Medicine Wheel ~ Elk

Native American Medicine Wheel

Vision: Roy Wilson ~ | ~ Sun Bear ~ | ~ Grey Wolf

Color of death and mourning, and the underworld in the West
- Also associated with evil magic
Hinduism, Kali the terrible goddess of Destruction, is black
In China, black represents North and Winter
Jewelry made of jet, a black, semi-precious stone
- Commonly used by those in mourning in Victorian times
- Queen Victoria of England in perpetual mourning after her husband's death
  - Thought display of bright jewelry slowed lack of respect for deceased
  - Led to fad for jet jewelry

Volcanic glass, usually black; razor sharp around edges; translucent at times
- Found in most western states
- Mayans made obsidian mirrors, carved jewelry and cylinder earplugs
- Mayans and Egyptians carved obsidian into statues
It is one of the most difficult stones to work with
- It is hard and has a great tendency to fracture
Native Americans have used obsidian for scrapers, spears, arrowheads, and jewelry
Its origin is deep within the Earth Mother
It has power to reflect the thoughts of others
- Allows one to see into the future
- Has power to protect the wearer against evil spirits

A large, regal member of the deer family; lives in woodlands
- Goes into the high country in summer, returns to lowlands during fall and winter
- Herds with its own gender, except during mating season
- Have a good sense of responsibility for each other
- Dance together in a large circle
Elk People carry themselves like members of a royal family
- Are insightful, introspective
- Capable of absorbing much of what they see, hear, red, or experience of life
- Show their concern over welfare of others
- Enjoy going to high places both physically and spiritually
  - Allow their open minds to soar
- They experience their need to come to the lowlands
  - In order to maintain harmony with the things of life
- Are very independent, but will take teaching if it is proper at the time
- At times, they will open up to others in relationships
  - But fear will cause them to retreat from those relationships
- Keep themselves closed to others regarding those things which are deep within their own spirits
- You cannot win an argument with an elk person
- Elk men are competitive with each other; elk women make good mothers
- The medicine power of these people is that of "stamina"

A majestic member of the pine family; its wood is soft, strong, free of knots
- Horizontal branches, often drooping; tips of tree aromatic when young
Medicine power:
- Gum of tree used as antiseptic, also to loosen mucus in throat and chest
- It can be applied to cuts and wounds to clean them
- It has been made into a plaster for the setting of bones
- A tea from the twigs is used in a bath to cure colds
- The gum can be used as an inhalant
  - Can be nibbled or made into a tea (high in vitamin "C" content)
  - The evergreens were the Native American orange tree
- The cambium layer, between bark and wood, is used as a laxative agent
Black Spruce people are majestic in bearing with all their gifts when in balance
- Can be soft and strong at same time; are warm and courteous
- Can lead others on the path most suited to them
- Have an innate sense of justice; are intuitive
- Can be an antiseptic or loosening spiritually or sociologically within any group

Vision: Roy Wilson ~ | ~ Sun Bear ~ | ~ Grey Wolf