South Wind West Wind The Winds All Native American tribes regarded the winds as the power of the spirits of the four cardinal points and many represent them in bird form. Navajos say there are white swans at each point. Many tribes, from Algonquins to Peruvians, believed storms were caused by the struggles of the four giants that ruled the winds. Many of the legends of their origin and descent are connected with the winds.
Click through the tabs to find out more about the Winds: West, East, North, and South. You can also see a brief overview of all the winds here. The Moons The Moons There are twelve moons that border the outside circle of our medicine wheel.the moon circles the earth twelve times a year; and like the Wheel of Life and other representations of the cyclic nature of our Universe and our lives in it, the Medicine Wheel marks the passages of time in the year and in our individual lifetimes. What is important to understand is that each moon is also a passage in your life, and you move from moon to moon as you grow and mature. Each brings a spirit and energies to a part of your life. You must not stagnate in one moon, but progress around the Medicine Wheel gaining the strength, wisdom, power, and knowledge of each moon. If you are curious to see what moon you were born under, click here to view our birth chart. You can also click through the tabs below to Dnd out dates for each moon, their crystal and animal totem, and more. Be sure to click the title in each tab to learn more. The Moons Earth Renewal Strong Sun Ripe Berry Rest and Cleansing Harvest Big Winds Ducks Fly Budding Trees Freeze Up Frogs Return Corn Planting Long Snows The Moons The moons mark the "stepping stones" around the wheel making it a "moon calendar". You can easily know under which moon you were born, and you can easily know which moon we are currently experiencing. Click through each tab to read more about the moons and also find out which moon you were born under. You can also read more about the moons and view all of them here. If you'd like to quickly see which moon you were born under, click here to view our birth chart.
The The Paths Paths The Paths The Outer Circle of the Spirit Guides of the Winds and the twelve stones of the yearly moons are connected to the Inner Circle by four paths called Spirit Paths. Each of the Spirit Paths is built of three stones that connect the physical world to the spirit world. These twelve stones represent the characteristics we need to develop and to connect our physical existence to our spiritual growth. They allow us to move outward to encompass the spirit world we seek. These twelve characteristics are are:: Cleansing Renewal Purity Clarity Wisdom Illumination Growth Trust Love Experience Introspection Strength Again, each of these characteristics and their representative stones or crystals will be explored in this guide. Everyone can Dnd ways to improve their spirituality, and the Spirit Path stones bring the energy of the Medicine Wheel to our efforts. Path Stones Spirit Path of the North Spirit Path of the East Spirit Path of the South Spirit Path of the West Path Stones On the Native American Medicine Wheel there are four spirit paths. Each leads from a Spirit Keeper to the sacred center space of the wheel where true spiritual enlightenment is found. The path from the North is the path of physical health and healing, the path from the East is the path of a sound mind and healing the mind, the path from the South is path of healthy emotions and emotional healing, and the path from the West is the path of the spirit and spiritual healing.
Click through the tabs to find out more about the Spirit Paths: North with Spirit Keeper Kabibnonokka, East with Spirit Keeper Wabun, South with Spirit Keeper Shawnodese, and West with Spirit Keeper Mudjekeewis. You can also read a brief overview on all four spirit paths here. Building and Using a Crystal Medicine Wheel This part explains how to construct the medicine wheel and how to use it. Building a medicine wheel is a personal experience. There are as many designs as there are people. Most are circles, and most have a totem or representative of each of the four directions arranged around the circle. From there, the opportunities are wide open. Location and Size Medicine wheels are sometimes built big enough to walk around in. Some are built with animal totems, others with plant totems. Some have a few totems, some have many. In this guide, we offer a crystal/stone medicine wheel. It is small enough to set up anywhere. It is based on the visions of Sun Bear. We know you may well want to start with this one, but follow your own visions. Substitute stones, designs, and totems as seems appropriate to you and your life. There are no right or wrong ways to build a personal medicine wheel. It is a depiction of your life so build it your way. Here are some guidelines that might help in the beginning. Put the wheel in an area that is readily accessable, but not one that might be subjected to being disturbed. You want to be able to use it, but not have it be a distraction to other activities. Put it in a sacred space. You do not need a large wheel. Ours is about 18 inches in diameter. It is large enough to be useful, but not so large as to be unwieldly. Choosing the Stones and Crystals The number of crystals and stones you will need will vary with the design. If you are building a simple one, then as few as Dve stones will work. If you want to build an advanced, complete wheel, the Medicine Wheel can take up to 40 stones. It can be difdcult to collect all the stones for a full wheel. Use what you have. While we do offer a complete set of stones for this purpose, you can use others that you have collected. The power of the wheel is not dependent on having all the right crystals. Rather its power is much stronger than that. Do clean and cleanse your Medicine Wheel stones. Keep them from sources of negativity when the wheel is not assembled. Treat them with respect as they symbolize elements of your life. Placing and building the wheel Once you have drawn the wheel design and it can be on anything, including the ground place the stones from the Creator Stone outward. Each stone should be carefully placed after a short blessing and offering to the spirit. Once you have placed all the stones and crystals, say a Dnal blessing of your wheel. It is ready for use. Walking the Wheel Using the wheel will involve a bit of research and study. You will usually start by focusing on the stone that represents the moon under which you were born. Focus your attention on that stone, and refect (or read about) its spirit. Think about the lessons of its totem. Absorb them once again.
Next, a bit of a harder task: identify where you are on the Wheel. You can do this by focusing on each stone in turn on the wheel, or focus where you mind s eye is drawn. Identify the stone, and refect on its meaning, spirit, and lessons. Identify its totem animals and the lessons they teach. If you are not familiar with each stone, review the guide until one stone jumps out at you as the issue you are facing. Focus on that stone and its spirit. Meditate keeping that stone in mind. Let your mind wander to the power of the crystal and the lessons you want from the animal spirit totem. Take from the wheel the energy and spirit you need for the day and your growth. More Resources We can offer several excellent sources for learning to use your Medicine Wheel. Kelly Callahan s excellent The Path of the Medicine Wheel is a small volume packed with simple to follow advice. Sun Bear's Dancing with the Wheel is the seminal volume we have used the most. Compass of the Heart by Loren Gruden is a lovely work on embodying Medicine Wheel teachings. Medicine Wheels by Roy Wilson is also a wonderful resource that is highly recommended. These volumes offer a wide variety of ceremonies, prayers, and methods for gaining the most from your medicine wheel. We encourage you to gain the wisdom offered by the authors. Your Medicine Wheel will bring you the life you seek if you take a bit of time to learn how to bring its medicine to your life. Don't Forget to Tell Your Friends! About Crystal Vaults About Us Testimonials Recommended Sites Linking & Sharing Contact Us Customer Service My Account My Wishlist Our Guarantee Shipping & Returns Help Newsletter Get coupons and discounts on crystals Enter your email Subscribe Disclaimer & Terms of Use Privacy Policy Copyright 2009-2015 Crystal Vaults. All rights reserved.