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Sun Bear Medicine Wheel is NOT the Medicine Wheel of any Native Nation (Tribe),
but comes from a Vision given to Sun Bear by Grandfather.


Second Gift from Spirit Keeper of the West



Introspection




The middle Stone of the path from the Spirit Keeper of the West to the Center honors the Gift of Introspection. The Spirits that represent and assist with Introspection are Mouse, Chamomile, and Lapis Lazuli.

"Eeek! A Mouse!" goes the woman standing on a chair in a famous cartoon. Then there is the famous quotation from Ralph Waldo Emerson, "If a man can . . . . . make a better mouse-trap, than his neighbor, though he build his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door." These describe the way the majority of humankind regard Mouse.
Our Native ancestors and many Elders and others even today have a different kind of regard for Mouse. Many spend time enjoying the small miracles, and have observed that Mouse lives in a small territory. Although they do not see the larger picture, they see clearly what is under their wiggly little noses. We too need to look closely and see that which is around us is also within us. Mouse has few defenses, and must depend on his inner knowledge for survival. They also spend a lot of time sleeping (going within).
In some traditions Mouse is the totem for the Spirit Keeper of the South. To others Mouse symbolizes innocence because, living in his small world, he stays completely unaware of what is going on in the larger world. So although we need to learn to soar with Hawk or Eagle to see the larger picture, we also need to learn to see clearly what is "right here" and within ourselves. Working with Mouse can help us learn this important skill.

Although there are more species of rodents than any other mammal, with 400 genera and about 2000 species worldwide, Mice belong to only three families of the order Rodentia. The house mouse and the field or meadow mouse, which is really a "vole", are the most common. In the USA, there is also the semidesert mouse, called the white-footed mouse, of New Mexico that feeds on crop-damaging insects. The gestation period for Mouse is 21 days, and average lifespan is only three years.





Chamomile
(Matricaria recutita)
(Chamaemilum nobile)

German Chamomile - an annual, (Matricaria recutita)
Photo copyright Steven Foster
Roman Chamomile - a perennial, (Chamaemilum nobile) 
© gardenguides.com
Roman Chamomile
Chamomile is a plant with feathery green foliage, and small daisylike flowers. The annual "German" Chamomile, Matricaria recutita, is the one we are concerned with here. Chamomile has been known for being peaceful and calming, for relieving stress and pain, for many thousands of years. A cup of tea made from the blossoms will calm and relax you so that you can go deep within your being (introspection). This tea is also an excellent bedtime relaxant. It is good to carry some of the blossoms and leaves with you when you are working on learning to go within. You can also sit by the Stone for Introspection in a medicine Wheel and ask for help with this. If you have no Wheel available and cannot build one, just visualize a circle of Stones, and sit at the Introspection position - halfway between due West and the Center.

Chamomile is easy to grow and makes an attractive addition to an herb or flower garden. It has a sweet fragrance, especially the leaves. This plant is also very good for your skin and can be used in oils and/or salves for this purpose. There is an especially good article on cultivating and using Chamomile, including medicinal uses, at Garden Guides - Herbs.




Polished uncut Lapis Lazuli - the best kind for 'medicine' uses
Image is © '95 - 2000
Sun Angel
Used with permission
The mineral totem for Introspection is Lapis Lazuli, a fascinating Stone, often Royal Blue in color, with grey streaks and gold flecks. These characteristics are an identifying feature even for ones that are darker or lighter in color. Many other traditions besides Native Americans considered this to be a special Stone to use for meditation and Spiritual insight. Both the Old Testament and ancient Egyptian records refer to this Stone. Carry and/or meditate with Lapis Lazuli to help you with contemplation, introspection, to reach your higher consciousness to gain wisdom and balance.
When cut and polished, Lapis Lazuli makes beautiful but fragile jewelry stones for pendants, earrings, etc.

Faceted Lapis suitable for pendant Lapis pyramids can be used for earrings
These beautiful Lapis Lazuli images are copyright © by theimage.com



Royal Blue is the color for this Gift from the Spirit Keeper of the West. This is the color you need for contemplation, meditation, going within. It has a calming, healing effect, helpful for introspective work.







NOTE: The description of the positions and totems and their meanings given on these pages is meant only as an introduction, and not a complete explanation. Meditate and study further for a more complete understanding.

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