How To Use A Medicine Wheel

Bob Joseph

"The circle, being primary, influences how nosotros every bit Aboriginal peoples view the world. In the process of how life evolves, how the natural globe grows and works together, how all things are connected, and how all things movement toward their destiny. Ancient peoples see and respond to the world in a circular fashion and are influenced past the examples of the circles of creation in our surroundings". [i]

There isn't a uncomplicated reply to the question every bit medicine wheels (sometimes called hoops) come up in more than than ane form, and their significance and utilise is culture-specific. At that place is, yet, i fundamental similarity besides the shape - medicine wheels represent the alignment and continuous interaction of the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual realities. The circle shape represents the interconnectivity of all aspects of one'south existence, including the connectedness with the natural earth. Medicine wheels are frequently believed to exist the circle of sensation of the individual self; the circle of knowledge that provides the power we each have over our own lives.

Two images jump to heed when thinking about medicine wheels. Ane is the ancient stone version. Co-ordinate to the Royal Alberta Museum, "a medicine bike consists of at least two of the post-obit three traits: (ane) a central rock cairn, (2) one or more concentric stone circles, and/or (3) 2 or more stone lines radiating outward from a central signal. Using this definition, there are a total of 46 medicine wheels in Alberta. This constitutes most 66% of all medicine wheels known. Alberta, information technology seems, is the cadre expanse for medicine wheels."

How long ago rock medicine wheels were first created is yet upwardly for discussion but some have been dated to 4000 BC, which is when the Great Egyptian Pyramids were built; there are suggestions that the Bighorn Medicine Wheel, the largest and oldest, could be millions of years old. The original name for medicine wheels was "sacred circles" - the term "medicine bike" was coined by not-Native Americans in response to the Bighorn Medicine Bike, Wyoming, the largest in N America, around the turn of the previous century.

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The other familiar medicine bike image is the iconic circle divided into four separately coloured quadrants. The number iv has smashing significance in most Aboriginal cultures. The black, white, red, and yellowish medicine wheels that we frequently see in logos, on drums, in art are all somewhat dissimilar. The i shown here is a compilation of some of the many attributes or powers that can be included in the medicine wheel. This 1 does not include the inner circumvolve, or heart, which is usually green and given the attributes of learning, self, balance and dazzler. Sure culturally significant animals, being part of the natural world, are likewise oft included.

The medicine bicycle is interpreted uniquely to each culture. The order of the colours is non the same in each civilization, nor are the attributes, and it would exist wrong to make a sweeping generalization that indicated otherwise. The next time you come across a medicine bicycle, have a moment and call back about its history and cultural significance.

If y'all constitute this article on the Indigenous medicine bike interesting, perhaps you lot would enjoy this commodity on sacred plants.

[one] Dumont, J. (1989). Civilisation, behaviour, & identity of the Native person. In NATI-2105: Culture, behaviour, & identity of the Native person. Sudbury: Laurentian University Printing.

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Topics: Indigenous Arts and Culture, Spiritual Beliefs