Medicine Wheel

I would like to express my gratitude to Sun Bear and Wabun for sharing their vision. All of the material posted on this page can be found in their profound book, with the exception of some material that comes from my own spiritual journey. I have placed illustrations of the animals, plants, and minerals for each moon. You should be able to find your moon below. Please note that while the majority of the ideas here come from Sun Bear's and Wabun's visions of the Medicine Wheel, some of the ideas have been modified according to the visions I have had as well as I shape and play the didgeridoo.

"We are all born with the capacity to dream and to have vision. this is what makes us humans, the animals who can have vision and seek to fulfill it on the earth plane. this is what makes us reflections of the force that created us all." (Sun Bear xi)

Sun Bear and Wabun. The Medicine Wheel: Earth Astrology. Illust. Nimimosha and Thunderbird Woman. New York: Fireside, 1992.

KEY: dates, moon, animal, plant, mineral, spirit keeper, color

North

The North represents the cold Northern winds of winter (in the Southern Hemisphere, the North represents warmth, so the North would be replaced with the South).

The North in my imagination represents vision and purification, as well as the wisdom that comes with old age. We often see winter as a time of hardship; in times of hardship, we should keep our hearts open and warm. This is the time when we approach the spirit world and are most receptive to it.

Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Earth Renewal Moon; Snow Goose; Birch Tree; Quartz; Waboose; White; Turtle Clan

"Turtle clan people, like the earth, make good parents.... [However] they have to be careful to not attempt to totally run their children's lives for them.... Turtle clan folks tend to be self-sacrificing.... Turtle clan people have a responsibility to the Earth Mother." (Sun Bear and Wabun 157-158)

"Snow Goose people have the cool exterior of quartz, which makes them appear reserved and unaffectionate to those around them. However, like their mineral, they will warm up, after a time, if those close to them pour their own warmth and energy into them" (Sun Bear 14).

Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Rest & Cleansing Moon; Otter; Quaking Aspen; Silver; Waboose; Silver

Butterfly Clan

"Butterfly clan people are always in motion, physically, mentally, and emotionally. The energy of life blows through them, bringing them new ideas, new feelings, new thoughts... Like the air, Butterfly clan people contain the breath of life." (170-171)

"It is as difficult to resist an Otter person in romantic pursuit as it is to hold your own with one in an intellectual discussion" (Sun Bear 24).

Feb. 19-March 20 Big Winds Moon; Cougar; Plantain; Turquoise; Waboose; Blue-green

Frog Clan

"Water is an element of healing.... Because they are constantly swimming in the sea of energy around all of us, Frog clan people tend to be very creative.... Frog clan people are refreshed by being around water, whether it is the sea, a lake, pond, river, or water in a tub." (Sun Bear and Wabun 164-165)

"Like the turquoise, they can be people of the sky, initiates into many of the life processes that people of other totems do not know... Without the right experiences of life.... their natural powers don't develop but turn against them making them into moody, even melancholy people" (Sun Bear 33).

East

The East in the Northern hemisphere represents the season of Spring, which is tied to youth (in the Southern hemisphere, read the information on autumn or the West). During our youth, we are vigorous and full of energy. We must channel our energy and work on listening to elders during this period. Youth are also able to create a new voice for future generation. They represent the future and a fundamentally different way of life. This is a period of rejuvenation and growth.

March 21-April 19 Budding Trees Moon; Red Hawk; Dandelion; Fire Opal; Wabun; Yellow

Thunderbird Clan

"Thunderbird people are direct and warm and always penetrating. Thunderbird clan people need to be around the sun to feel happy, and to renew themselves." (Sun Bear 179)

"Red Hawk people, like the opal, are often the symbol of hope for any new idea that is struggling to be born" (Sun Bear 43).

April 20-May 20 Frogs Return Moon; Beaver; Blue Camas; Chrysocolla; Wabun; Blue; Turtle Clan

"Like their plant, Beaver people have the ability to sustain those with whom they are associated."

May 21-June 20 Cornplanting Moon; Deer; Yarrow; Moss Agate; Wabun; White & Green

Butterfly Clan

"Deer people, like yarrow, are a tonic to those around them" (Sun Bear 64).

South

In the Northern hemisphere, the South represents maturation and warmth. Life is at its fullest during this period. It is a time when dreams and visions must be realized. It is the time of adulthood and of the passage of youth into maturity.

June 21-July 22 Strong Sun Moon; Flicker; Wild Rose; Carnelian Agate; Shawnodese; Pink

Frog Clan

"Flicker folks are people who are really sensitive to their own hearts and the messages that it can give to them" (Sun Bear 72).

July 23-Aug. 22 Ripe Berries Moon; Sturgeon; Raspberry; Garnet & Iron; Shawnodese; Red

Thunderbird Clan

"Thunderbird people are direct and warm and always penetrating. Thunderbird clan people need to be around the sun to feel happy, and to renew themselves." (Sun Bear 179)

"Sturgeon People are often identified with their hearts, which tend to be large, affectionate, and magnanimous" (Sun Bear 81).

Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Harvest Moon; Brown Bear; Violet; Amethyst; Shawnodese; Purple

Turtle Clan

"Bear people usually make powerful speakers who can help large numbers of people to see the need for harmony in their own lives" (Sun Bear 91).

West

This time frame corresponds to Autumn in the Northern hemisphere. In the Southern hemisphere, please interchange this with Spring in the Northern hemisphere. Autumn is the time in which human beings are reaching middle age and making the transition into older age. It is a period in which life develops its beauty and begins to decline. As people enter into autumn, there is the beauty of the fall leaves and of changing colors. People can become more peaceful if they deepen their spiritual visions during this period. In this time period, we may reevaluate the meaning of our lives and the wisdom of our actions in our youth. Many seek to deepen their spiritual vision and seek to aid others.

Sept. 23-Oct. 23 Ducks Fly Moon; Raven; Mullein; Jasper; Mudjekeewis; Brown

Butterfly Clan

"Like their bloodstone, Raven people have psychic powers" (Sun Bear 100).

Oct. 24-Nov. 21 Freeze Up Moon; Snake; Thistle; Copper & Malachite; Mudjekeewis; Orange; Frog Clan

"Snake people, like copper, are very capable of conducting the higher energies that surround us" (Sun Bear 110).

Nov. 22- Dec. 21 Long Snows Moon; Elk; Black Spruce; Obsidian; Mudjekeewis; Black

Thunderbird Clan

"Thunderbird people are direct and warm and always penetrating. Thunderbird clan people need to be around the sun to feel happy, and to renew themselves." (Sun Bear 179)

"Well developed Elk people, like their stone, have the ability to be clairovoyant and to transmit thoughts" (Sun Bear 119).