Cultural Resources

Fraser Region Aboriginal Early Childhood Development Network is honoured to share knowledge and resources in support of Aboriginal children and families.

Medicine Wheel

A Medicine Wheel is a physical manifestation of Spiritual Energy. An outward expression of an internal dialogue. A mirror in which we can better SEE what is going on within us. It is a wheel of protection and enables us, and allows us, to gather surrounding energies into a focal point and to commune with Spirit, Self and Nature (ALL elemental forces)……Creation!

It helps us with our ‘Vision,” to see exactly where we are and in which areas we need to develop in order to realize and become our potentials. That we are all connected to one another, and by showing us the intricacies of the interwoven threads of life, what our part in it all is. It helps us understand that without our part in the tapestry the “Bigger Picture” is not as it should be. We add colour, dimension and life to each other, to all of life. No matter what colour, race or creed we are, we need each of us to crate a beautiful existence and expression of the Whole.

It is a model to be used to view self, society, or anything that one could ever think of looking into. The wheel once learned how to dance within it offers a picture to you and also helps to add clarity to a foggy view. Like so many other things…it is a tool to be used for the upliftment and betterment of mankind, healing and connecting to infinite. We are all but one realization of “God” trying to realize self…so let’s see what part we ourselves are.

There are many interpretations and symbologies applied to the Wheel, but the basic principle is the same. The Medicine Wheel is represented, I found to my amazement that the construction and what the four (or six) directions and sections varied from different tribes. Some thoughts are common, such as the principle that life is a circle and that the four directions stand for North, South, East and West with Mother Earth being down and Father Sky being above; giving six directions. Some include one more – Spirit seen as either us as a human or as the All that Spirit is; giving then seven.

 Information gathered from http://www.spiritualnetwork.net/native/medicine_wheel.htm