Understanding Medicine Wheel Teachings

Oct 2, 2024

Lecture on Medicine Wheel Teachings

Introduction

  • Speaker: Karen Bannon
  • Origin: Trout Lake
  • Clan: White Fish
  • Topic: Medicine Wheel Teachings
  • Medicine Wheel divided into four compartments

Medicine Wheel Structure

  • Circle Directions:
    • Top: East
    • Right: South
    • Bottom: West
    • Left: North
  • Color Representation:
    • East (Top): Red
    • South (Right): Black
    • West (Bottom): Yellow
    • North (Left): White
  • Cultural Variations:
    • Different communities may use different color systems.

Five Circles of the Medicine Wheel

1. Inner Circle: Four Aspects of Self

  • Spiritual Life: East (Top)
  • Emotional Life: South (Right)
  • Mental/Psychological Life: West (Bottom)
  • Physical Life: North (Left)

2. Next Circle: Aspects of Collective Lives

  • Cultural Life: East
  • Social Life: South
  • Political Life: West
  • Economic Life: North

3. Third Circle: The Four Rascals

  • Feeling Inferior: East
  • Jealousy: South
  • Resentment: West (Anger turned inward)
  • Not Caring: North (Greed, hoarding)

4. Second Circle from Outside: Relationship Circle

  • Respect: East (Top)
  • Rights: South (Right)
  • Responsibilities: North (Left)
  • Reciprocity: West (Bottom)

5. Outer Circle: The Four Life Givers

  • Earth: East
  • Fire: South
  • Water: West
  • Air: North

Detailed Teachings

Importance of Respect for the Land

  • Examples:
    • Proper disposal of garbage
    • Listening to the land (e.g., story of the willow trees)
    • Language use (Gifts vs. Products, All Our Relations vs. Natural Resources)
  • Ceremonial Aspects:
    • Use of tobacco
    • Prayer and requests for permission from the land

Relationship Circle

  • Rights and Responsibilities:
    • Right to live, harvest, and be educated by the land
    • Responsibilities include care and teaching about the land
    • Emphasis on gratitude and humility

Reciprocity

  • Examples:
    • Giving back to the land after taking (e.g., tobacco, songs, using all parts of a moose)
    • Continuous learning and sharing

Future Sessions

  • Detailed exploration of:
    • Four Aspects of Self
    • Four Aspects of Collective Lives
    • Four Rascals
    • Four Life Givers

Conclusion

  • Medicine Wheel as a practical teaching and learning tool
  • Importance of interconnected relationships and understanding each part of life

Note: The teachings and interpretations of the medicine wheel may evolve over time.

Full transcript