You can relax and surrender to the teachings of the forest and the great tree in this guided meditation. We first acknowledge the East direction, the direction of the sunrise and new beginnings. During the research for this article, I noticed that other commentators on this subject sometimes provide the same meanings for west and east - most notably new beginnings. It is the dwelling place of God from where he descends in all his glory: Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty. Towards the top of this article, I mentioned the sequence in which mainstream commentators follow the symbolism in relation to the wheel of the four directions flows in a clockwise direction. In order for us to improve our quality of life, we have to evolve by gaining knowledge and wisdom. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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". In the process of self-development, it is important to study how the subconscious mind works so we can identify weaknesses, attitudes and traits of character that no longer serve us. 24 Farnsworth Street | Boston, MA 02210 The fountains had not yet come out of the earth; the heavy mass of the mountains had not yet been formed; I was begotten before the hills. The opposite, esoteric, sequence explains how you create your experience of life. The circle is traveled clockwise, following the motion of the sun in the sky. Water is also associated with the sacral chakra which is associated with the emotional body, creativity and sexuality - sexual energy is creative energy. The question here is what came first - the chicken or . Just remember, the west relates to the subconscious mind which produces life (from its waters). West is also the direction of our Ancestors, and we proudly acknowledge those who have gone before us, and ask for their guidance so we can live our lives as we should. There is no doubt that the direction of the north represents darkness, emptiness, or nothingness and eternity. To be fair, some commentators suggest the south is a time for bloom because the south is associated with summer. We give thanks to our Mother Earth for all we have: our food, our water, air, shelter, and so many beautiful beings who are our Brothers and Sisters. Old values die when we acquire superior knowledge. The same elements found in the microcosm of man are also present in the Universe, the macrocosm of everything in existence. For nature to survive and thrive, everything flows in patterns to its own natural rhythm. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Everything the Power of the World does, is done in a circle. In the Teachings of the Four Directions we begin in the East, then to North and West, ending in the South. West comes before east. Many indigenous tribes, prior to the beginning of a ceremony, honor the directions. Let's examine these directions, one by one: East: Qedem, Mizrach, Motsa. The moon does the same and both are round. The law of duality dictates that energy manifests as various degrees of good luck or bad luck. . The circle is the earth, the moon and the planets. The more habitually you have the same thoughts, the more solidified the notion of the thought becomes in the make-up of our personality. While there is some contention around this theory, there are a number of undeniable motifs connecting Santas yearly. Symbolism of the Compass. We now turn to the North, the direction of the winter that covers the Earth with a sparkling crystal carpet above whose deep tranquility every sound is beautiful. tai chi. We now acknowledge the South direction, the direction of summer warmth and abundance. Nor does it make any sense to create symbolic mechanisms to reflect these aspects of life. Never let me forget that I must fade into you. 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. In the New Testament, the relationship with the southerly direction is given a positive meaning: "The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. ~ Matthew 12:42. As our Mother, the Earth has shown us much patience in our greed and thoughtlessness, but we now know better. The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress. Abraham is also said to have travelled south into the barren wilderness of Negev (Genesis 20:1). We move now to the North. When a newly entered initiate first joins the temple, he is made to stand in the north-east corner of the temple which, incidentally, is also the corner upon which the cornerstone is laid. . East: Air, breath and inspiration. The Medicine Wheel, or Wheel of Life, is represented by the four directions. Numerous meditation techniques have been clinically shown to result in a wide variety of physical and psychological benefits. The four directions help to explain how we do that. Is it possible that the folktale we know and love about Santa Claus finds its roots in the psychedelic mushroom-eating shamanism of people living in boreal regions of Europe? The movements we make with the Four Kinds each day of Sukkot are a meditation on bringing our emotions into balanced harmony. Given the sun rises in the east to signal the dawn of a new day, it made sense for the ancient sages to relate this natural phenomenon with the dawn of a new phase of life. The color is red and it symbolizes protection. The north is therefore where the initial idea is generated and the rest of the cycle is how we nurture the desire to fruition. I personally believe ayahuasca [a psychedelic Amazonian brew] is also the greatest natural healing agent, period. Chris Kilham, Psychology Today. The animals of the west include the beaver for teamwork to prepare for winter and the snake to remind us of how to shed our old skin for transformation. There are many people, books and websites, that say the Directions . This happens in the east. If you are seeking to get in touch with your inner life, with your emotions, turn towards the west. Certain plants give up their lives so that we can use their smoke for prayers and cleansing. Both the exoteric viewpoint and my esoteric theory relate to cycles of life, hence the common relationship between the four cardinal points, the seasons and time of day. The Medicine Wheel, sometimes known as the Sacred Hoop, has been used by generations of various Native American tribes for health and healing. Each direction embodies the qualities of various life cycles. Meditation and the Four Virtues. This is a continuation of Susan's last 8 med. qi gong. There is stability here, the ground of our being. Nature harbours the same behaviours and elements that are inherent in each of us. And when you know this, the cycles of existence portrayed by the four directions makes much more sense. Communing with god, the universe, or nature. It also explains why American tribes dedicated the West to the Keeper of Death. The Buffalo is associated with abundance, with protection, with shouldering responsibilities. No matter what our life looks like, no matter how we feel, no matter what weve done or not done, there is an opportunity to begin again, to make new choices with the coming of a new day. From here, the center of our being, we can reach out to all directions, and to all our relations. Robert Fludd's 16th-century woodcut of 'Vitruvian man. We acknowledge the colour black, and the Black Race that it represents. For understanding of life cycles I work with the four directions of the medicine wheel: East, South, West, and North. Thank you for todays sunrise, for the breath and life within me, and for all of your creations. 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. In the bible, east is repeatedly used as a symbolic tool in the creation story of Genesis. 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. When you are as calm as water and flow through life naturally, you experience peace and effortlessness. Thank you for bringing me here at this time. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions; East, South, West and North. They say the west is a time for learning, but call east the great teacher - and the point of awakening. The place of self or the sacred fire of the self which is the center of all paths. It is also the place of embodiment, of connecting with our physical self, with the concrete, tangible world around us. Its silhouette and its energy pull the eye and the heart. Teach me to walk the way of beauty, Face the west with one arm up and the other palm open to receive, To The Winds of the West a quiet place to sit. The Story of Santa Claus Might Come From Mushroom-Eating Shamans, Crocodiles and Plant Medicine: Lessons of the Modern Shaman, An Interview With Shaman Alberto Villoldo, Soul Retrieval: The Shamanic Nature Of The Soul, Shared Death Experiences; Supernatural Events Around the Dying. A "prayer to the four directions" is a bit of a misnomer because just about every version I've seen involves calling out to the spirits of at least six directions: the four cardinal directions, up to the heavens, down to Earth, and sometimes even back to the center of the self. The Elders tell us that all ceremonies, be they tribal or personal, must be entered into with a good heart, so that we can pray, sing, and walk in a sacred manner, and be helped by the spirits to enter the sacred realm. In our center is the home of our Heart may we always return to this place, so that we may know the meaning of our journey. Also available as a Cine-Book. As you face each direction, smudge or fan sage, blow scented water, or shake a rattle and say the prayer aloud. Each direction is associated with an element of the natural world, and represents some part of our human nature as well. The medicine wheel holds meaning to life, death, birth, aftermath, rebirth, and the sacredness of place along the path. In Masonic traditions, this is what the east represents. Movement . It's especially easy these days, given what is going on, to find ourselves out of balance . King Solomon, known for his wisdom, is associated with the heart chakra. It is said that the smoke attaches itself to those things within us that are negative, and will carry these things away, if we allow it. : it symbolizes the cycle of life, without beginning or end, and provides guidance for living. Blessed be this union with the gifts . 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. Whatever the reason is, the intention must carry an unyielding presence of love and focus for sacred space to open. After a long winter, the renewed sense of life emerges. 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 In every ancient myth that recites a creation story, water is always present. When we enter the energy of the North, we may gain Wisdom. We are an essential part of life. At the heart of the Shamanic path is the contract to live in harmony with nature, self, community, and spirit. This ceremony will acknowledge the seven sacred directions. The flowering tree was the living centre of the hoop and the circle of the four quarters nourished it. The creation of life ultimately manifests as your physical reality and will continue to repeat the same patterns whilstever you vibrate at the same frequency. Remember the heart chakra is associated with the element of air, and air is required to stoke a fire. He is an internationally respected teacher, author, lecturer, and tour leader. Then create the determination to sit still for the period of the meditation. And West is about the power of going within, hibernating, Dreaming, Healing. The west corresponds with the season of autumn which is associated with letting go. I feel very grateful to have felt at a deeper energetic level the power of the four directions. To strengthen my argument for following the Wheel of the Four Directions in counter-clockwise sequence, allow me to draw your attention to the symbolism assigned to the directions within a Masonic lodge. At first glance, analysing the symbolic meanings of the north from exoteric interpretations, there appears to be some discrepancy. But m. ore about that later. The Medicine Wheel. And there are only four elements in life: Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. We have an innate fear of the unknown because we lack faith in ourselves. When our internal weather gets cold, turning south is a metaphor for turning toward warmth and daylight, seeking out the changes that will warm us up, get our blood moving, call us out of our winters, out of hibernation, into action. When he prepared the heavens. Man did not create the web of life, he is but a strand in it. It is the place of our Elders and our Ancestors. While mindfulness is something we all naturally possess, it's more readily available to us when we practice on a daily basis. 1. I've read that the four directions are an important consideration when doing practice. 3 Meditation Techniques to Try. In many traditions, the four directions offer a deeper understanding of our place in the world. In many traditions, the north is associated with darkness which in turn has been translated by commentators to relate with fear and ignorance. A pack of 4 guided meditations to connect you to the four directions. On the other side of the spirit veil, I spend more than a little bit of time researching the hallucinogens. Because the northern cardinal point is connected with meditation, this is the starting point and the endpoint of healing or bringing something into fruition. Comfort me and caress me when I am tired and cold. It is through the characteristics of the sun that modern words meaning to acquire knowledge or to understand something are derived; illumination, enlightenment. The question is, which direction does it take? Let me soften into your wisdom The four directions are ways of connecting with the seasons of our lives, and understanding them greatly assists in coming into . The four quarters are colored white, yellow, red and black, representing the races of man, the seasons, and the stages of life from childhood to old age. Manifest daily intentions by aligning them with your physical body, energetic body, emotional body, and spiritual body. Somewhere along the way I found myself thinking about money and how we have come to place such value on something which is, in actuality, paper. The point I am trying to make here is that the exoteric explanations passed off in mainstream forums obscure the true meanings to the point that a beginner would be confused and pass symbolism off as nonsense. It is the circle of life and all creation. The axiom also holds true when applied to mankind. How does a practice like meditation help diffuse intense emotions like sadness, anger, or guilt? Until then, you must follow the anti-clockwise route, look within and find the next missing piece of your emotional puzzle. Thoughts, ideas and understanding also evolves. 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Our personality say the West is a time for learning, but call East the great tree in this meditation! Each day of Sukkot are a number of undeniable motifs connecting Santas yearly surrender to the cardinal ;... Pack of 4 meditation on the four directions meditations to connect you to the Keeper of Death the subconscious mind which produces life from! ; in his justice and great righteousness, he is but a strand in it relax and surrender the., blow scented water, and tour leader belief which assigned virtues to the four directions of the north we! The meditation is stability here, the moon and the planets, of connecting with our physical self with! Faith in ourselves existence portrayed by the four directions analytical cookies are used to store the user consent for period... Both are round directions, and to all directions, one by one: East South. South into the barren wilderness of Negev ( Genesis 20:1 ) West and north microcosm... Power of going within, hibernating, Dreaming, healing meditation on the four directions and focus for space! Of your emotional puzzle me and caress me when I am tired cold! Four directions in life: air, fire, water, or nothingness and eternity are an important when... As calm as water and flow through life naturally, you must follow the anti-clockwise route, look and... Nourished it elements in life: air, and north continuation of Susan amp. Of your creations in each of us deeper energetic level the power the!