The Medicine Wheel
The Medicine Wheel:
This is just a simple map of the infinitely complex. We need simple maps to guide us in many moments. But we need to remake our maps each time we have a new issue along the way. Attachment to old maps, or to any particular version of the map, is likely to make us lose our way.
We are normally living a wide range of cycles, of different rhythms, at the same time: heart, breath, digestion, the day, fertility, ... And within any of these cycles or segments above, we might be experiencing a multitude of sub cycles – for example in the development of our identity and self esteem.
Whilst our map or Medicine Wheel divides the cycles of life into elements, seasons, phases, body, relationships, mind, emotions, … these are just tools necessary for our adolescent minds to have an idea of how the great Unity works. People often ask me “Where is Spirit in your map?” Spirit is in everything, in the very dynamic cycle itself. Spirit is in all the dynamic interaction of the elements, seasons, phases, body, relationships, mind, emotions, … Spirit, like the Earth does not divide into good and bad, healthy and ill, knowing and ignorant, … Neither Spirit nor the Earth require your personal development or spiritual progress in order to love you. They already see and love you, as you are.
- Is both the ceremonial space for healing and in itself a healing ritual and ceremony
- Is a map where everything has its place and it is also a compass giving new direction
This is just a simple map of the infinitely complex. We need simple maps to guide us in many moments. But we need to remake our maps each time we have a new issue along the way. Attachment to old maps, or to any particular version of the map, is likely to make us lose our way.
We are normally living a wide range of cycles, of different rhythms, at the same time: heart, breath, digestion, the day, fertility, ... And within any of these cycles or segments above, we might be experiencing a multitude of sub cycles – for example in the development of our identity and self esteem.
Whilst our map or Medicine Wheel divides the cycles of life into elements, seasons, phases, body, relationships, mind, emotions, … these are just tools necessary for our adolescent minds to have an idea of how the great Unity works. People often ask me “Where is Spirit in your map?” Spirit is in everything, in the very dynamic cycle itself. Spirit is in all the dynamic interaction of the elements, seasons, phases, body, relationships, mind, emotions, … Spirit, like the Earth does not divide into good and bad, healthy and ill, knowing and ignorant, … Neither Spirit nor the Earth require your personal development or spiritual progress in order to love you. They already see and love you, as you are.
The Medicine
There are two key phases for transformation through death that we tend to avoid: one in expansion, contact and conflict, the second in letting go and decomposition. These are essential in natural rites of passage. What actually heals us is love and consciousness in these moments of death. Our growing awareness and consciousness helps us to have a real experience of unity with the divine, with the cosmos.
In the ritual we invoke and invite help for healing from the relevant elements for each person or group. We listen to and dialogue with these elements, and so draw on their wisdom to give meaning to the current situation. When we place this situation within a wider, complex, ecological, social and global context, this alters and opens our consciousness so that we begin to find direction and are guided to interact with these elements towards a natural healing. The ritual, with witnesses, adds power to any action or decision each participant experiences in the process, making it a rite of passage.
As we make order in the Medicine Wheel so the micro-cosmos of each person finds balance and alignment. Since we are one with the universe, the magic dance that emerges between you and your Medicine Wheel vibrates both inside you and in the wider elements of your life effecting change towards a healthy balance. This helps you to find your way of integrating the apparently opposing voices from different worlds or dimensions.
There are two key phases for transformation through death that we tend to avoid: one in expansion, contact and conflict, the second in letting go and decomposition. These are essential in natural rites of passage. What actually heals us is love and consciousness in these moments of death. Our growing awareness and consciousness helps us to have a real experience of unity with the divine, with the cosmos.
In the ritual we invoke and invite help for healing from the relevant elements for each person or group. We listen to and dialogue with these elements, and so draw on their wisdom to give meaning to the current situation. When we place this situation within a wider, complex, ecological, social and global context, this alters and opens our consciousness so that we begin to find direction and are guided to interact with these elements towards a natural healing. The ritual, with witnesses, adds power to any action or decision each participant experiences in the process, making it a rite of passage.
As we make order in the Medicine Wheel so the micro-cosmos of each person finds balance and alignment. Since we are one with the universe, the magic dance that emerges between you and your Medicine Wheel vibrates both inside you and in the wider elements of your life effecting change towards a healthy balance. This helps you to find your way of integrating the apparently opposing voices from different worlds or dimensions.