Medicine Wheel

Aboriginal Views on Psychology

• The medicine wheel represents the sacred circle of life, its basic four directions, and the elements.

• Animal totems serve as guardian of each of the directions. The four animals commonly represented in this role are: the bear, the buffalo, the eagle, and the mouse, although this varies.

Design Meaning

• Circle - The circle represents the sacred outer boundary of the Earth often referred to as the Sun Dance Circle or the Sacred Hoop. It represents the continuous pattern of on-going life and death.

• Lines - The horizontal and vertical lines represent the sun and man’s sacred paths, respectively; the crossing of the two lines indicates the center of the Earth where one stands when praying.

• Feather - The eagle feather is a sign of Wakan Tanka’s - the Great Spirit's - power over everything.

Teachings

• The medicine wheel teaches us that:– The four symbolic races are all part of the same

human family.– The four elements are all part of the physical

world and must be respected equally for their gift of life.

– We have four aspects to our nature: the physical, the mental, the emotional, and the spiritual. Each of these aspects must be equally developed in a healthy, well-balanced individual

Introspection

• The medicine wheel is a symbol of symmetry and balance.

• During the process of constructing the wheel you will begin to recognize what areas of your life are not in balance, and where your attention is lacking and requires focus.

GIFTS OF THE DIRECTIONS

East

• Symbolic teacher is the mouse• Development is childhood• Gift is the ability to focus our attention on the

events of the present moment

South

• Symbolic teacher is the cougar• Development is young adult• Gift is the development of emotional and

physical senses

West

• Symbolic teacher is the black bear• Development is the adult• Gift is the ability to accept ourselves as we

really are

North

• Symbolic teacher is the mountain • Development is the elder• Gift is both memory as well as completion and

fulfillment

Aboriginal Views on Psychology

• Children were named for a purpose to help them learn something

• The entire community knew the name and would help foster the development

• Children were given control over their education but parents were watchful to ensure that the child developed into a proper adult

Storytellers

• The storyteller was the traditional First Nations equivalent of a psychologist

• They observed behaviour and told stories to subtle guide that behaviour

• Stories were always told in a positive fashion and did not include negative words or lists of dos and do nots