4 flashlights
4 candle holders
4 candles
4 sets of matches or lighters
4 baskets
4 sets of things to give away

peace pipe
tobacco
smudge stick

1st Reader:
Guide:
1st station:
2nd station:
3rd station:
4th station:

Fire station:
something yellow
basket
flashlight
yellow candle
candle holder
lighter or matches
script

Earth station:
something green
basket
flashlight
green candle
candle holder
lighter or matches
script

3rd station:
something black
basket
flashlight
black candle
candle holder
lighter or matches
script

4th station:
something white
basket
flashlight
white candle
candle holder
lighter or matches
script

At Kitchen, tell folks that we're going to be doing a journey through the Medicine Wheel. They will need to pick one or more things up off the ground or from a tree, or elsewhere, to give-away during the ritual.

(Smudge all when they come in or when they go to East)

The Medicine Wheel is a silent teacher of the realities of things; it shows the ways in which all things are interconnected; it shows not only things that are, but also things that could be. The medicine wheel is a mirror in which everything is reflected. The Universe is the mirror of the People, and each person is a mirror to every other person. We see in this mirror that within each of us are hidden many wonderful gifts. Many of these hidden gifts might never be developed if we did not somehow discover and nurture them. Unless we decide and act to develop these hidden qualities, gifts such as courage, will-power, clear thinking, or appreciation of beauty, love, etc., will remain, like the fruit within the tree. Each person who looks deeply into the medicine wheel will see things. Each of us is a unique human being, with a special combination of gifts, which can be used to further develop ourselves and to serve others.

Each person is a living Medicine Wheel, powerful beyond imagination, that has been limited and placed upon this earth to touch, experience, and learn. Each man, woman, and child was at one time a living Power that existed somewhere in time and space. These Powers were without form, but they were aware. They were alive. Each Power possessed boundless energy and beauty. These living Medicine Wheels were capable of nearly anything. They were beautiful and perfect in all ways except one. They had no understanding of limitation, no experience of substance. These Beings were total energy of the mind, without body or heart. They were placed upon this earth that they might learn the things of the heart through touching. To touch and feel is to experience, and to become whole.

At birth, each of us is given a particular beginning place within the four great directions on the Medicine Wheel. This starting place gives us our first way of perceiving things, which will then be our easiest and most natural way throughout our lives. But any person who perceives from only one of these four great directions will remain just a partial person.

Tonight we will learn a bit about each of the four directions, so that you may determine your beginning place on the Medicine Wheel. We will travel to the four great directions, and gather their gifts, that we may learn and touch and become whole. We will start in the East, and we will end in the East. As we go to each direction, you may Give-Away something there, and you may take something of that direction for yourself. In this way, you may gather things with which to construct your own personal shield.

EAST - Eagle, dressed in yellow, greets people.

East is the direction we face at sunrise, the beginning of each day. The new beginning of youth, knowledge and understanding. Here we learn to see things clearly, with a far-seeing vision, that allows us to look ahead, and see more clearly where things on Earth fit together. This is a place of illumination, clarity, and inspiration. The Eagle is a spiritual messenger, bringing the light of knowledge to our consciousness. The illumination of the East comes to the mind through spiritual vision, or the ability to see into the essence or spirit of things.

The Eagle person can see very far, with great clarity. He flies high above the Earth, detached from the Earth and material things. He is close to the Sun, and can see into its light without being blinded. He is also closer to Spirit, and has a greater awareness of all around him.

A person who has only the gift of the East will have the clear, far sighted vision of the Eagle, but he will never be close to things. This person will feel separated, high above life, and will never understand or believe that he can be touched by anything. To be a whole person, he needs the gifts of the South, for seeing things nearby and on the Earth, the West, for looking within, and the North, for wisdom.

The gift of the East is illumination. Take this gift with you on your journey, and give-away something if you wish.

Guide sprinkles tobacco or smokes pipe. Says:

We give thanks to our eastern kindred.

SOUTH

Mouse, dressed in green, greets people.

South is the place of innocence and trust. This is where our childlike nature is found. Here we can learn about wildness, humor, and trickster energy. This is also the place of touch and closeness, which allows us to experience the world around us, and find our balance. We learn not to look so far ahead that we overlook what lies directly within our reach. Mouse brings us the trust we need to open up and express ourselves, to experience our feelings and emotions without fear.

A Mouse person sees everything close up. His vision is limited to the immediate world around him. He is a gatherer of things; facts, information, material objects, or even ideas. But because he cannot see far enough to connect his world with that of the great prairie of the world around him, he cannot use or understand all that he sees and gathers.

If a person has only the gift of the South, he will see everything with the eyes of a mouse. He will be too close to the ground and too near sighted to see anything except whatever is right in front of him, touching his whiskers. He needs the gifts of the East for far-sightedness, West for inner strength, and North for wisdom.

Take with you now the gift of the South; Innocence, and give-away something if you wish.

Guide sprinkles tobacco or smokes pipe, says:

We give thanks to our southern kindred.

WEST - Bear, dressed in black, greets people.

West is the Looks-Within place, which speaks of the introspective nature of man. West is the direction of the setting sun. This is a place of insight, the emotional part of ourselves. Sometimes we must retreat into ourselves for a while. In order to find the answers to our questions, we must be silent and look within, no matter how scary the dark seems to be. Bear brings us the strength to look within and examine our past actions and learn from them, so that our future decisions may be wise ones. Only when our minds are still and free from worldly worries will our dreams visit and give us council.

A Bear person is strong and stable, with the inner strength to look within. He possesses a greater degree of self-sufficiency than most, and is more introspective. He has the ability to prepare and gather things in, whether it be the fruits and rewards of past activity, or information and knowledge.

A person who perceives only from the West will go over the same thought again and again in their mind, and will always be undecided. They may also freeze within themselves, and hold onto themselves rather than make needed change. To be a whole person, he must also gain the gifts of East for clear vision, South for trust, and North for wisdom.

The gift of the West is Introspection. Take this with you now on your journey, and give-away something if you wish.

Guide sprinkles tobacco or smokes pipe, says:

We give thanks to our western kindred.

NORTH

Buffalo, dressed in white, greets people.

North is the direction of the white hairs and the elderly, and the wisdom that comes with age and experience. Spirituality, selflessness, generosity, hope, and ancient wisdom can be learned here. It is a place of wisdom, much like the answers found in our dreams. Buffalo brings us the power of the mind. Knowledge and wisdom are things of the mind, not of the brain. The mind is not the brain, rather the brain is a tool of the mind. Knowledge provides answers to our questions of what, when, where, who, and how, but only wisdom explains the why.

A Buffalo person is very creative and innovative, and has an inner wisdom. He has an inner strength and power to change fluid and uncertain situations into solid and more permanent arrangements.

A man who possesses only the gift of the North will be wise, but he will be a cold man, a man without feeling. He must also gain the gifts of warmth and compassion, gifts of the East, South, and West.

The gift of the North is Wisdom. Take this with you now, for you will always need it. Give-away something here if you wish.

Guide sprinkles tobacco or smokes pipe, says:

We give thanks to our northern kindred.

All return to the East.

We have now completed the circle of the Medicine Wheel. After you have learned of your beginning gift, your first place on the Medicine Wheel, you must then grow by seeking understanding in each of the Four Great Ways. Only in this way can you become full, capable of balance and decision in what you do. Take the gifts you have gained from each of the four directions. You may use these physical reminders to construct a personal shield, or a medicine bag.

After you share of the pipe, begin your journey on the path of understanding, taking with you the gifts of illumination, trust, introspection, and wisdom. And remember that by giving away you gain much more back. Go in peace.