Medicine Wheel Teachings

• The Circle represents the circle of life
• The cross represents how all things in the world come in fours: seasons, elements, directions, stages of life, parts of being.
• Colours in the wheel include yellow, red, black, and white
• It connects to spiritual healing with equal sections meaning equal life.
• The circle begins in the centre, with each person having a fire burning within.
• People must maintain this fire by evaluating how they treat themself and others and working to improve their lives and spiritual well-being.
• People must travel through life hardships to learn and better themselves which causes them to "die" many times in their life as they grow and become the person they were meant to be.

Yellow: The East

• Represents kindness, open-mindedness, innocence, joy, truthfulness, hope, guidance, and leadership
• Springtime symbolizes the beginning of the journey
• Represents transitioning from the spirit world into the physical world via birth
• Placing the gift of tobacco in a clean place is a reminder to be thankful for all forms of life, sending prayers to the Great Spirit as a sign of respect

Red: The South

• Represents the emotional aspects of a person, and the youth phase of personal development
• Summer, is a stage of thriving
• Represents the time period between childhood and adulthood
• Finding yourself and looking after your spirit
• Reminds youth to be mindful of their struggles and humble beginnings
• The gift of cedar aids in finding your direction
• Cedar is burned during cleansing ceremonies to attract helpful energies

Black: The West

• Introspection, intellectual aspects of people.
• The Fall symbolizes the harvest
• Represents the adult stage
• People metaphorically die many deaths in a lifetime, allowing a better version of themselves to emerge
• Medicine sage allows people to clear out minds and hearts
• Sage purifies the mind, body, and spirit before praying to ensure safety

White: The North

• Represents the mental aspects of a person and provides reflection
• Symbolizes winter and the Earth's rest from her labours
• The rest period helps people remember to care for and nurture their physical bodies
• The North is a time to reflect on life through wisdom, symbolizing the elderly stage of life
• A good time for ceremonies to teach the medicine wheel and to listen to elders' stories
• Sweetgrass is the sacred medicine
• Dried, braided, and burned, it produces a calming and soothing effect

The Medicine Wheel represents the circle of life and spiritual healing. The cross symbolizes the four directions, seasons, elements, and stages of life. Colors include yellow, red, black, and white. It emphasizes self-improvement and spiritual well-being through life's journey.