The Spirit Paths: Lessons for Humans on Sun Bear's Medicine Wheel

Photo 59144897 | Medicine Wheel © Maisna | Dreamstime.com

In Sun Bear's Medicine Wheel, each of the Spiritkeepers of the four cardinal directions (East, South, West, North) has three lessons to teach humans.

In the East, Wabun, Great Golden Eagle, teaches the lessons of Clarity, Illumination, and Wisdom. These are gifts of springtime and new beginnings that help us gain mastery in the mental realm.

• Clarity helps reduce confusion and hesitation, increases insight and resolution, and can help us gain a greater measure of calmness and peace.

• Illumination can help us center, banish confusion, increase focus and willpower, and experience greater joy and peace.

• Wisdom can expand our confidence, give us greater courage and compassion, and encourage us to fight for justice.

In the South, Shawnodese, Coyote, teaches the lessons of Growth, Trust, and Love. These are gifts of summer and relationships that help us gain mastery of the emotional realm.

• Growth provides greater perspective, enhances communication, and relieves anxiety and our resistance to change.

• Trust increases our confidence and sense of security, increases hope, soothes and grounds us, and helps us act from the highest good.

• Love brings emotional healing, increases self-worth, heals abuse, increases flexibility and balance, and connects us with universal love.

In the West, Mudjekeewis, Great Grizzly Bear, teaches the lessons of Strength, Introspection, and Experience. These are gifts of autumn and adulthood that help us gain mastery of the spiritual realm.

• Strength increases focus, courage, persistence, perseverance, and fortitude.

• Introspection teaches us to seek answers within rather than outside ourselves, connecting us with inner wisdom, higher consciousness, and ancient understandings.

• Experience is the great teacher, bringing the lessons of knowledge, wisdom, memory, and character.

And in the North, Waboose, Great White Buffalo, teaches us the lessons of Cleansing, Purity, and Renewal. These are gifts of winter, elders, community, and the physical realm.

• Cleansing increases focus and achievement through purification and healing.

• Purity increases innocence, sensitivity, kindness, serenity, gentleness, and psychic abilities.

• Renewal brings healing, a fresh perspective, generosity, fearlessness, and an openness to new beginnings.