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Sun Bear Medicine Wheel Information
Important Note*
Native American Spirituality
Here
MITAKUYE OYASIN
"We Are All Related"
When We Dance,
the Spirits Dance
by
L David Evening Thunder
Links to related information offsite. |
(El español, Français, Deutsch, L'italiano, Norsk, O português).
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This page is presented by Star Spider Dancing. The name Star Spider Dancing
was gifted to me a few years ago by my Cherokee friend, Teacher, and Elder, -- for my 61st birthday. I do not ordinarily use this name, but the Web seemed a proper place for it.
I will be adding information; please check back often. 02/20/03 - I am still occasionally adding information!
I am a product of the American melting pot. My father was part Blackfoot. He was
from Canada. My mother's family were early settlers in southern Ohio, and later
moved to where I was raised, in the San Bernardino Mountains of California,
at the head of the Mojave River.
This small mountain village is now under the lake formed by the Mojave River
dam. From my father and grandfather and others, I learned much about all our
relations (plants, animals, birds, stones, etc) in the immediate area. But I actually
came to the Red Path, and knowledge of my Native ancestors way of life, Native
crafts, and most important Spirituality in 1992.
On this page I hope to present
information on various facets of our ancestors lives and beliefs. Also current
happenings with those of us who are of mixed heritage (please see
the Links section below), and my great love: the
Sun Bear Medicine Wheel.
(Notation: 12/22/98)
The Medicine Wheel background on this page is an original made by Joanie, at my request. I sent her the picture of the Wheel, which was scanned from a newsletter clipping. I described the small "rainbow" picture I wanted for the top of this page to Joanie. She then created it for me, also the buttons seen on this page.
The "dancer in the necklace" used with the counter was a black and white picture clipped from a newsletter (paper). I asked my daughter to color it for me, and make a gif for the counter on this page.
My Understandings About Native American Spirituality
Each morning upon arising and each evening before sleeping,
give thanks for the life within you and for all life
Treat every person with respect.
Special respect should be given to
elders, parents, and teachers.
Never speak unkindly to another person.
Touch nothing that belongs to another.
Respect the privacy of everyone.
Never walk between people when they are conversing.
Never interrupt people who are conversing,
Speak in a quiet voice.
Never speak unless invited to do so.
Do not speak of others in a negative way.
Treat the Earth as your Mother.
Respect the beliefs of others.
Listen with courtesy when others speak.
Respect the wisdom of people in council.
from Sacred Earth News
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On arising in the morning, you faced the East, and thanked Creator for the new day and for the warmth and light of "Father Sun"; you honored Father Sun for the job he was doing, as assigned by Creator, the source of All. You also honored the Spirit of the East, in charge of helping with new beginnings like the day, among other things. You emerged from a circular structure (most traditions, not all) which also faced the East. As you ate your first meal of the day, you thanked Creator for Mother Earth who nurtured and sustained all that you had, from your food, to your clothes, to your dwelling; and you thanked Mother Earth for her part in this Cycle of Life. When the food had been harvested, the workers had prayed, thanking Creator, Mother Earth, and the Spirits of the plants. A gift had been left in return for this bounty. If there was meat, the hunter had prayed that the animal who was to offer themselves for survival and health of the family show itself, and the hunter asked before killing for permission to do so. When you took any thing for your use, Standing People (Trees) for lodgepoles, or watercraft, or tools, you first asked permission, and gave a gift in return, as well as a prayer of thanks. Many tasks had rites, or ceremonies, as part of the task. These too were ways of thanking the rest of Creation for their gifts to the Two-legged Family. When making anything, be it a dreamcatcher, a dress, a home, you continually asked for the guidance and assistance of the spirits of the materials and thanked Creator for them. It was a given, that the spirits were part of Creator and Creator's messengers, and there to help. You need only ask.
The whole Way of Life reminds me of the Catholic Saint I read about who offered everything she did to the Lord, and thanked him, from scrubbing a floor to arranging flowers. I think her name was Theresa, but am not sure. (A visitor sent email confirming it was Ste. Theresa. Thank you.) That is the way our ancestors here on Turtle Island lived, is it not? I believe that at one time Two-leggeds all around Mother Earth had this Knowledge and lived in closeness to All Our Relations, thus with Creator. But by the time the Europeans came here to Turtle Island, they had lost this Knowledge and no longer lived in Harmony. They did not even understand what Jesus taught, although they thought they did. So because they did not understand that the Creation and Creator (God) are one, they thought we were "heathen". But I think it is they who really were. The Natives of Turtle Island had (have) a very advanced Philosophy and Spirituality, and lived it every hour of each day (most did, there are always exceptions in all Creation); many still do. And Creator is Creator, the Great Mystery, whether called God, Allah, Wakan Tanka, Dios, Dineh, or whatever. "A rose by any other name smells the same."
For more information on Native American culture, history, current issues and causes, current events, and Pow Wow schedules, please see the Links in the various categories of Native American Cultures. This is the "more information" I once promised my readers in a paragraph here. :o)
MEDICINE: Just a word about "Medicine" as used in translation from Native words. I have this theory that when the Europeans came and the Natives saw them give what the Europeans called medicine to sick people, the Natives of Turtle Island did not understand that this medicine was only for the physical body. The Native Peoples saw a being as a Whole person: mental, emotional, spiritual and physical all one. Their equivalent of "doctors" were also usually Spiritual Leaders, and they treated the Whole Person. "Medicine" in Native thought means "sacred", "power", "healing"-- that is as near as I can explain in words what I understand in heart, mind and spirit. Each Being has his/her own "Medicine". Objects can be "Medicine" for a Being. Some things are "Medicine" for emotions, or spirit, or mind, or body; some for all four. Herbs too are "Medicine", as well as modern medicines. And some of those might be "Medicine" too.
MEDICINE WHEEL: A basic Medicine Wheel is a Circle, with
something to indicate the four Cardinal Directions. This can be
four different colors for the four quarters of the Circle, or a + in the center of the Circle. Medicine Wheels can
be drawn or painted anywhere, or made of natural materials,
(today some are even made of unnatural materials). A Circle is
Circle of Life, Eternity, Universe, (therefore Creator) and much
more, layers on layers of symbology. Colors indicating the
Directions also have meanings. So does the + .
But the most widely recognized Medicine Wheels are made
with Stone People. Some are large and some are small. All are
very Sacred and are considered to be sources of Healing on all
levels of Being, and places of prayer and meditation. This is also true of drawn or painted Wheels, and those made from any
material.
Sun Bear Medicine Wheel Information
NOTE:
please know that this Wheel is NOT the Medicine Wheel of any Native Nation (Tribe),
but comes from a Vision given to
Sun Bear by Grandfather, Creator, God (or whatever name is good for you).
Sun Bear had a vision of bringing all
people into Harmony with each other and with All Our Relations on
Mother Earth. He was given a special Medicine Wheel and much ancient
Medicine Wheel knowledge for this
purpose. Learning, working with and meditating with this Medicine
Wheel has accomplished this for many people and I hope it will
help to bring you to a closer connection with All Our Relations,
and with the Father of all fathers, our Creator. There are 36
Stones in this Wheel. The first one is in the very center, to represent Creator and in
honor of Creator. The next four Stones after these Inner Circle seven are the Spirit Keeper of the
directions Stones; one at each of the four cardinal directions: Wabun of the East,
Shawnodese of the South, Mudjekeewis of the West, and Waboose of the North.
These names (variable spellings) have been known here on Turtle Island for who
knows how long a time; very ancient. Please see Ch. II - Four Winds, part of a longer poem published in 1855,
based on American Indian legends.
There are three Moons in each direction quadrant of the Wheel, under the guidance
and influence of the Spirit Keeper for that direction. Each one also has its own "totems",
whose spirits will assist as you walk your Circle of Life, if you let them. Please
click on a Moon Name below to find out more about your totems and what they can teach you.
You will also discover a picture of a beautiful painting representing that Moon: -- kindly
supplied by The Bear Tribe Medicine Society,
established by Sun Bear to spread knowledge of the Medicine Wheel.
Please look at the
Stone Medicine Wheel in the border to the left.
Can you see that there are SEVEN Stones in that inner
Circle around the central Stone for Creator??
There are SEVEN pages, for these seven Center Circle Stones: Father
Sun, Mother Earth, Grandmother Moon, Thunderbird, Turtle, Butterfly, and Frog.
Start with:
In The
Beginning (click here) , the page for
the Central Stone (for Creator) and "travel" the Wheel (by clicking on "Next" on each
page) just as if you were walking
around it to each Stone, to learn from the Spirits who are honored and represented
by that Stone. We only go forward around the Wheel. You can "travel" the
complete Wheel going forward, go to the Diagram of Wheel page, or return to this
Main page.
[Sun Bear's Unofficial Home
Page]
7/23/2000: Plant and Mineral images are now on all 36 Sun Bear Medicine Wheel pages.
Ducks Fly Moon
September 23 - October 23Spirit Keeper: Mudjekeewis (West)
Totems: - Raven -- Mullein -- Jaspar
Clan: Butterfly (Air) ---- Color: Brown
Plant and Mineral images (for the Totems) are now on all Sun Bear Medicine Wheel pages.
A special thanks to my
two research assistants, Pam Barbour (Snowbird, a Texas Tsalagi)
and
Lu Magnuson who located most of the
plant and mineral images for me.
Please email me asap, BABA, if you find any non-working links on my pages. Thank you.
"After reading Earth Astrology I realized that it being based on the seasons of the northern hemisphere and myself being born and living in the southern hemisphere, it needed to be adapted to bring it into alignment with our southern seasons. This is my interpretation of Earth Astrology adapted for the southern hemisphere. For myself it certainly became more relevant once I made the adjustment and checked it against my birth date. Use the adjusted chart in conjuction with the book and you to will find that it will work for you." Click Here for Al's Medicine Wheel page.
