Addiction | Addiction Recovery | Addiction Treatment | Codependency

HOW TO MAKE A MEDICINE WHEEL
by Renee Bledsoe

The Medicine Wheel is the keeper of the portal of all that is. It is all things and yet it is nothing. It doesn't exist! Yet, it is a masterful creator and healer. In a sense it is an archetype of all creation, from a microcosmic, as well as a macrocosmic perspective. It can be used for healing, as well as enlightenment and creativity. It helps us to make sense of our existence through our connection to all things and helps us regain a profound awareness of what we already know. Yet, it phases in and out of manifestation as quickly as we can step in and out of a circle. The evidence of it's power is made known only by the results that it produces.

The best way to experience the power of the Medicine Wheel is to take a journey on the wheel. After all, no two people have the same experience of life and no two journey's are the same. Yet, this is precisely what empowers the Medicine Wheel journey. When the diverse energies that are brought forth by a group of people who are journeying together is co-mingled, powerful healing, enlightenment, consciousness, transformation and massive openings of creativity ensues. The wheel is the mechanism that releases these energies and allows the members of a group to heal each other by healing their own self!

Each Medicine Wheel has an energy set by the person or persons that lay the wheel. It is a place where addiction, abuse, obsession and compulsive activities may be studied as lessons. It is also, not only a place for healing, but a place for creation and enlightenment. All things are welcome in a Medicine Wheel or Sacred Circle, with the understanding that they are lessons and actions to be studied and learned from and ultimately integrated in peace.

Where to Setup A Wheel
When building a Medicine Wheel or Sacred Circle you are preparing a place you can go for spiritual strength, information and discipline. A Wheel can be constructed inside a room or outside in nature. The place you choose can be plain dirt or grass or near natural water sources such as a pond, lake, river or ocean. A personal wheel is typically 4 feet in diameter, a family wheel is 8 feet in diameter, a community wheel is 16 feet in diameter. The area above the wheel or circle should be clear and open to the sky with no tree branches or limbs covering it. The circle should have an open and clear path to the Stars. If the wheel is being constructed in a man-made structure, it is important to sanctify the space.

Preparing The Sacred Space
When you create your wheel or circle, you need to collect rocks that have a special meaning to you. They all must be clean and free of negative energy, you may want to Smudge them first. No anger or negativity is to be connected to the place or the rocks chosen to build the wheel. The ground should be clean and raked. The grass should be healthy. If indoors, it is advisable to use space clearing practices to clear negative energies from the room. In addition to removing negative energies you will want to call in positive energy to support you. See below for prayers and rituals for this purpose.

Building The Wheel
Elaborate Method
Place twelve large stones, crystals, candles or bowls of water in a circle., similar to the face of a clock. The four largest stones are placed at the four cardinal directions. Begin by placing the stone or object in the South, the place of the child, where life begins. Then move to the West, to the North, and finally to the East. The Eastern stone is placed last because the space inside of the circle is filled by Spirit entering through the Eastern door. The golden door to illumination is the Eastern door. In the center of the circle you can place a rock or candle or even create a beautiful altar.

Now, having said that, it is my intuition and guidance that there is no "wrong" way to set up the wheel. My studies have revealed that every indigenous culture has a version of the medicine wheel, which is pretty miraculous when you think about that. However, while they all connect up fairly consistently with the directions, North, East, South, West, Center, Above, Below...the correspondences can often be different. I personally have traveled the wheel using a variety of differing techniques. They ALL work! It is my belief that this is so, because it truly does not matter in which order you deal with yourself and your life, but that you deal with it in a holistic manner and touch on ALL aspects at least once in the journey. It is also my philosophy that how you travel the wheel, what you gravitate towards in your quest for healing is exactly what you need from a higher order perspective. And that is part of the healing power of this wheel; the mystery of the whole process is a study in the art of letting go!

Simple Method
For a simple medicine wheel you only need either a set of 5 or 7 stones. They can be beautiful crystals, tumbled rocks or river rocks. To me, for this method the best ones are ones you find on the ground that have "spoken" to you. Simply arrange them like you would a compass and place one stone in the center. You may also substitute the center stone

Setting Sacred Space
Once the physical wheel has been built, it is time to set sacred space. This is done by any number of rituals or practices which could correspond to the energies that you connect to. If you are versed in Qabalistic ritual, you may wish to create a magick circle and call in the WatchTowers. If you are more connected to Shamanism, the Apache Prayer or any words spoken from your heart calling to the seven directions would be appropriate. In this case you would face each direction and shake your rattle three times in each direction as you invoke the elements, ancestors and guardians at each quadrant. As each participant enters the circle each would individually give thanks for all our relations.

When you are about to close your ceremony or ritual, it is important to do so in reverence and give thanks to all those who have come to support you. Simply standing and speaking your gratitude to all participants would suffice as you step outside of the circle, right foot first. Some close circles, hands in prayer position and bowing to the center of the circle sending thoughts of gratitude as they say "Namaste" or "Thank you" and step out of the circle.

The guidelines above are not hard and fast rules, although there are some components you would never want to leave out. Intention is the main element that is required. It is my personal opinion that there is value in "doing things by the book" simply because they are time tested and respected. There may come a time through a collection of your own personal experiences and deep connectedness when you may be guided to do some things in new ways. You've got to learn the rules before you can "break" them. <smile>

JUMP TO:
Morning Prayers: Invoking the Seven Directions
Apache Prayer
Invoking the WatchTowers
Pattern On The Trestleboard
Create Your Own Invoking Prayer