Time to look at the teaching of the Medicine Wheel. I have been asked over and over about them, so as I have been taught I will now share those teachings with you. Please know that there are various interpretations of the teachings, but what I share is what I have been taught by my Teachers and my Elders over the years. So let us enter this journey today in the time of the Snow Goose, the Time of Renewal as it sits on the Top of the Medicine Wheel beginning December 22nd through January 19th.
Being born at this time puts you into the Time of Renewal with the main influencing wind being the North Winds! The Totem that walks with this birth sign is that of the Buffalo, it rests within the Turtle Clan. The polarity totem that shares balance for the Snow Goose is the Woodpecker.
The Plant Totem for Snow Goose is Bramble. also known as “Blackberry” This is commonly used by the native people in healing work by helping deal with cholic, diarrhea in tea forms and berry form, and also the leaves are used to assist with bleeding gums. This bush also has thorns for protection and yet represents also the renewal and transforming aspects of the Snow Goose People. It represents Courage, Inspiration and Persistence assisting with them getting what needs to get done taken care of. It also blends well with the Earth aspect of this totem.
The Mineral/Crystal is Peridot. This is a stone thought to be sent directly by the Ancestors and the Creator as it sparkles and has a heavenly radiance that helps with clarity of thoughts. It assists with the Spiritual side of things as well and adding strength when needed.
The Snow Goose Affinity color is White. White is the reflection of all other colors. It also in this case represents psychic energies. It represents the Snow Goose Peoples pure intent and the fact they simply do what they say they will, without a second thought.
Elements that influence the Snow Goose as born to the Time of Renewal are that of both Earth and Air
air is strongly associated with our minds, thought patterns and new ideas. this assists Snow Goose people to achieve their dreams and goals by transforming their creativity, their ideas into reality. The Element of Earth continues to ground and help balance them and also cause almost a pattern of predictability and dependability. Making them stable and conscientious people.
Snow Goose People are hard workers that when in that mode do not like to be disturbed. They are mostly healthy except have tendencies to have knee and spinal problems and arthritis. You will find that they do not go down easily however when suffering form these ailments, and often will be found pushing through the pain and getting it done, long after others would have stopped.
Relationship compatibilities are best with those born under the signs of the Beaver, Brown Bears or that of the Raven.
Their Life Path is all about Adaptation and Completion; to complete and develop new things, new ways of doing things.
Being of the Turtle Clan they are born into and effected by the Earth’s stability. Word and Deed represent the same to people of this clan, so they are dependable, reliable and can become extremely agitated when things do not get done what had been promised. They are most often extremely self sacrificing once they decide the path they will walk.
Snow Goose people are people that are practical and ambitious. They like being around people but rarely allow people to get to close. They hold fear that if they allow people in too far they will be emotionally hurt. If they do and it occurs, they will find it difficult to allow anyone else in and often keep more to themselves.
Best times of the year for people born to the Sign of the Snow Goose are from December 22 to the 19th of January, April 20th through May 20th and august 22 through September 21st.
The strongest day of the week when they can accomplish much is Saturday.
Best times of the day to accomplish things are 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Hope you enjoy the insight and it is helpful within your daily life!
Blessings,
~ bear Medicinewalker
“Discovering Years” from Pathway to Destiny: Songs of Healing and Contemplation by Louie Gonnie. Available at http://www.canyonrecords.com
I learned of these teaching through the Anishinaabe’ people here where I live… it is a teaching that reaches within to my very core… and I would like to now share it with you…
Many Anishinaabe’ view the Seven Grandfather Teachings as traditional knowledge that represents what is needed for everyday life and survival, or simply put to walk the Red Road… a Good way of life. The origin of the teachings is unknown but my elders have shared that they are important and have long been a part of the language and handed down through generations of the People.
These teachings have become known as the “Seven Grandfathers” once the Anishinaabe slowly began to control their own education during and after the American Indian Movement. As Our Elders began to retell stories they had heard as children it was realized once again that it was a connection from the present to a past when these values were a way of life.
The Ojibwas story of the seven grandfathers’ teachings was passed down from parent to child for many generations. The story goes…
The Creator gave the seven grandfathers, who are very wise, the responsibility to watch over the people. The grandfathers saw that the people were living a hard life. There was all kinds of illnesses and bad things around. The Messenger was told, “Go down there, look around and find out what is happening. Bring back someone who we can tell about what life should be, with the Peoples.”
He left immediately and went to all places in the North, South, West and East. He could not find anyone. On his seventh try, while he was looking, he saw a baby. The grandfathers were happy with the choice made by the helper.
So the messenger brought the baby back to where the Grandfathers were sitting in a circle. He was still very tiny and wrapped inside His cradleboard. One of the grandfathers looked at the baby very carefully. “This is the one. Messenger, pick up the baby. Take him all over; teach him carefully the way the People should lead their lives.” The Messenger picked him up and they travelled around the earth.
Seven years later they returned to the Grandfathers. By then He was a young man. The Grandfathers noticed that this boy was very honest. He understood everything that was taught. One of the grandfathers took a drum and started singing. Each of the grandfathers instilled within the boy a teaching telling him “These are the ones you will take with you, and share with the Peoples.”
The boy, because of all the time he had spent with the Grandfathers, was now an old man. So he returned to the Earth and gathered all the people around and shared his story of the journey to the seven grandfather’s lodge. He explained how to use the gifts and that it was now up to the people to try to follow the path of a good and healthy life using the seven grandfather’s teachings.
He shared each of these teachings and explaining that they must be used with the rest, and that you cannot have wisdom without love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility and truth. You cannot be honest if you only use one or two of these, or if you leave out one. And to leave out one is to embrace the opposite of what that teaching is.
Now to the Teachings… The Beaver teaches us WISDOM Nbwaakaawin pronounced Nbwaa kaa win
The ability to make decisions based on personal experience and knowledge and to cherish that knowledge is to know WISDOM.
We can acquire more knowledge by being open to others and applying these teachings to our own lives, and in turn it is also about the ability to value your own knowledge and share it with others.
The building a strong foundation in our lives is about the teachings shared with us by the creator and how we in turn use and share these gifts in our lives. The Beaver’s example of using his sharp teeth for cutting trees and branches to build his dams and lodges expresses this teaching. If he did not use his teeth, the teeth would continue to grow until they became useless, ultimately making it impossible for him to sustain himself. The same can be said for human beings. One’s spirit will grow weak if it is not fulfilling its use. When used properly however, wisdoms shared help bring about a peaceful and healthy life.
The Eagle teaches us LOVE. Zaagidwin pronounced zaa gid win
Love must be unconditional. To feel true love is to know the Creator. Therefore, it is expected that one’s first love is to the Creator, the Great Spirit. Creator is considered the parent to all children, and the giver of human life. Love given to the Great Spirit is expressed through love of oneself, and it is understood that if one cannot love oneself, it is impossible to love anyone else.
To know LOVE is to know true peace. To be able to get along with others, sharing and being kind, willing to show that you care for others/self through sharing, being helpful and understanding the feelings of others; doing something that makes the day better for someone. To be accepting of each others’ differences.
The Buffalo teaches us RESPECT. Mnaadendimowin pronounced Mnaa dendi mowin
Respect is the condition of being honored. The Buffalo, through giving its life and sharing every part of its being, showed the deep respect it had for the people. No animal was more important to the existence of People than this animal, and its gift provided shelter, clothing and utensils for daily living. Native people believed themselves to be true caretakers of the great herds, and developed a sustainable relationship with the Buffalo resulting in a relationship that was a true expression of respect.
To honor all of the Creations is to have RESPECT. Respect for yourself. To treat others how you would want to be treated. Making sure your interactions with others are positive by showing positive manners, speaking kindly and honoring a person’s human right to be who they are. Accepting feedback as helpful and considering different outlooks on things.
The Bear teaches us COURAGE. Mangide’ Pronounced Mang ge dee
Courage is the ability to face danger, fear, or changes with confidence and bravery.
The Bear provides many lessons in the way it lives, but courage is the most important teaching it offers. Though gentle by nature, the ferociousness of a mother Bear when one of her cubs is approached is the true definition of courage. To have the mental and moral strength to overcome fears that prevent us from living our true spirit as human beings is a great challenge that must be met with the same tenacity and intensity as a mother Bear protecting her cub. Living of the heart and living of the spirit is difficult, but the Bear’s example shows us how to face any danger to achieve these goals.
We learn to deal with challenges positively without worry about the outcome. To work through and give all aspects of your life your best effort. Being able to accept responsibility for your behavior. Be willing to be a role model by standing up for your values/beliefs. Accepting challenges (conflicts) and learn from them.
The Sabe teaches us HONESTY. Gwekwaadiziwin pronounced Gwek waadi ziwin
Honesty is speaking and acting truthfully, and thereby remained morally upright.
Long ago, there was a giant called Kitch-Sabe who walked among the people to remind them to be honest to the laws of the creator and honest to each other. The highest honor that could be bestowed upon an individual was the saying “There walks an honest man. He can be trusted.” To be truly honest was to keep the promises one made to the Creator, to others and to oneself.
The Elders would say, “Never try to be someone else; live true to your spirit, be honest to yourself and accept who you are the way the Creator made you.” HONESTY in facing a situation is to be true to self. It is not backing down when the situation seems too hard and you know that it needs to be dealt with to make your life better. By looking at what you do and realizing how it affects you and others either positively or negatively. To approach life situations and challenges with an open mind and heart.
The Wolf teaches us HUMILITY. Dbaadendiziwin pronounced Dbaa dendi ziwin
Humility is being humble and not arrogant Recognizing and acknowledging that there is a higher power than man and it is known as the Creator is to be deemed truly humble. To express deference or submission to the Creator through the acceptance that all beings are equal is to capture the spirit of humility. The expression of this humility is manifested through the consideration of others before ourselves. In this way, the Wolf became the teacher of this lesson. He bows his head in the presence of others out of deference, and once hunted, will not take of the food until it can be shared with the pack. His lack of arrogance and respect for his community is a hard lesson, but integral in the Aboriginal way.
HUMILITY is to know yourself as a sacred part of Creation. To be able to know that we are equal regardless of age, race or sex. Being able to be assertive, positively making your needs known, without becoming angry or withdrawn. Being able to listen to others with an open and non-judgmental mind.
The Turtle teaches us TRUTH. Debwewin pronounced Deb we win
Truth is to know and understand all the seven teachings have been given to us by the Creator and we are to remain faithful to them. To know truth is to know and understand all of the original laws as they were shared with us. It is said that in the beginning, when the Creator made man and gave him the seven sacred laws, the Grandmother Turtle was present to ensure that the laws would never be lost or forgotten. On the back of a Turtle are the 13 moon, each representing the truth of one cycle of the Earth’s rotations around the sun. The 28 markings on her back represent the cycle of the moon an of a woman’s body. The shell of the Turtle represents the body real events as created by the Higher Power, and serves as a reminder of the Creator’s will and teachings.
TRUTH is to know all of these things. Be true to yourself and your fellow man. Be able to speak the truth. This is considered the final and last teaching because to live this teaching, one must achieve and understand the first six teachings. By being honest with those around you with your feelings and behaviors; by loving yourself and others; by respecting others with what they say and do; by being humble – knowing that everyone around you deserves your respect as you theirs; by being brave when facing new challenges and by accepting your own and others wisdom.
These are the seven Sacred Teachings as were taught to me…and now I have shared them with you….it is not so much that you all don’t know these teachings from what ever background or culture you walk in. but I hope it has served all as a reminder of how we all need to walk as Humans.
“I am Dedicated to Educating and sharing culture and our stories with the World. It is not enough merely to teach the ways of our Elders. We must honor those traditions by sharing and educating the World. Inspiring others …Inspiring our Youth. Through the Music… the Arts…the stories…” Blessings, ~bear Medicinewalker
Corn shares with us that today is about foundations, making them strong so that they last and can continue to provide in positive ways for the generations to come. Making the right decision is often a task and a difficult one at times. Yet we all should take a moment or two before we speak, step or share to make sure it is in a way that will strengthen that foundation and not break it down.
Often we are put to task and share opinions that are not of good foundations, we are all quick to stand and throw words all to easy, forgetting we are all human and imperfect.
So today take some time to ground yourselves, planting good intentions, sharing insights that will help people achieve their highest goodness as human…
Corn the symbol of sustenance, standing tall for All of life. Corn is considered a gift from the Creator as a food, often used in ceremony. Corn has been part of the Hopi people as they have much skill in being able to grow it in desert sand. Corn Pollen is a blessing used for protection, understanding and forgiveness. Used when doing prayer, in house blessings, and to bless the peoples. Cornmeal, ground from white corn, is considered sacred and is used in blessings as well.
Corn can be easily stored and preserved during the cold winter months, can also be dried to use later. During the time of the Ancestors and in the present dried corn can be made into hominy by soaking corn in water until the kernels split open, then drained and fried over a fire. The husks are also used as they can be braided, made into masks, sleeping mats, baskets and one of my favorites and is truly a work of art … the corn husk dolls. All that remains is the corncob, and these can be used to burn as fuel.
The Corn Maiden gives of her own body to feed her family and provides seeds which ensure a continued source of food. The following is one of my favorite stories, and shows of the importance of all life and of the Eldest Sister … Corn.
The Story of the Three Sisters of the Plant People
Long ago there were three sisters who lived together in an endless field. To look at them one could see that they were very different from each other in every way, yet they were Sisters none the less.
The youngest of the three was very young and was only able to crawl. They had dressed her in the bright and beautiful color of green. The middle sister could be seen to wear a bright yellow dress and she often would run off to play when Father Sun shared his light and gentle winds raced the lands. The oldest sister could be found standing straight and tall above her sisters in order to keep watch over them. She was dressed in a pale green shawl and her hair that was a soft pale yellow could often be seen gently blowing across her face as she stood high upon the field. The one way in which they were all the same was how they were connected. They loved each other with all their hearts, they were family and they stayed together as such. This created a bond that made them very, very strong.
One day a stranger happened along and came to visit the home of the Three Sisters. It was a young boy from the nearby village. They watched him as he spoke with the winged ones, the four leggeds and others that were Sacred to the Sisters. This warmed their hearts and made them smile. That summer the young boy returned, spent the day and when he was gone the youngest sister had disappeared. Her sisters cried and didn’t know what had happened to her. In the days to come the young boy of the village returned to gather the sacred sweetgrass that grew at the water’s edge. The two remaining sisters watched as his feet left their trail in the soft earth back towards his village.
That evening as Grandmother Moon spread her blanket across the sky, the oldest sister discovered that her middle sister had disappeared as well. She stood and wept for her loss. Now the older sister was left alone but she continued to stand tall in the field. Soon the young boy came back and upon seeing how much she missed her sisters he gathered her up and took her to be back with her sisters, understanding that together the love they had for each other was strong and it was what created family.
The Three Sisters are represented as… Sister Bean
Sister Bean is dressed all in green. At first when she was young she could only crawl. Now as she grows, she clings to and leans on her Sister Corn for support. In return, Sister Bean gives her sister the nutrients she needs to grow.
Sister Squash
The middle sister is Sister Squash although sometimes she is called Pumpkin. She wears a bright, sunshine yellow dress and a golden crown and sits at the feet of her older sisters. She is much shorter than her sisters and her large leaves help keep the weeds away and the soil moist. Her vines are prickly and help to keep unwanted animals away from her sisters.
Sister Corn
The eldest is Sister Corn. She wears a pale green shawl and has silken hair that rustles when the wind blows through it. She grows tall and strong and allows her sister to lean on her for support. She keeps watch over her sisters, looking for danger and warning them.
This also creates a strong foundation for our gardens, the mainstay staples that will provide nutrition to our families.
“I am Dedicated to Educating and sharing culture with the World. It is not enough merely to teach the ways of our Elders. We must honor those traditions by sharing and educating the World. Inspiring others …Inspiring our Youth. Through the Music… the Arts…the stories…”
Blessings, ~bear Medicinewalker
“Corn Pollen Road” from Pathway to Destiny: Songs of Healing and Contemplation by Louie Gonnie. Available at http://www.canyonrecords.com
The Dove shows up this day to remind us to revel in the Divine Soul that you are and let your light shine for the World to see! Today is about allowing your Spirit to shine, to sing, to dance, to be no matter what steps on the path in front of you. have Faith in who you are, who you will become as you walk this continued journey of Human. It is not time to sit idle and hide in shadow, it is time to rejoice in the unique individual that you are. The individual that the Creator, the Ancestors and all those that have walked with and before love, guide and care for unconditionally as we continue our walks here on the Great Mother earth.
As we walk our Human we often are faced with troubling things, troubling times…but we need to restore our Faith that all things are for reason, and that Creator has not forgotten us, but is there with the aid of those before us…guiding us and helping us to transition through the negatives that life throws our way and helps us to become stronger because of it. It is easier at times to feed our fears and insecurities during the trying times we live in. A place in time that there is so many negatives that seem to be growing and taking root among people of all cultures and creeds, but we must hold fast for we are the change, we will overcome, we will make differences…even if it takes us one moment at a time. How you ask? Because Faith in the Creator, in ourselves, in each other will help us get there!
Doveteaches us when it is time to soar to new heights by using the element of air, “the wind beneath your wings”. That we must trust in the Universe, in Creator God for they are there supporting us, assisting us, but they will not choose or do the work for us. That nothing will prevent us from attaining our goals except ourselves. So we need to Trust and have Faith in all that is Sacred has purpose, has reason.
Dove reminds us to stop and breathe in the 7 Sacred breathes, letting go of the inner storms that are stirring and tap into the inner peace that can be found deep in our very souls. That what we are seeing is the chaos of the storm, and that after the storm is calm and beauty, for what we are seeking to attain is attainable and will be if we stay strong and show patience with the situation. They also represent peaceful resolutions can be found. They also represent travel time is approaching, perhaps in meditative state or in a physical sense.
Many Blessings to You ALl…
May the Divine Spirit reach You and fill your being with Love and Joy of the Day…
~ bear Medicinewalker
“My Man, Rejoice Every Day” from Renewed Spirit by Cheevers Toppah. Released: 2011. Available at http://www.canyonrecords.com Used with permission from Canyon Records as part of the Wolf and the bear Network
