Gardens are a place of beauty, a gentle reminder that nature’s miracles are constantly at work.
In our relentless, often unrealistic desire to do, be and have more, we tend to feel as if we are never quite complete. We create an infinite, frenzied circle of requirements and commitments to fill our calendars. We forget how to unwind, how to play, or how to separate ourselves from the daily buzz of life.
We forget how to just simply “be”.
The tranquil stillness of an unassuming garden can help us to remember those forgotten customs; the creation of a “Medicine Wheel Garden” can take us one step further by grounding us and to help us understand that we are never meant to be complete.
Instead of associating the circle in our lives with chaos and “never getting it all done”, we might be wise to take a lesson from our First Nations predecessors, who recognized the circle as a symbol of connectedness to the ever-evolving ebb and flow of life. The customary formation of circular medicine wheels held sacred and ceremonial meaning to our early civilizations, many of which we can only imagine.
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The fascination with these intriguing structures for some, has led to a unique green-thumbed phenomenon, and Medicine Wheel Gardens are manifesting in backyards around the globe.
These circular formations, however, are not shrouded in mystery and wonder, as were the ancient medicine wheels associated with First Nations civilizations. These contemporary wheels are being created by present day gardeners who wish to regain a sense of balance and harmony amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Though formation and size of ancient medicine wheels vary, a few basic elements can be translated into the creation of your own homegrown Medicine Wheel Garden. The circle itself embodies the essence of the earth, with the four basic directions of north, south, east and west representing a season, an animal totem or spirit, an element (earth, water, fire, air), a specific plant or herb, or a pertinent lesson or quality to be learned based on your life’s progression. Again, symbolisms will differ from civilization to civilization, but there are many sources to research, and you are bound to discover a teaching or a translation that connects with your individual essence.
Listed are some documented interpretations:
| EAST | Direction for seeking clarity and enlightenment |
| Season – Spring | |
| Color - Yellow | |
| Totem - Eagle | |
| Plant - Tobacco (symbolizes prayer, cleansing, meditation) |
| SOUTH | Direction for seeking faith, humility and trust |
| Season – Summer | |
| Color - Red | |
| Totem - Coyote, Mouse | |
| Plant - Red Cedar (symbolizes purification, healing and balance) |
| WEST | Direction for inner reflection and realignment |
| Season - Fall | |
| Color - Black | |
| Totem - Bear | |
| Plant - Sage (symbolizes strength, wisdom, female reproduction) |
| NORTH | Direction for wisdom and gratitude |
| Season - Winter | |
| Color - White | |
| Totem - Buffalo | |
| Plant - Sweet Grass (symbolizes “hair of Mother Earth”, considered a gift from the Creator) |
An award winning Medicine Wheel Garden is available for public viewing at Winnipeg’s Red River College in Manitoba. The 2006 Spirit of the Earth Awards was presented to the college’s Aboriginal Education Division for the creation of this environmental and cultural project.
There is something to be said about slowing down the hectic pace of life as we know it and allowing some precious time to appreciate and reconnect with nature - to take a little time to smell the roses, as they say.
Designing a personalized Medicine Wheel Garden will provide opportunity to create an original and distinct space that holds individual and special meaning, and in the creative process, you may discover that past and present are as interchangeable and as infinite as the circle of life.