Native American Medicine Wheel
The Medicine Wheel - Also known as the sacred hoop. It is a symbol of the the cycle of life. The circular shape is to remind us that every thing is connected. Giving us new understanding of our growth patterns. Teaching us that every thing we do is important, no matter how small. That life is on going & will touch others. The center of the wheel represents the sun, without which we would not have life.
The term "medicine" as it is used in the term Medicine Wheel refers to a healing, a teaching, an enlightening, a spiritual energy. White represents purification of thoughts & emotions. Starting the healing process. A Medicine Wheel can best be described as a mirror within which everything is reflected.
The Medicine Wheel encompasses the Four Directions,
Four Winds,
Four Grandfathers,
Four Elements (earth, fire, air, water),
Four races of people in the human family (Black, White, Red & Yellow).
We the people have four aspects to our nature, four major realms of human existence.
North — the physical realm
East — the realm of knowledge & enlightenment
South — the spiritual realm
West — the realm of introspective thought