The Medicine Wheel

The Medicine Wheel



Physical quadrant
Mental quadrant
Emotional quadrant
Spiritual quadrant

Physical Quadrant

Tobacco is the first medicine given from the Creator.

It is in the East and represents the promise that the Creator is always willing to listen.

Yellow is the colour, spring is the season and childhood is the stage of life.

Tobacco is the first plant that the Creator gave to the Anishinabe people.

Three other plants: sage, cedar and sweetgrass are held sacred by the people.

Together they are referred to as the four sacred medicines (Muskiiki).

The four sacred medicines are used in everyday life and in all of our ceremonies.

All of them can be used to smudge with, though sage, cedar and sweetgrass also have many other uses.

It is said that tobacco sits in the eastern door,
sweetgrass in the southern door,
sage in the west and cedar in the north.

Elders say that the spirits like the aroma produced when the other sacred medicines are burned.

Sacred tobacco was given to the Anishinabe so that we can communicate with the Spirit world.

Tobacco is always offered before picking other medicines.

When you offer tobacco to a plant and explain your reasons for being there,
the plant will let all the plants in the area know your intentions and why you are picking them.

Tobacco is used as an offering, a gift, and is an important part of Anishinabe ceremonies.

Mental Quadrant

Sweetgrass is in the South and connected to Mother Earth.

It has a shiny and beautiful side as well as a plain side, representative of youth.

When sweetgrass is braided, it cannot be pulled apart.

Likewise when your body, mind and spirit are solidly connected, you will be full

and strong in your personal life.

Red is the colour, summer is the season and youth is the stage of life.

Sweetgrass is the sacred hair of Mother Earth.

Its sweet aroma reminds our people of the gentleness, love and kindness she has for the people.

When sweetgrass is used in a healing circle it has a calming effect.

Like sage and cedar, sweetgrass is used for smudging and purification.

Emotional Quadrant

Sage is in the West. As we move into the adult stage of our lives,

we always exit through the West and sage assists in that journey.

The smell of sage is intended to attract the spirits’ attention.

Black is the colour, fall is the season and adulthood is the stage of life.

Sage is used to prepare our people for ceremonies and teachings.

Because it is more medicinal and stronger than sweetgrass,

sage is used more often in ceremonies.

Sage is used for releasing what is troubling the mind and for removing negative energy.

It is also used for cleansing homes and sacred bundles carried by people.

It also has other medicinal uses.

Spiritual Quadrant

Cedar is placed in the North.

While Mother Earth sleeps, cedar stays green, symbolizing that Mother Earth still watches over

and protects us.

White is the colour, winter is the season and Elderly is the stage of life.

Like Sage and Sweet grass, Cedar is used to purify the home,

it also has many restorative medicinal use.

When mixed with sage for a tea, it cleans the body of all infections, cedar baths are also very healing.

When cedar mixed with tobacco is put in the fire it crackles, this is said to call the attention of the Spirits (manitous) to the offering that is being made.

Cedar is used in sweat lodge and fasting ceremonies for protection, cedar branches cover the floor
of many sweat lodges and some people make a circle of cedar when they are fasting.

It is a guardian spirit and chases away the bad spirits.

http://www.chippewaheritage.com/1/post/2012/03/four-sacred-medicines-muskiiki.html

 

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Ojibway - Ojibwe - Ojibwa

The Four Sacred Medicines - Smudge


ANISHINAABE
~ NIINWIN GCHITWAA-MSHKIKIIN ~

OJIBWAY
~ FOUR SACRED MEDICINES ~
SMUDGE


All together you will find the sacred powerful plants of Wegemind Aki – Mother Earth
that we use in the making of our Smudge Mixture.

This is to be minaadendmowin - respected in the use and also why we use this special combination.

Here you will find the names and meanings to each sacred plants of Wegemind Ake - Mother Earth.

This is the commonly spoken of smudge mixture used by Anishnawbek people.

The traditional smudge is composed of 13 medicines. Here you will find that this teaching is only talked about in person and not found written on paper and passed down.

The 13 Grandmothers are the ones who have given this teaching and it is passed down
from generation to generation.

Very important to remember when going to learn about a teaching you will always present Sema – Tobacco to whom you are asking to sit with and gain knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

Below you will find the four basic medicines of our smudge mixture and meanings.

Remember here is only a brief description to give you understanding of our teachings and cultural ways.

It helps you to understand on why we keep our medicines sacred
and how it is brought into our daily lives and how we look at the smudge mixture.

What you will find here are words of understanding into our cultural and traditional ways
still today being used.

They are very simple ways and this is the start of our basics of our teachings that enrich our lives
and expand our wisdom and knowledge being taught to our young from a very young age.

Being Anishinaabe, we live each day of our life in a very sacred manner.

We are very spiritual in our ways and bring this into our daily lives.

These teachings are very old and still practiced today.

When taking something from Mother Earth – Wegemind Ake.

We always explain to the Spirit of the Plant why it is being done and offer SEMA – TOBACCO
in return for the generosity and help of the plant which shared it so freely.

Remember one must never take without giving back.

When one seeks medicine for healing of another, you give Sema - Tobacco to the plant
and explain why this medicine is being picked and then you say miigwetch before even picking
and then place biish – water down as you would Sema – Tobacco.

Not only are you showing respect for oneself but also for Wegemind Ake – Mother Earth
and all living things.

As you read this you will find that this will give you understanding and next time you see someone
who is doing a smudge.

Stop and watch and wait to see how they do their smudge and how proud they are
when doing this ceremony.

Some carry this medicine with them everywhere they go and some only do it in ceremony.

There is no right way or wrong way to smudge but it is what is coming from the heart
of the individual that is what Gzhemindoo looks for.

Here you will find Anishinaabe basic NIINWIN GCHITWAA-MSHKIKIIN made of:

- Sema – Tobacco
- Giizhik – Cedar
- Muskodewusk – Sage
- Wiingush – Sweet Grass


~ SEMA – TOBACCO ~

SEMA – TOBACCO is one of the Four Sacred Plants as this represents the East Direction
which is of male side including being inanimate.

It is offered to the Sacred Fire, so that the smoke can lift prayers up to Gzhemindoo - The Creator,
or it is set on the ground in a nice, clean place.

This is done on a daily basis as each new day is greeted with prayers of thankfulness for blessings
and gift of life.

One’s day is also ended this way in being thankful for the many blessings and teachings
and for breath of Life. Kitchi Anishinawbek – Elders say to hold it in your prayers of thankfulness.

They also add that you are to hold it in your left hand as this is the hand which is closest to your heart.

By doing this not only are you respecting the medicines but about whom we are being Anishinaabe.



~ GIIZHIK – CEDAR ~

GIIZHIK – CEDAR represents the South Direction which is female side and animate.

The leaves are cleaned from the stems and separated into small pieces,
which are used in many ways.

When burned, GIIZHIK – CEDAR acts as a purifier, cleansing the area in which it is burned
and emitting a pleasant scent.

Kitchi Anishinaabek – Elders say to put some in your shoes and only goodness will come your way.



~ MUSHKODEWUSK – SAGE ~

MUSHKODEWUSK – SAGE is used in the same ways as GIIZHIK – CEDAR.

It is burned as a purifier, but when compared to the “piney” scent of GIIZHIK – CEDAR,
MUSKODEWUSK – SAGE has a spicy air to the smell.

MYSHKODEWUSK – SAGE represents the West Direction which is male and inanimate.

There are over 750 varities of sage, each region is different in the medicine
and composition of the medicine.




WIINGSAHK – SWEET GRASS ~

WIINGSHAK – SWEET GRASS is known for its beautifully sweet, aromatic scent,

which is enhanced by the rain or when it is burned. This too is a purifier.

Many things are made with WIINGASHK – SWEET GRASS such as coiled baskets.

It is often braided and thus signified the hair of Wegemind Ake – Mother Earth.

Each of the three sections that go into the braid has a very special meaning
– Mind, Body and Soul.

WIINGASHK – SWEET GRASS represents the North Direction which is of female side and animate.

Being Anishinabe, we live life in a very sacred manner. We are very spiritual in our ways and bring this into our daily lives. These teachings are very old and still practiced today.

When taking something from Mother Earth – Wegemind Ake.

We always explain to the Spirit of the Plant why it is being done and offer SEMA – TOBACCO

in return for the generosity and help of the plant which shared it so freely.

Remember one must never take without giving back.

When one seeks medicine for healing of another, you give Sema - Tobacco to the plant

and explain why this medicine is being picked and then you say miigwetch before even picking

and then place biish – water down as you would Sema – Tobacco.

Not only are you showing respect for oneself but also for Wegemind Ake – Mother Earth and all living things.

Look for the addition of how one smudge’s and what is used in this ceremony.

You might find people using different means in doing their own smudge
but like I said previously there is no right or wrong way.

It all depends on who your teacher is of this teaching and ceremony.

All what matters is your connection to this ceremony and Gzhemindoo.

Moonie Kwe

Kchi'Anishnaabe zhigaawi ninii-kwe - Women's Traditional Dancer.

Working in health and wellness and to help my people
and all people when seeking me out to sit in circle.

Workshop Facilitator, Universal Healing, Cultural and Traditional Teachings & Ceremonies,
manuals and individual and group workshops and sessions.

Contact me for further information to guide your community or yourself.

Needs assessment also provided for communities and/or agencies
to determine which direction of guidance and healing.

Moonie.kwe@gmail.com Nenaandawi’iwed – Traditional Healer




http://mooniekwe.blogspot.ca/2008/12/ojibway-four-sacred-medicines-smudge.html
Posted by Moonie at 5:11 AM

 

Ojibwa - Ojibwe - Ojibway Medicine Wheel

1. The Creator - The Centre of Life, The Medicine Wheel itself.
2. The Earth Mother - Gives us our home, and lives.
3. The Father aka The Sun - Warms life, source of energy and light
4. The Grandmother Moon - Guides dreams and visions.
5. The Turtle Clan - The element of the earth, it represents growth and life.
6. The Frog Clan - The element of the water. Cleansing
7. The Thunderbird Clan - The element of fire. Energy
8. The Butterfly Clan - The element of the air. Transformation
9. The North - Knowledge and wisdom
10. The East - Daybreak, Illumination,Spirit
11. The South - Youth and innocence. Emotion
12. The West - Introspection, Looks within
13. The Snow Goose - Direction
14. The Otter - Balanced female energy
15. The Cougar - Leadership without insisting, power without being forceful
16. The Red Hawk - The Original Messengers of The Great Spirit, The Observor
17. The Beaver - The Builder and The Doer.
18. The Deer - The Gentleness, The Grace, and, The Power
19. The Flicker - Music, The importance of colour, frequency, light, sound, tone and vibration in all things
20. The Sturgeon - The Mover, as, well as, The importance of moving through life, in interconnected ways, that do NO harm to others, swimming
21. The Brown Bear - The Keeper of The Truth, as, well as, The Sweetness of The Truth
22. The Raven - The Keeper of The Sacred Law.
23. The Snake - Power of all creation. Transmutation
24. The Elk - Stamina, to challenge oneself, along with others to go the distance
25. The Cleansing - To make clean, to make clear, to purify
26. The Renewal - To know, that all endings, are simply new beginnings, and, to begin again, and, again and again, on our journey
27. The Purity - To Clean, and, to clear, and, a return to being innocent
28. The Clarity - To become unclouded, and, clean and clear in our feeling, and, our thinking, to free ourselves from the darkness
29. The position of Love - To delight in a higher state of appreciation
30. The position of Wisdom - To exchange, and, to share knowledge & wisdom in a good way
31. with the foresight and, intelligence to utilize both common sense, and, planning for 7 generations to come
32. The position of Illumination - To enlighten, to illuminate, to cast light upon others
33. The position of Growth - To become. To change from one state to another. To advance
34. The position of Trust - To place confidence, and, the virtue of trust in the equation of the interconnected reliance on the importance of integrity, friendship, trust and truth in our relationships with others
35. The position of Experience - To gain knowledge and to gleam deeper and greater understandings
36. The position of Introspection - To journey to take a look inside, and, discover the mystery within
37. The position of Strength - Power and vigor of mind

http://www.cosmosdawn.net/forum/index.php?threads/the-medicine-wheel.747/

- SUSAN LYNNE SCHWENGER