Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. Each of the directions is thus associated with a time of day, together with a stage in life (child, adolescent, adult, old-age.) The north represents the place that holds us, that allows us time and space to heal and grow, to feel nurtured and respected. Hebrew scholars claim that before the Bible was doctored by Christian scribes in the 3rd Century AD, the opening passage of the Bible inferred that water existed before heaven and earth. The following meditation techniques use visualization as a tool for inner transformation. I invite you to try praying and meditating facing different directions. https://medicinewisdom.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/shaman.png, https://medicinewisdom.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo-300x56-1.png, Using Rebirth to Treat Psychological Disorders. And you who are the unnamable One It is the source of light, and inspirationthe source of life itself. . Teach me about your endurance and your great joy For this reason, we will now perform a smudging ceremony, where we will use the smoke of sacred medicines to purify ourselves, and to honour and acknowledge the universe around us. May I have eyes as sharp as yours, so I am able to see truth and hope on the path I have chosen. The esoteric symbolism within the four directions encompasses the relationship and the similarities between man and the Universe. The solar plexus chakra is the command centre and source of imagination. Unless you cultivate your mind and evolve, you become stagnant, energy dams up in the body and you become victim to illness and "bad luck". But more about that later. Do your best to slow down your thoughts and be open to the wisdom the four directions might have for you. Ancient cultures of the world, in tune with the cycles of the seasons and the stars, knew how to orient themselves if lost and likely intuited their location naturally due to practice. Oddly enough, the highest or deepest places you can go in meditation, or, in other words, some of the furthest reaches that you can go to in meditation, the greatest levels of joy or peace in the conditioned world, where there is a tremendous sense of peace, well-being, and equanimity, that's where applying the Four Noble Truths is the most . You create good luck or bad luck (evil) as a result. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The exiles of Egypt travelled west to the promised land of Canaan -, But water is also a symbolic mechanism for the unconscious. As you face each direction, smudge or fan sage, blow scented water, or shake a rattle and say the prayer aloud. Let us also consider the qualities of water and compare its attributes with consciousness. And there are only four elements in life: Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. Whenever you bring awareness to what you . But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. In Masonic traditions, this is what the east represents. Rev. The west is also considered a place of darkness which comes with the setting of the sun. The ancients considered the sacral chakra to be the seat of emotions. South: Fire, transformation and action. Ancient cultures teach us to allow consciousness to guide you because it will lead you to Self-realisation. The direction of the East is associated with new beginnings. Old values die when we acquire superior knowledge. The teachings of the four directions start with the east, or yellow, quadrant and run clockwise around the circle. The Creator, the Great Spirit, is in all of us. When you let go of old values, beliefs and attitudes, energy transforms and you adopt new values, beliefs and attitudes. Bear obviously models hibernation for us. Fire is also considered a negative element because of the danger it poses if allowed to get out of control. While there is no clear record of a four-directions or seven-directions prayer, they did find meaning in the cardinal directions, the earth beneath them, the sky above them. They are told the symbolic reason for this is because this is the part of the temple with the least light - light being code for knowledge thus the north-east symbolically representing ignorance. While the Medicine Wheel varies by culture, it universally honors the core belief that all things on earth are living and all things are interconnected. As you explore what each direction represents, you will find tools that improve your relationship with and understanding of Animal Spirits and Guides. The famous garden was built in the east of Eden, and the main entrance faced the east. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Bring into balance the physical, mental and spiritual, so I am able to know my place on this earth, in life and in death. I personally believe ayahuasca [a psychedelic Amazonian brew] is also the greatest natural healing agent, period. Chris Kilham, Psychology Today. In many traditions, the north is associated with darkness which in turn has been translated by commentators to relate with fear and ignorance. The Worshipful Master is the highest honour of a Masonic Lodge, thus the east represents mastery - the ultimate goal. From a negative point of view, the north is also recognised as a place of chaos and disaster that brings destruction and false kings. Although I have much to write about, sometimes the time, energy, and means to write it are not as available. We ask the Grandmothers and Grandfathers of the South to remind us that the end our days is no more sad than the end of a single day, and that the end is often better than the beginning. Specialties: Four Directions Wellness is an integrative healing provider, based in Alexandria, VA and focused on connecting body, mind, emotions and spirit. Doing this type of self-analysis enables you to observe the energies you are projecting. It also explains why American tribes dedicated the West to the Keeper of Death. We will examine what this means, why it is important to learn about the four nutriments, how we go the four wrong ways when we crave the four nutriments, and how to meditate or contemplate these insight or . This is where we get our first clue of what the four directions really mean and in which direction to follow the compass. Let me move through life ready to take what comes from the north. Comfort me and caress me when I am tired and cold. Mother Earth, Thank you for your beauty, And for all you have given me. Let me remember always that you give the gift of a new day. It is about Fire the Sun burning bright, casting a lot of light. Nor does it make any sense to create symbolic mechanisms to reflect these aspects of life. With that in mind, it is clear to see that the west symbolically represents the point when thoughts and emotions enter the conscious mind from the subconscious mind. Metempsychotic. Like our members, Gaia staff are driven by curiosity, passion and the desire to grow, as we continue on our own spiritual journeys and quests. The Cardinal Directions have symbolism and meaning that are very important to your Spirit, Totem, and Power Animal quest. My view is that this is the moment where realisation becomes conscious in the mind because it is during the summer that the sun reaches it's highest point. Instead of Alpha 2 Omega, the beginning to the end, U have the 4 season's of Meditations! This is a continuation of Susan's last 8 meditations which can be heard by clicking below, but it c The Four Directions are honored in many indigenous cultures including the Celtic, Aboriginal, and Native American traditions. Through the dynamic Four Directions Meditation, we'll . The Queen of the South here is referring to the solar plexus chakra which is just below the heart chakra. Sold by aoneitem and ships from Amazon Fulfillment. Furthermore, in ancient symbolism, the element of water is associated with the female principle, a Goddess in many guises which represents love-based emotions, dedication and nurturing. Shamanic tribes relate the west with new awareness.. . Learn how to use the power of the four directions, 'above', 'below', and their associated elements to open your chakras, align your In many traditions, the four directions offer a deeper understanding of our place in the world. East - Ha'a'aah. Our emotions move in us like water, flowing through our lives, sometimes calm and sometimes turbulent, but always flowing. Whatever man does to the web, he does to himself. If you want to improve the quality of your life, you should follow the path of the four cardinal points in an anti-clockwise direction. Enter your email address and we'll send you a link to reset your password. You can also join Gaia as a contributing author and help us connect readers to people and ideas that fuel a conscious life. We must sacrifice old ways of living to bring in new attitudes, habits and traits. There is no doubt that the direction of the north represents darkness, emptiness, or nothingness and eternity. Further, each corresponds to a quadrant in the . Not just sweet Rain, but also the powerful Thunderbeings. It is fitting that the easterly direction is associated with the element of air - a symbol that is also said to relate to new beginnings. The Celtic people have retained their deep connection with land, sea, and sky; with the thresholds of dawn and dusk, and following the cycles of the year. From here, the center of our being, we can reach out to all directions, and to all our relations. As the day begins with the rising sun, I ask, Spirit keeper of the East, Brother Eagle, Be with me. With honor I greet you, Face the east with one arm up and the other palm open to receive, To the Winds of the East The Medicine Wheel, or Wheel of Life, is represented by the four directions. Just remember, the west relates to the subconscious mind which produces life (from its waters). (617) 742-2100 | info@uua.org. Movement . 198-200 Here is a healing prayer, spoken by Medicine Grizzly Bear during the Earth Healing Ceremony, Spokane, Washington, 1990: O Great Creator, I come before you in a humble manner. Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim traditions also circumambulate in rituals. Mindfulness Mondays happens every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month at Four Directions Wellness. But this is the dual nature of the gods and thus energy. And herein we move to the east - where the thought is awakened in consciousness with the potential to develop into new beginnings - just as nature returns to life in Spring. Jeremiah 1:14 says that evil comes from the north. 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