The Medicine Wheel
Physical Quadrant
Tobacco is the first medicine given from the Creator. It is in the East
and represents the promise that the Creator is always willing to
listen. Yellow is the color, spring is the season and childhood is the
stage of life.
Tobacco is the first plant that the Creator gave
to the Anishinabe people. Three other plants: sage, cedar and
sweetgrass are held sacred by the people. Together they are referred to
as the four sacred medicines (Muskiiki). The four sacred medicines are
used in everyday life and in all of our ceremonies. All of them can be
used to smudge with, though sage, cedar and sweetgrass also have many
other uses. It is said that tobacco sits in the eastern door,
sweetgrass in the southern door, sage in the west and cedar in the
north. Elders say that the spirits like the aroma produced when the
other sacred medicines are burned.
Sacred tobacco was given to
the Anishinabe so that we can communicate with the Spirit world. Tobacco
is always offered before picking other medicines. When you offer
tobacco to a plant and explain your reasons for being there, the plant
will let all the plants in the area know your intentions and why you are
picking them. Tobacco is used as an offering, a gift, and is an
important part of Anishinabe ceremonies.
Mental Quadrant
Sweetgrass is in the South and connected to Mother Earth. It has a
shiny and beautiful side as well as a plain side, representative of
youth. When sweetgrass is braided, it cannot be pulled apart. Likewise
when your body, mind and spirit are solidly connected, you will be full
and strong in your personal life. Red is the colour, summer is the
season and youth is the stage of life.
Sweetgrass is the sacred
hair of Mother Earth. Its sweet aroma reminds our people of the
gentleness, love and kindness she has for the people. When sweetgrass is
used in a healing circle it has a calming effect. Like sage and cedar,
sweetgrass is used for smudging and purification.
Emotional Quadrant
Sage is in the West. As we move into the adult stage of our lives, we
always exit through the West and sage assists in that journey. The smell
of sage is intended to attract the spirits’ attention. Black is the
colour, fall is the season and adulthood is the stage of life.
Sage is used to prepare our people for ceremonies and teachings. Because
it is more medicinal and stronger than sweetgrass, sage is used more
often in ceremonies. Sage is used for releasing what is troubling the
mind and for removing negative energy. It is also used for cleansing
homes and sacred bundles carried by people. It also has other medicinal
uses.
Spiritual Quadrant
Cedar is placed in
the North. While Mother Earth sleeps, cedar stays green, symbolizing
that Mother Earth still watches over and protects us. White is the
colour, winter is the season and Elderly is the stage of life.
Like Sage and Sweet grass, Cedar is used to purify the home, it also has
many restorative medicinal use. When mixed with sage for a tea, it
cleans the body of all infections, cedar baths are also very healing.
When cedar mixed with tobacco is put in the fire it crackles, this is
said to call the attention of the Spirits (manitous) to the offering
that is being made. Cedar is used in sweat lodge and fasting ceremonies
for protection, cedar branches cover the floor of many sweat lodges and
some people make a circle of cedar when they are fasting. It is a
guardian spirit and chases away the bad spirits.
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