Medicine wheel (symbol)
The Medicine Wheel, also known as the Sacred Hoop, is a significant symbol among Indigenous peoples of North America, representing health, healing, and the interconnectedness of life. Typically depicted as a circle divided into four quadrants, it symbolizes the four cardinal directions, which are often associated with specific colors and meanings. The wheel serves as a tool for evaluating and maintaining balance in physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental aspects of life. When imbalances are identified, the wheel provides guidance for healing and restoration of health.
Historically, archaeological evidence of medicine wheels dates back to around 4000 BCE, with notable examples found in Canada and the Bighorn Medicine Wheel in Wyoming. This particular wheel has been suggested to have celestial connections, possibly used for astronomical purposes. In modern times, the symbol has been appropriated by the New Age movement, which has sparked controversy among Indigenous leaders who argue that these adaptations misrepresent and commodify their cultural practices. Many Indigenous peoples view the new age interpretations as a disrespectful amalgamation that fails to honor the depth and authenticity of their traditions. Overall, the Medicine Wheel remains a powerful emblem of holistic health and the wisdom inherent in Indigenous cultures.
Medicine wheel (symbol)
The medicine wheel is a tool used by the Indigenous peoples in North America for generations as a symbol for health and healing. It is also sometimes referred to as the Sacred Hoop. It can be represented in various forms, but it is usually a circle divided into quadrants. While the specific significance of the symbol varies among Indigenous peoples, it is generally used to guide the maintenance of health and the healing process. An imbalance in the medicine wheel is seen as indicating disease or poor health. The wheel can also show areas that need aligning to regain the balance necessary for good health.
The medicine wheel can also be used to represent the knowledge that can be found in the universe. This awareness provides the healing power that skilled practitioners can harness and control. With proper use and interpretation, practitioners believed this knowledge could be unlocked, and the physical, emotional, and spiritual elements of a person could be assessed and managed. In the 1970s, a representation of the ancient medicine wheel used by Indigenous peoples was often used by non-Indigenous Americans within the context of the New Age movement.
Brief History
Archeological findings of medicine wheels date back to about 4000 Before the Common Era. Most of these were discovered in Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada. A medicine wheel known as the Bighorn Medicine Wheel in Wyoming is perhaps one of the most well-known examples. Some oral traditions suggest that it predates Canadian medicine wheels, although most experts believe it is less than one thousand years old. At 80 feet in diameter, it stands as the largest and most well-preserved medicine wheel in the Plains area. It consists of large limestone boulders arranged in a circle, with twenty-eight smaller spokes made of rocks emanating from a center cairn of limestones. Astronomer John Eddy suggested in the early 1970s that there may be a celestial connection to the wheel. He theorized the wheel may have been used as a guide to astronomy and as a solar calendar. Since 1970, this site has been preserved as a US National Historic Landmark.
In the early 1970s, Charles Storm, an author who used the pen name Hyemeyohsts Storm, invented a symbol based on the Indigenous medicine wheel to teach the concept to the public. Although some Indigenous spiritual leaders feel he misrepresented Indigenous American cultures and teachings, his work sparked a modern interest in medicine wheels and Indigenous healing practices among non-Indigenous Americans. A Chippewa new age leader who used the name Sun Bear took Storm’s concept and added additional cultural elements, new age spiritual aspects, and practices from occult spiritualism. Traditional healers from Indigenous cultures often denounce these attempts as a perversion of true Indigenous American spiritual practices. They see them as being motivated by profit. Storm, Sun Bear, and others are often referred to as “plastic shamans,” meaning their teachings and connections to Indigenous culture are fabricated.
Overview
To Indigenous Americans, the medicine wheel represents the four cardinal directions: north, east, south, and west. These are represented in different colors, such as red, yellow, black, and white, and in an equal division of four parts. The interpretation of the four directions can vary and are unique to a specific medicine wheel. Some common examples are different peoples, stages of life, natural elements, virtues, animals, or plants. Mother Earth, Father Sky, and Spirit Tree or Self can also be represented within the wheel. These are usually symbolized with other colors, such as blue, green, or purple, and help to embody the concept of overall health and the cycle of life.
The medicine wheel can take on different forms depending on the particular wheel. The wheel is typically represented as an actual round wheel with spokes that meet in the center; however, the wheel can also have a graphic representation, such as a painting or picture. The medicine wheel can be used as a tool to determine a person’s balance between life elements, which are spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental. Not only can the Medicine Wheel diagnose an imbalance, but it can help to show the way to find the proper balance.
During a medicine wheel ceremony, movements are made in a circular motion in harmony with the wheel. These are usually performed in what is considered a “sun-wise,” or clockwise, direction that represents the motion of the forces of nature. The circular shape of the wheel represents how everything in life and in the universe is connected and how people can use this knowledge to find balance that leads to good health. The wheels are often placed where the earth’s energy is easily felt, in areas also known as vortexes. A spiritual leader then makes an interpretation of the wheel.
Indigenous people often refer to a medicine wheel as the Sacred Hoop or Sacred Circle. The term medicine wheel is more of a Euro-centric label created by researchers to describe Wyoming’s Bighorn Medicine Wheel. Many Indigenous Americans claim the new age version of the medicine wheel is not a true part of their cultures. They see the symbol as stolen from their cultures and reassembled as an amalgam of practices picked from different cultures and blended with occult practices. Critics say that little regard was paid to the actual traditions and that non-Indigenous Americans are falsely presenting themselves as spiritual leaders. Many Indigenous leaders also feel that the practice caused further harm by eroding intercultural respect for Indigenous American traditions. They also say new age ideas do not provide any real benefits to the peoples who are the sources of the original teachings.
Bibliography
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