Medicine Wheel Research Paper

The Medicine Wheel History

The Medicine Wheel is a symbolic part of Indigenous culture across the North and South American continents. It is hypothesized that that the Medicine Wheel was the heart of all ways of life. Stone Medicine Wheels have been discovered in the northern plains of the United States and Southern Canada. However, there is no current evidence to explain when and why these teachings began.

How old is the Medicine Wheel?

With the oldest known stone wheel is dated to over 4,500 years old, it is assumed by archaeologists that the meaning of the Medicine Wheel has changed throughout the years.

The Medicine Wheel Symbolism

The Wheel symbolizes the balance of life as it is all in constant motion. This balance is expressed through

• The direction given to this quadrant is east.

• The element of life found in this quadrant is fire because the sun rises in the East and begins the new day.

• Tobacco is found in this quadrant because it was the first medicinal gift given to the Anishnaabe by the Creator. Tobacco was used as a prayer vessel to the creator and anything spiritually.

• Spring is found time this quadrant because spring is the rebirth and new beginnings of all things and of the year.

• The state of well-being that is found in this quadrant is mental health because all people, in the beginning, are in a good state of mind ready for growth.

• This quadrant is colored yellow. Yellow represents the sun and the Oriental people of the East. The Oriental race was gifted with knowledge.

• The stage of life placed in this quadrant is birth/childhood. As infants and children we are pure, innocence, and beginning to seek knowledge.

2nd Quadrant/Southern Doorway (Red):

• This quadrant represents growth and nutriment.

• The direction of this quadrant is south.

• Earth is the element of life found here because with the sun, earth nurtures all plants and

The reason it is found here is because summer is a time of physical endurance through hunting, gathering, and labor.

• The color of this quadrant is red, which represents the color of the south and the Aboriginal people. These people were gifted with foresight.

• Stage of life found in this quadrant is youth/adolescence. During, this time of life young people are searching and growing towards adulthood.

3rd Quadrant/Western Doorway (Black):

• This quadrant represents change, death, understanding, and clarity.

• The direction of this quadrant is west, where the sun sets and the day comes to an end.

• Before the Native Americans finish their day they cleanse themselves with the element of life that is water.

• Sage is the medicinal gift that was given to the Anishnaabe here as a reminder to respect change and death with acceptance and understand. Sage assists in clearing the mind, heart and inner being.

• The time of season here is autumn. This is a time of the year when plants come to fruition and are ready for harvest; trees begin to change color and lose their leaves, and animals burrow down for the cold winters.

• This quadrant promotes emotional health because one must understand and respect that death and decay is a fabric of