The Native American medicine wheel is a sacred symbol that has been used by Indigenous tribes across North America for centuries. It represents a variety of concepts related to health, spirituality, nature and the circle of life. One of the most well-known aspects of the medicine wheel is the colors that are associated with the four cardinal directions – east, south, west and north. Each direction is represented by a particular color, and the order of these colors varies between different tribal traditions. In this article, we will explore the meanings behind each color and examine the most common order seen on medicine wheels today.
The Significance of the Four Directions
In Native American culture, the four cardinal directions each hold symbolic meaning and are associated with particular elements. The east represents the rising sun and the element of air or wind. It is connected to the beginning of a new day and new endeavors. The south embodies the heat of the midday sun and the element of fire. It represents the peak of life and the time for productivity. The west signifies the setting sun and the element of water. It is associated with introspection and rest. Finally, the north epitomizes the moon, nighttime and the element of earth. It represents wisdom, elders and the natural world.
When depicted on the medicine wheel, each direction provides guidance, balance and connection to the cyclical nature of life. The wheel’s circular shape reflects how all things are intertwined in an ongoing process of change and renewal.
The Colors and Their Meanings
So what are the actual colors used to represent each cardinal direction, and what do they symbolize? Here is an overview:
East: The east is most often depicted as yellow or gold on the medicine wheel. These sunny colors evoke dawn, daylight and awakening. Yellow represents vitality, freshness, and youthful energy to start each new day.
South: The south is typically shown as red on the medicine wheel. Red is the color of strength, passion, and courage. It calls to mind the heat and vibrant life force of the south.
West: Blue or black is the usual color used for the western portion of the wheel. These cool, deep colors reflect dusk, sunset and nighttime. They represent introspection, stillness, and the unconscious.
North: The north is commonly represented by the color white on medicine wheels. White symbolizes wisdom, clarity, and Elders. It also epitomizes the white snows of the north.
The Typical Order of Colors
So what is the actual order of these colors as you move clockwise around a basic medicine wheel from the eastern point?
The most common order is:
Yellow (East)
Red (South)
Black (West)
White (North)
This sequence follows the pattern of a day – beginning with the yellow light of dawn in the east, moving into the red heat of midday in the south, then the black night in the west, and finally the white moonlight in the northern sky.
| Direction | Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| East | Yellow | Dawn, vitality, freshness |
| South | Red | Midday, passion, courage |
| West | Black | Dusk, introspection, stillness |
| North | White | Wisdom, clarity, Elders |
This clockwise color sequence around the medicine wheel is by far the most common pattern seen today. However, there are some variations.
Variations in Color Order
While the yellow-red-black-white order around the medicine wheel is prevalent, some tribes use different colors, sequences or additional hues.
For instance, among some Lakota and other Sioux tribes, the west is represented by blue instead of black, with the other directions remaining yellow, red and white.
Some traditions show the east as red rather than yellow. This may correlate with the reddish hue that can be seen on the horizon at sunrise.
Green is sometimes added between the yellow east and red south. Green represents growth, healing and the natural world emerging in spring.
Other medicine wheels include a fifth or central direction depicted as green, tan or multicolored. This represents the grounding force at the heart of the wheel.
Overall, while variations exist, the yellow-red-black-white pattern serves as the most widely recognized color sequence around the medicine wheel.
The Significance of Understanding the Colors
Recognizing the symbolic meanings behind the medicine wheel’s colors and directions provides insight into Native American cosmology. The wheel ultimately represents the circle of life and cycles of nature.
Each color offers lessons and guidance when facing particular challenges or stages of life. Meditating on the medicine wheel can foster harmony and balance through appreciating both variety and interconnection.
By honoring the wisdom of these ancient Indigenous traditions, we gain perspective on our place within the universe. The medicine wheel colors thus transmit timeless truths if we remain open to their wisdom.
Conclusion
The Native American medicine wheel’s sequence of symbolic colors provides guidance amidst life’s circular journey. While some variations exist between tribal traditions, the predominant order moves clockwise from yellow in the east, to red in the south, black in the west, and white in the north. These colors represent the seasons, times of day, elements, stages of life and aspects of the human experience. Contemplating the medicines of each direction brings balance, insight and connection to the great web of existence. The medicine wheel ultimately reminds us of our shared place within nature’s eternal cycle.