THE MEDICINE WHEEL WITH SUN BEAR AND WABUN

One of my most cherished elders and teachers, who was a true mentor for me on the Red Road, was a Chippewa Medicine Man named Sun Bear. He was one of the very first to take the sacred teachings around the world. Our prophesies from over 500 years prior to the arrival of Europeans in North America, advised us to do this when “the eagle would walk on the moon”.  As it did in 1969 when the American Space Shuttle Eagle 1 landed on the moon.

Sun Bear was also announced in the prophesies of his people. That auspicious lore said that a time would come when a bear would poke a hole into the veil of the new world with his tongue.  That is what this courageous man did.  He spoke of the essential values dear to the Indigenous Wisdom keepers of North and South America and their importance for humanity’s survival. Respect for nature, walking with gentleness on the earth mother, living with the seasons and all our relations of the animal, plant and mineral kingdoms.  He was a strong pipe carrier.  He came when I requested teachings and brought that sacred medicine with him. I was fortunate enough to receive his gifts: first a personal pipe; and later a work pipe. Then, a few years before he went all too soon to the happy hunting grounds, he initiated me to the teachings and the power of awakening the pipes to guide those to whom that medicine called. As I have done faithfully and respectfully since that time.

Sun Bear wrote several books. His first and probably his most popular was an earth astrology, The Medicine Wheel.  This came from a vision he had. In his vision he was on the top of a mountain looking at the forest below. Then he saw what seemed to be different animals walking in procession towards him. When they got closer, he saw that they were in effect people wearing animal accoutrements. Each was carrying a stone. They proceeded to place the stones in a circle and then he heard a loud voice saying: “The Time has come for the return of the Medicine Wheel”.

It’s important to know that there was a time when there were thousands of medicine wheels throughout North America. These circles of stone, very different from their European counterparts (think Stonehenge) were used for healing, ceremony, studying the stars, determining the seasons, the equinoxes and solstices. They were holy sites, blessed and sacred in the memory of the Indigenous nations. Powerful medicines were created in these sacred wheels.

Thus, after receiving this vision, Sun Bear wrote an earth astrology. Rather than looking at the stars, each sign was based on a moon time, an animal, an element, a stone and a plant. As an example, as of the 20^th of January to the 18^th of February we are in the Rest and Purifying Moon and the Otter sign. The associated mineral is silver, the Butterfly Clan or wind element and Quaking Aspen the plant. The Medicine Wheel Earth Astrology book goes on to explains the personality, traits and helpers of the people born in that time frame. Sun Bear also organised gatherings where great Medicine Wheels were built and placed upon the land. Many people would come to these events and many Indigenous Elders would then share their wisdom.

This year my company, which produces the Chiiyaam Liquid Smudge and our other Sacred Essences, celebrates its ^25th anniversary. We’ve decided to pay tribute to the work of Sun Bear to underline how much we owe to our ancestors and the indigenous people of the Americas. Some of the elements of the Medicine Wheel book will find their way into our social media with references to the essential oils and attributes that corresponds to the elements.  A wind month will honor the Butterfly; an earth month the turtle; a fire month the thunderbird; and a water month the frog.

Wabun Wind,  was his medicine helper for over twenty years and the co-author of six of his books including the Medicine Wheel and the other books in the Medicine Wheel series.  She  has recently co authored the Medicine Wheel Cards based on the Medicine Wheel book. Available here.

Disponible ICI.