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Spiritual Herbalism

Come with me on a journey through the spiritual traditions of The Algonquin Medicine Wheel and how you can incorporate them into your herbalism practice.

a brief history 

The Medicine Wheel or “The Sacred Hoop” has many applications in traditional spiritual practices that date back millions of years. The oldest and largest representation being The BigHorn Medicine Wheel. [R]. Today I will be breaking down for you the moving parts of the medicine wheel, with a deeper dive into the four directional quadrants, also known as doors and their associations, as well as how this knowledge can be applied to your spiritual herbal practice. The Medicine Wheel I will be discussing today is that which I am most familiar with, The Algonquins of Greater Golden Lake or The Algonquins of Pikwakanagan. The belief being that there are four quadrants inside the medicine wheel that, like the sun, move clockwise each dictating a segment of every day. [R] These four quadrants are each kept by a spirit that governs not only a time of day, but a colour, a season, a Sacred Medicine, a stage of life, a state of being and last but not least, an animal. In the center of this wheel is where we can find balance.

the top of a totem pole bearing an eagle

Wabanaong

Wabanaong or The Spirit Keeper of the East is represented by the yellow quadrant on The Medicine Wheel. It dictates the morning & beginning, not just of our days but of everything. From Pow Wows to ceremonies, everything moves in a clockwise direction that starts in the East. The time of year associated with this direction is spring, a time of renewal and rebirth. The Sacred Medicine linked with the East is Tobacco, this plant is used to open communication with Spirit, it is a token of gratitude & prayer, a symbol of growth. The life stage of the east is that of newborns or of infants, the youngest stage of life where growth is most prominent, the newest of beginnings. In this quadrant we see the state of Spirit, think of this as your energy or life force and the connection we all have within us to the greater world. Lastly, the animal that we associate most with the east is the eagle. The eagle is thought to be a messenger for The Creator. In Algonquin spiritualism is deeply tied to rebirth, new beginnings, and the rising sun of the dawn. [R]

Shawanong

Shawanong or The Spirit Keeper of the South is represented by the red quadrant of the Medicine Wheel. As the day continues on, the sun can be found in the south of the sky, offering us its warmest heat, which gives us our next time of day; the afternoon. The season that is associated with these attributes of warmth and sunny days is, you guessed it! Summer, the season filled with long hot days and bountiful harvests. Cedar is the Sacred Medicine of the South, it grants us protection, the resin within the Cedar leaves cracks and snaps in the heat of fire, calling to Spirit and making known the offerings that we lay before them. The life stage of the south is youth, the teenage and young adult years, where we grow into ourselves much like the plants at this time, simultaneously spreading out branches and sprouting new leaves while strengthening our roots. The South's state of being is the emotional, meaning that this direction rules our feelings. I find it quite fitting that the animal associated with the South Spirit is the coyote. The mischievous nature of a coyote is akin to the spirit of youth. The embodiment so to speak of strong emotions leading one to greater understanding through both the adventures and misadventures of young adolescence. [R]

Sha’ngabi’hanong

Sha’ngabi’hanong or The Spirit of the West is represented by the black quadrant on the medicine wheel. As the day moves the sun begins to set in the west, leaving us with our next time of day which is of course the evening. This is the time for rest, for winding down and for relaxation. The season associated with this time is autumn. Trees prepare their bed for the cold nights to come, laying down their leaves on the forest floors. The Scared Medicine for this time is Sage, used to bring upon clarity and the dispelling of negative energies. The energy felt throughout this time is that of cleansing and dispelling of negativity, which I personally associate with the new moon. That being said, it is also a time of preparation and maturity. These attributes are both linked to the adult stage of life. A time where one’s focus is shifted from the emotion state to the physical. This is a life stage where the physical body is used most for things like human connection, sex, and even the creation of human life. The Animal associated with the north is that of the bear. The bear is a mother figure, all together caring and healing, strong and physical. The bear is best known for its winterlong hibernations, preceded by its autumn filled with eating plenty of good food and making a safe den for herself and her cubs.  [R]

Keewatingong

Keewatingong or The Spirit of the North is depicted by the white quadrant of the Medicine Wheel. This is of course the last of the directions and rules the night. The season that is ruled by The Spirit of the North is Winter. Winter is a time for nurturing interpersonal connections and communication with Spirit. The Sacred Medicine ruled by the north is Sweetgrass. Sweetgrass symbolizes the long hair of mother earth, when we braid her hair together in ceremony we are not only forging connections within our community, but together we weave a symbol that represents the mind, body and spirit. The North rules over the life stage of the Elders, a time for wisdom, community, rest and relaxation. The state of being we associate with the elders and wisdom is the mind. The mind is associated with teachings, stories and tales from the elders, and deep introspection. The animal we identify with this last quadrant is the deer. A sensitive animal such as the white tailed deer represents the essence of the North. This animal has deep rooted intuition, peace, and mindfulness. [R]

Medicine_Wheel.svg.png

Teachings in practice 

Now that we have the basic inner workings of the medicine wheel figured out, let's dive into some rituals we can easily incorporate into our spiritual herbal practice on a daily, seasonal, and yearly basis.

daily

By using the times of day within the medicine wheel, we can see the windows of opportunity for practicing mindful and spiritual herbalism. This could look like sipping on dandelion root tea in the morning. The bright yellow flower of this plant honours the Spirit of the East and is reminiscent of the rising sun. Dandelion is filled with vitamins and minerals, its mild bitterness is beneficial for both the liver and gallbladder [R], which supports healthy digestion. Try making these connections for yourself with the 3 other directions using herbs that align with your practice.

Seasonally

The solstice, or changing of seasons, can be a great time to honour Spirit and The Creator. One way of doing this is by incorporating seasonal plants into rituals you’re already familiar with. For this example let’s use the season of autumn. Ruled by the Western Spirit we know that it is a time for human connection and togetherness. This makes for a wonderful opportunity to blend herbalism, spirituality, and community by sharing food with our loved ones. Seasonally this is a time when squashes like pumpkin or butternut squash are harvested. This versatile veggie can be used in everything from savory soups to sweet treats like pies and smoothies. Want to take this a step further? Try adding sage to your roasted squash, using its protective and cleansing qualities to spice up thanksgiving dinner. Now it’s your turn, try out different seasonal food and herb combinations to see what resonates best with you and your loved ones. 

Yearly

Yearly practices are tradition in many cultures. Often when we think about these cultural rituals we associate them with New Years. However, there are many other places where we find these practices scattered throughout the year. Things like birthdays, anniversaries, even spring cleanings, are a yearly ritual. In this instance let’s use New Year’s Eve as our yearly tradition, and make it even more special with some spiritual and herbal rituals. New Years is unique in that it takes place in the North Spirit for both its time of day as well as its season. Consider cleansing your home by burning sweet grass and allowing Spirit to evoke a sense of deep introspection and wisdom as you take time to write down your new years manifestations and resolutions. I’m sure you can already think of some ways to incorporate this type of practice into your yearly traditions. Maybe by smoke cleansing your home while spring cleaning or drinking an herbal tea made with cleansing digestif herbs like dandelion [R] or burdock root [R]. 

Every path taken on the journey through spiritual herbalism is a unique one. By sharing and listening to how others practice spiritual herbalism within our circle, we create new opportunities for discovery and community. Together we can forge a path rooted in traditional healing practices. 

Note: The Smudging & Burning of both White Sage and Sweetgrass is a part of closed indigenous practice. [R]

 

As always, when it comes to using herbal products and supplements, the importance and necessity to consult your healthcare provider prior to use is invaluable. Herbs may have side effects, cause individual sensitivities, or interact with medications.  I am an herbalist, my goal is to help you support your overall health and wellness. I am NOT a licensed health care practitioner, my consultations do NOT replace those of a healthcare provider. I cannot stress enough how western medicine and traditional wellness can and should be used hand in hand. Thank you and stay safe. 

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