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What is a Medicine Shield? Each person carries a Medicine Shield within them. There are four parts to the shield, representing the Four Directions. Each must be held in balance with the other for us to walk in harmony with All Of Our Relations.
The East side of our Medicine Shield represents Spirit and illumination. The color of the East is white, the energy of the East is male. The Element of the East is Water. The questions that we ask ourselves here relate to bringing order and clarity of thought to our lives.
The South side of our Medicine Shield represents our sense of innocence, of the inner child. The color of the South is red, the energy of the South is of all things physical. The element of the South is Fire. The questions that we ask ourselves here relate to the balancing of work and play, our spiritual lives and our physical lives. Look at life with the eyes and senses of a child - drop the ego and put the magic back into life.
The West side of our Medicine Shield represents introspection and goals. The color of the West shield is black, the energy is female and receptive. The element of the West is Earth.The questions that we want to ask ourselves here relate to our goals, our ability to complete them, looking within and acknowledging our own inner strengths.
The North side of our Medicine Shield represents wisdom and gratitude. The color of the North is yellow, the energy is that of wisdom and the mental self. The element of the North is Air.The questions that we ask ourselves here relate to learning our lessons and accepting our truths.
When we feel out of control, it is because our lives are unbalanced in some way. We ask ourselves the questions that represent each of the directions, to see where work is needed. To return to balance and harmony, we may choose the path of contacting the totem animals for each direction. As we journey with each of the totem animals, we gain access to the voices and wisdom of the Grandmothers and Grandfathers.
The totem animal for the East is the Eagle. The Eagle has great vision - it flys high, and has a clear and wide perspective on life. The Eagle also has the ability to see in the distance - an attribute that brings knowing to the person that calls on its Medicine. As teh East represents Spirit, Eagle brings us knowledge that brings us closer to Spirit, an to reflecting the Spirit winthin us. Great understanding is to be found here.
The totem animal for the South is the Mouse. Think of what the mouse does - it pays great attention to its surroundings. In asking for the Medicine of Mouse to help us, we are asking to see with greater clarity that which is closest to us, to "feel" our surroundings and become emotionally in touch with them. In coming into contact with our emotions, we take away our blocks and are able to give from the heart and act fromthe heart. This is the gift of the Medicine of the South.
The totem animal for the West is the Bear. The energy of the West is that of introspection - represented by the hibernation (or looking within) of the Bear. From the energy of the West, we are able to look into our pasts, learn from them and place this wisdom into our future decisions. The West is the world of the physical body, and of accepting that which is in our lives.
The totem animal for the North is the Buffalo. In its time, Buffalo gave all of itself to sustain the lives of others. The energy of the North is that of the mind and mental powers. The energy of the North is receptive energy - open to receiving knowledge which becomes wisdom when put into action.
In accessing each of the directions of our Medicine Shield, honoring them and accepting their Medicine, we walk the path of harmony.
Thank you for visiting my Shamanism room. May your day be Blessed.
Mitakuye Oyasin.
note: The information given here in reference to colors, totem animals and energy and elements for each of the directions may vary from tribe to tribe, from person to person. The attributions given here are how I personally work with my Medicine Shield.
Bonnie Cehovet
Sams, Jamie "Sacred Path Cards: The Discovery Of Self Through Native Teachings",Harper Collins Publishers, 1990. ISBN #0-06-250762-1.
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