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(note: The following is from a column that I write for Themestream.com.)
Thank you for joining me on my journey of enlightenment - the Fool's Journey through life.
In the first column in this series I introduced the concept of the Medicine Wheel. In this column we will continue looking at what each of the
directions has to offer us in balancing our lives.
First of all - let us take a look at the term Medicine Wheel. For our purposes, Medicine
means power - a vital energy force that can be drawn from and directed, and wholeness.
The Medicine Wheel is the circle of knowledge that puts our lives back into balance - that gives us the power of choice and direction.
The Medicine Wheel is a universal source of power - available to anyone who wishes to
study it and implement it into their lives. It is to be approached with humbleness, a great sense of purpose - and a willingness to "do the work" necessary to take the knowledge to the core of your self.
Let us begin our adventure!
The direction of the West represents introspection - looking for knowledge within ourselves. Here is what we find that we need to change to make progress in our lives. This is the emphasis of the West - change and transition.
The direction of South was our beginning of knowing who the "self" is. The direction of the West deepens this knowing through dreams and visions of the future.
The quality embraced by the West is that of change and transition. Here we begin to understand karma - our life patterns, what our lessons have been, and what we need to let go of to continue our learning.
The totem of the West is the Bear. Bear brings us strength and connection to Mother Earth, and represents the quality of introspection. Bear seeks truth.
The power of the Bear is the power of knowing, the power that allows one to enter dreamtime and walk the path of questing for answers - the
internal path. (Note: For a very good example of Bear energy and it's importance, please read "The Sparrow And The Bear" by Themestream author Dan
Barden.)
The element of the West is earth. Earth is passive, receptive and nurturing. A deep connection with earth is needed to bring ourselves into balance with Universe.
The color of the West is Black. Not the black of "nothingness", but the black of "all things". It is the color of mystery and of the unconscious.
The Kingdom associated with the West is the Mineral Kingdom. This is the kingdom that holds and controls energy. It holds knowledge of our past and our future. Through the mineral kingdom we heal ourselves by finding our connection with both the past and the future.
The time period of the West is the present. The present is the only place that we can invoke change.Our future is created by the beliefs that we hold in the present. Changing those belief patterns changes our future.
The season of the West is Autumn - a time of gentle change brought about through turning inward.
Use the time of the West wisely to see how your current goals are affecting your future.
Please join me next week for a continuation of the discussion of the Medicine Wheel.
May your day be Blessed.
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