Cherokee Medicine: The Medicine Wheel

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Interconnectedness is a theme that flows throughout all aspects of Cherokee culture from spirituality to medicine, as they believe everything within the world is related. They believe spiritual energy courses through all components of the universe that influence their daily life and maintaining a balance between these energies is crucial to being in harmony with Mother Nature and living a fulfilling life. Rather than having a dominant species, group or society, all components of the world are considered to be equal and to have a purposeful role (Garrett 2001 pg 1). Given this perspective, the Cherokee believe they can learn about health and medicine from plants, survival tactics from animals, and spirit freedom from birds. Due to this relationship, it is their duty to respect and revere this continuous flow of energy within the universe as they consider themselves to be brought to this earth as the keepers of Mother Nature (Garrett and Garrett 1996).
Similar to the concept of a continuous flow or cycle of energy, circles are symbolic in Native American cultures at large. In Native American cultures that live in teepees, such as the Lakota people, the round bottom indicates a person is in touch with the world and at peace with himself (slideshare.net). In Cherokee culture rituals, magic work, and ceremonies are conducted within these sacred circles with fire placed in the middle. The fire in the center is known as the Universal Circle and serves as a reminder to seek harmony and balance. It is considered to be the path to the Great One (a supreme energy being) and the beginning for all living things. In the Cherokee’s eyes, the universe operates in a circular fashion where the period of time from birth to death is a cycle, as it ...

... middle of paper ...

...rue appreciation for interdependence as its perspective on life considers all living things to be reliant on one another for everything to exist in harmony and balance.

References
1. Garrett J & Garrett M. Medicine of the Cherokee: The way of the right relationship. Santa Fe, NM: Bear and Company; 1996.
2. Garrett J. Meditations with the Cherokee: Prayers, Songs and Stories of Healing and Harmony. Rochester, VT. Bear and Company; 2001.
3. Cherokee - Medicine Wheel. United Cherokee Ani-Yun-Wiya Nation. http://www.ucan-online.org/legend.asp?legend=5187&category=9. Accessed April 1, 2014.
4. The Cherokee Medicine Wheel. Tripod. http://members.tripod.com/~lil_feathers/chwheel.htm. Accessed April 1, 2014.
5. The Medicine Wheel Briefly Explained. Slideshare. http://www.slideshare.net/westlivaudais/the-medicine-wheel-briefly-explained-presentation. Accessed April 1, 2014.

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