Restoration of A Medicine Wheel

Thursday morning in early January arrived with blue skies, sunshine, with only a slight breeze brushing over a calm ocean. A perfect unexpected day, as if forecasted specifically for restoring the Medicine Wheel. The Eagles chirped and soared over the rocky shores announcing today's the day, it’s time to restore the medicine wheel.

Yesterday I rescued the center pole, and brought it home to keep safe until the medicine wheel could be restored. When Mishi’s sister arrived late Thursday morning with instructions from the Elders on how to repair the medicine wheel, I carried the center pole outside, so it could be cleansed first. We burned Sage while Mishi's sister advised me of the restoration instructions.

With a dog, my middle child, and two adults to repair the desecrated wheel, we strode down to the beachfront with the center pole, which held the still intact original prayers tied on by Panji Mishiikenh Quay, from when the Medicine Wheel was constructed in November.

Mishi’s sister led the restoration. The time had been set, and we knew the Elders were with us working their corners. Sage was lit, and the circle cleansed. Sage was laid at the Eastern door and burned through the restoration. Mishi’s sister entered through the eastern door, first removing the lantern, then returning for the plastic bag, and last the cross. All items were placed respectfully against a log facing East. This had been stressed by the Elders. Even though we may feel like tossing these items out like garbage, we were not to stoop to the level of the desecrater. We would treat their items with respect. And so we did. 

The bright sun shining on the restored Medicine Wheel

Now it was time to restore the center pole to its original intent, facing South. The rocks were stacked around the pole to hold it upright. And the smaller rocks that had been scattered inside the medicine wheel and outside, were placed where they needed to go. The Eagles chirped while we restored the wheel, the sun shone and a light breeze kept the Sage burning. 

Today is January 16, twelve days since the Medicine Wheel was restored, and I'm happy to announce the Medicine Wheel remains undisturbed.  

See Part 1 - Desecration of a Medicine Wheel
See Part 2 - The Storm - Gathering Information

Medicine Wheel

 Medicine Wheel November 14. The winds have picked up and are doing their best to wreck the wheel. I've since repaired the center. It's still standing now. On the right is a photo that was sent to me by a friend of Mishi's. This is the medicine wheel Mishi built on the beach last year, which lasted until the next high tide.




The Medicine Wheel--We've had a few storms come through the last few days. This morning again the medicine had been wrecked. But I've since repaired it, and once again its standing strong.  I'll post another photo later today.

The blog I wrote below is about a medicine wheel built by a wonderful native woman I met last week Panji Mishiikenh Quay, which means Little Snapping Turtle Woman but most know her by Mishikeenhquay or Mishi for short. Since my original post, part of the medicine wheel had been damaged. Mishi repaired and has since, along with other members of the community, added to this medicine wheel. On Thursday Mishi had to leave this island and return home, we will miss her, but she's promised to return.

The Medicine Wheel



On a small island where I live in the Northern Gulf Islands, I met a native woman by the name of Mishi, visiting from Massachusetts. She introduced me first to the Eagles who have a nest just behind my house. They are most extraordinary this mate/pair that have been together for over 20 years. What I find amazing about Eagles, is they mate for life.

On Saturday Mishi, along with her sister built a medicine wheel on the beach in front of my home. 

A medicine wheel is a physical manifestation of spiritual energy. The circle of life appears like a wheel as seen in the photo’s I’ve included in this blog. Spiritual energy using all the elemental forces, calling in the four directions. It is a wheel of protection allowing us to use surrounding energy and gathered into a focal point to commune with “Spirit—all elemental forces.”

Mishi was guided to build this medicine circle, in this specific spot on the beach. As she said to me “it wanted to be up here.” She listened and constructed using the materials provided by the land. Each rock, each stick had a specific spot and purpose. Everything was blessed, and smudged with Sage. The construction took all morning. 

The wheel was constructed using the four directions. East, the rock color is yellow which is a new beginning, the rising sun, air, flight and springtime. South the rock is red, which symbolizes youth, fire, passion the time of the Summer. West rock is black, adult hood, the fall season, setting sun, water and emotions. North is white, which is the end of the cycle, purity and wisdom, earth, wintertime--a time to stop and listen. Then begin again in the East, yellow, new beginning. The circle of life.

Rock placement was not easy. Mishi and her sister scrounged the beach for hours seeking the materials, the right colored rocks, and the beach wood needed to construct the medicine wheel. Every stone was smudged with sage. Tobacco was provided in an offering for the rocks. Mishi listened to each rock—stone, to tell its proper placement. Some fit some didn’t. Several times during construction, the two women, were interrupted by the pair of Eagles who live here. The Eagles watched from their tree overlooking the beach. The murder of ravens and the sea lion, the otters in the Ocean all made their presence known. They knew why she was here to build this circle. In that spot. And why now. But did we?

The center of the circle is the pure heart, spirit. Everything extends from the circle and everything comes together in the middle.

This medicine wheel was created and blessed for Truth, Honesty and Healing. What’s amazing is why it had to be here? A place in need of healing?

I love Native American culture, and I felt truly blessed to have this medicine wheel on the beach in front of my home where I can visit every morning.