We took the cards, along with a compass, into the garden space at twilight.
We began by saying a beautiful prayer together. Then, one by one, I took
the 4 cards I had drawn with my own hand and placed them into their
rightful places.
First I went to the East with the Owl.
Beginning starts in the east - from where the sun rises we begin a new
dawn. Each day is a good new day with a fresh beginning, a new start.
East is the direction of the physical body and newness including
children and new borns. It is the time of change for all is a new
beginning. New ideas and seeing the light. Change. Spring is the
season when all things begin to grow and awaken.
Yellow is the path of Life, to begin the walk as a warrior, to shine in all
that you do. The sun rising in the east empowers each of us. The
energy to do and to begin the action of the mind and heart is there.
Animals of wings and flight include hummingbird, the owl, and the hawk.
Our words are given to the east that the smoke in the air or the voices
in the air may be carried to Spirit.
I picked the owl because I feel the need for a little wisdom and
guidance, and the owl also symbolizes flight to far off places.
I thanked the Owl for the wisdom I already had, thanked him for being
there to guide and protect me, and asked that he watch over this place
and me wherever I may travel. I then sprinkled some Holy Water on the
ground to mark the spot with my faith in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
I moved on to the South with the Coyote.
Growth in the South it is the time of Summer. From the bloom we
transform into the fruit of the labors. It is the time of mid-day, the hottest
part of the day, the part when the sun is overhead and no shadows are
cast.. Maturing and growing into an adult to be that who was are. It is the
time to accept the change and learn, to understand.
Red is for fire, passion, time of fertility. The South is the place of passion
in all things, sex, fertility, mating - the fires that burn within. The direction
of fire, like the phoenix we can rise from the flames, we take and rise
again from childhood into being an adult in the direction of the South.
The animals in the South represent pride, strength and courage.
The eagle with keen sight and strong wings. The lion for the strength and
courage to speak out and roar. The wolf so proud to be a team member
of a pride.
I picked the Coyote because the Coyote represents the ability to
laugh at yourself and act goofy without shame.
To the West with the Beaver.
Later adulthood the time of Fall, the time of the setting sun - twilight.
The daylight fades and brings a new awareness in this time of gradual
change. When the darkness comes we must look inward to find the light
and have courage. To understand what we see in the darkness may
not be real but only shadows.
This is the emotional part of ourselves, like the flowing water we must
learn to go with the flow of life. The time of the West is when we learn
that we are responsible to all things and to each other. It is the time
to prepare, to finish things for the time of Winter is coming. We gather
ourselves and family, working together to prepare for what is to come.
As the place of emotions it is the place of family and love - of
responsibility from our hearts because of the love. It is hard work and
team efforts. Black symbolizes change from this life.
The Beaver shows us of the team work and pre-paredness needed for
the winter coming. The snake reminds us to shed our skin to grow and
change.
I picked the Beaver because the Beaver stands for the ability
to build, complete tasks and to adapt to change.
To the North with the Bear.
As we get older our hair turn white, as we come to our time of winter.
White (and purple) also symbolize spirituality. With experience and age
we gain wisdom. Now we have time to rest and contemplate the lessons.
North is purity and wisdom, a great place of healing. This is the time
after midnight, a dream time. The time to be grounded within yourself
and deep within, like a bear in a cave.
North is the place of winter. This reminds us to stop and listen. That we
must have prepared for the long time of winter. Having been in action
the other seasons we now rest and contemplate to understand the wisdom
we have been given.
The animals in the North are the white buffalo, Moose and Bear.
Each prepared and have a layer of fat to sustain them through the winter.
They are also the primary source of meat during the winter time for people.
They rest and take things slow, not wasting energy, and with the
understanding of what winter brings.
I chose the Bear because the Bear symbolizes the
ability to create a home and sanctuary for yourself and those
around you. I feel very connected to the Bear in me right now
because I feel as though I am hibernating and getting ready
for something big.
I repeated my prayer of thanksgiving to each of the animal spirits for
their specific qualities, thanked them all for being there to guide and
protect me, and asked that they all watch over this place and me
wherever I may travel. I sprinkled the Holy Water on each of these
places also.
I found my way back to the center of the circle while Diane
presented the animal spirits she picked out for me and performed
prayer rituals in my behalf. She placed the Buffalo at the NorthEast,
the Turtle in the NorthWest, the Ant in the SouthWest, and the
Serpent in theSouthEast. I stopped to pause and reflect while she
was attending to the animal spirits. I found myself feeling very
connected to the Earth and Nature at this time, even more so than
I normally do.
And it was strange in that several animals showed up during this
ceremony. As soon as I turned toward the East to deliver my first
offering, a horse followed by 2 dogs ran down our road right in front
of me. When I started toward the West, our chickens showed up to
make an appearance. And when I started heading toward the North,
our cat jumped the garden fence and joined me. I don't know what
all that means, but I'm sure to soon find out, I'm sure!
I stood in the center of the circle for a time, reflecting, contemplating,
and allowing the positive energy that was flowing all around me to
saturate my being, bringing me peace. I re-visited each of the 4 spots
to smear a little Holy Annointing Oil onto the animals on the cards. I
reminded each of them that while I appreciate their guidance and
wisdom, it is God who gets all the glory. They, along with myself, are
only tools for God to use in order to help others to become more
spititually wise and healthy.
We closed our ceremony with another beautiful prayer.
And there you have it! A Medicine Wheel right in our backyard! I'm
sure that all the vegetables and healing herbs that grow there will have
special properties that at this time I can only imagine. I can't wait to
get to growing!
Information gleaned from The Medicine Wheel - Circle of Life
Next, you can read about the Bighorn County Wyoming
Medicine Wheel...
