Spirit of the East & The Medicine Wheel by Yvette Neshi Lokotz

From the Editor

Spirit of Air & The Medicine Wheel

by Yvette Neshi Lokotz

Seven years ago, when I was blogging, I wrote a blog about Spring and the Native American Medicine Wheel. I thought you, dear reader, would like to read this Medicine Wheel information and I would like to expand the information to include the Eastern door of the Medicine Wheel called the Spirit of Air.

The Native American Medicine Wheel can be a template for life, all life. The Medicine Wheel depicts cycles within cycles. For example, birth to death to rebirth, movement from thought to action, Spring to Winter, and sunrise to sunrise. Within these cycles also lies the Spirit or Medicine of all life.

As we prepare to experience Spring, we experience the energies of nature in the first new cycle. We experience life as it begins again within the new energy of the first Procession. I thought sharing about the Spirit or Medicine of plants could be helpful as we begin to experience the energies of Spring and as we move toward the Eastern door of the Medicine Wheel.

The Spirit or Medicine of the eastern part of the Medicine Wheel is the season of Spring. Spring denotes new beginnings, birth, sunrise, morning, and being an infant. Specifically, the crosswinds of the Spring Equinox are about rebirth and energies of giving birth or the end of gestation.

I would also like to add the element of Air as one of the Medicines at the Eastern door of the Medicine Wheel. The element of Air includes wind, breezes, and those who fly (birds).

Mental thoughts or ideas are part of the Medicine of the element of Air. As we know, thoughts become things. We begin our creation, manifesting, with thoughts.

We also dreamed the dream during the full night of the North. As we move from the North toward the East on the Medicine Wheel, we begin to set our intentions for those dreams. Sometimes we refer to these intended dreams as seeds or thoughts we plant.

As we experience Spring at due East on the Medicine Wheel, we begin to feel, see, or sense the intended dream, which begins to build energy or life as it moves around the Medicine Wheel template to take form in the physical world.

Sandhill Cranes in Wisconsin

Credit: skeeze_Pixabay.com

For instance, here in the upper Midwest region, the Maple Tree Medicine is used in the Eastern part of the Medicine Wheel because of its sap running in the Spring, which is made into maple syrup. Certain birds represent Spring in the upper Midwest as well, such as the Sandhill Crane. When the crane migration arrives in Wisconsin, we know it is Spring. The cranes represent the Spirit of Air.

The Kiowa Nation in the southwest, use Mesquite trees as Medicine. The Mesquite tree represents the Spirit of the East. Harvested for food, the Mesquite tree sap is also made into syrup. Mesquite can also be used to heal headaches. Almost any plant that blooms in the Spring is considered to have the Spirit or Medicine of the East, such as daffodils or crocus.

When a plant is harvested for its Medicine or Spirit to be used for healing or ceremonial purpose, we consider how it is being used and for what purpose. For instance, using Willow can be placed in the East because we use it Medicine in aspirins for headaches or for some Native people, they use the Willow bark as part of the mixture of sacred plants in a Medicine Pipe.

I also place tobacco in the East as this is the sacred plant given to Native Americans and used in the Medicine Pipe. Tobacco, when used in a pipe, also represents the Spirit of Air. The smoke takes our prayers to the Creator. We appreciate and love plants, and our connection to all things green can go far beyond their beauty. We can nurture our connection to plants by considering their Medicine or Spirit, and how they enhance our journey or walk in the Medicine Wheel that we call life. As we welcome Spring, the new cycle felt in the breeze coming from the East, we also celebrate the Spirit of Air.

Enjoy a one of Star Nations Live Stream Shows - Nature Adventures with hosts Minnie Kansman and Yvette Neshi Lokotz. Please click the image below to watch the recorded live stream show - Sacred Element of Air. https://youtu.be/l11P_LyyLSI

Native American Medicine at Neshi's Home

Credit: Yvette Neshi Lokotz

In this issue of Star Nations Magazine, we bring you articles about Walking, Passover, Easter, Earth Day, Spirit of Air, and Honesty. In my study of the Medicine Wheel, I noticed that some of its variation in meaning from Native American nation to nation is based on their different geographical locations.

The cover image for this issue is our nod to the spirit of Easter and Spring. Enjoy your time with us as you read the articles, watch the videos, and listen to the audio recordings. We wish each of you a blessed Easter, Ramadan, Passover, and Earth Day.

Jage Nagonan, (Potawatomi for All My Relatives)

Neshi

Yvette Neshi Lokotz, Star Nations Organization, LLC, CEO

Courtesy of Yvette Neshi Lokotz