After the picturesque stirrings of Spring, Summer comes on like a party. The trees that a month ago looked so light and luminous suddenly are heavily festooned with leaves. Blossoms on annual plants open everywhere in hues ranging from blushing to riotous. Temperatures swing from mild to warm to hot! Thunderstorms break across the sky and then suddenly disappear, leaving a dazzling landscape shining in the sunlight. Insects swarm. Birds sing. Animals prance. The year has left infancy and childhood and has entered adolescence and youth. Feel the zeal!

On the Medicine Wheel, we are at the red stone of the South wind. It is noon and we are fully emerged in the work and the play of life. During early childhood we focused on our parents but in youth we are focused on ourselves. We are so involved with living we simply can’t help it. It may sadden our parents to have their once-enjoyed importance somewhat diminished, but nature has designed us to start breaking out on our own, now. Our parents once grew away from their parents, too- so that life could go on and we could eventually be born. Wise parents will recognize this and try to relax their protective hold, just a little at a time. Once again, it is a balancing act to judge how much to let go of and when.

As wise young people, we may recognize that older relatives have experienced some of what we are just coming to now, and may have good advice they may be delighted to share if only we would ask.

Since human people are thought to have emerged on Earth after the rocks, the plants and the animals, we can view ourselves as the youngest relatives on the Medicine Wheel of beings. In recognition of this, indigenous people have been known to respectfully address a tree as “grandmother” or an animal as “brother”, especially when looking for guidance. If we are quiet, receptive, attentive and patient, it is quite possible to sort out our problems and receive good answers through inspirations provided by nature.

When we do a Medicine Wheel meditation, we attempt to achieve balance. We may be doing this to introduce or re-introduce ourselves to nature. We may be doing this to seek guidance or gather strength. Very often we do this simply to show gratitude. The first thing we do is to smudge or otherwise purify ourselves. In doing this we are establishing our intention to be truthful. We are re-zeroing the scales.

Once we have smudged, we can address the four winds in what is called the sun-wise, or clockwise direction, one at a time. To each direction we say a few words either silently or out loud, expressing thanks for the properties each wind represents. We may mention a bird or animal associated with each direction. As with other aspects of Indigenous American spirituality, these bird and animal symbols vary among the Indian Nations, but it in general whatever animal we use should have characteristics of the direction it represents, and is often a creature local to the area.

A common directional guide may be the Eagle or Hawk of the East Wind, who can rise high into the morning sky and see far with her keen eyesight. We might thank her for showing us to the path that makes the most sense for us. The South Wind is sometimes represented by the deer or coyote, which romps with its mate in the fields. We may thank her for harmony and feeling good, or healing. The Thunderbird or the Bear of the West Wind is an impressive but secretive creature. To him we give thanks for the courage to see what we need to change in ourselves and appreciate our strengths. The North Wind is often regarded as the home of the Buffalo, thick-skinned and steadfast. The buffalo is thought to be extremely gracious and generous as well, as it is said to understand that it must give up its life in order for other life around it to go on. The Native Americans have depended on this noble creature for food, warm clothing and tools. It deserves a lot of respect for showing the importance of selfless giving. To the buffalo we can give thanks for bravery and wisdom.

After we address and thank each wind direction we need to pause for at least a few moments and quiet our minds so that the wind can have a chance to give us guidance. During this time we should be still and silent and keep our eyes open and directed toward the horizon to which we are paying attention. We might even say, “Now I will listen”. We will be calm and give it a chance. We will not let any extraneous noises distract us from our listening politely to what each wind may impart to us. Often we will receive the sensation of vividly being in the now, and that is certainly fulfilling enough.

With plenty of patience and practice, Medicine Wheel meditation may open us up to other wonderful messages that reveal mysteries and unlock answers in our lives. Some of these messages may appear to us in the form of animals. We need to be in the zone of openness and awareness however, in order to recognize these spirit guides.

It can take some of us a long time to get the knack of simultaneously having our minds totally clear of thought while being alert to what’s going on around us. To others it comes more easily. Some say that men may have a harder time of it than women. This may be because many men tend to be strategy-oriented, constantly maneuvering their selves to the most advantageous position, and this requires a certain amount of mental business. In order to override this instinct, some men who are seeking vision will go to great lengths, isolating themselves, making fasts, going without sleep and the like until they achieve what Buddhists might call a Zen state. Women, since they are regularly physically reminded of the cycle of nature (and are regularly exhausted because of it!) may have an easier time making the connection. It is thought that nature gives females a spiritual advantage to make up for the physical challenges they face as the potential carriers and bearers of new life. Most likely, it depends on the individual. In either case, it takes time and practice and plenty of patience.

Depending on how separated we have been from the rest of the world, it may take weeks or years to figure out how quiet ourselves enough to achieve a connection. It may then take some more time for the world to realize we are calling and send someone to answer. If we are as truthful as we pledge to be with our smudge, this connection will eventually be achieved and we have to be ready for that, too.

Just as when someone suddenly picks up the phone after we have heard it ring many times on our end, when a spirit guide finally appears we can be so startled we become tongue-tied and can get so excited we scare it off. Don’t feel too bad if this happens. A spirit guide is a wild thing and it may be just as startled as we are, if not more so. It may have no idea why the Great Mystery has nudged it over in our direction. It may be up to us to let it know its presence is appreciated, and its nature respected.

Say we have smudged and have greeted a wind direction. As we settle into our quiet connection zone, we are feeling a peaceful, friendly feeling with the world. Our eyes are resting around the horizon line. Suddenly, and quite matter-of-factly, a large and very beautiful hawk swoops into view and lands gracefully on a branch near where we gaze, and close enough for us to see it turn and look right at us with its clear, golden eye. The mere presence of a hawk may sound rather mundane since hawks live everywhere, but when it happens during a meditation it is so thrilling it can just about knock us off our feet.

This may be why some Medicine People stand with their knees slightly bent, or sit when meditating- to avoid falling over backwards when surprising things inevitably happen. Getting a visit from a spirit guide can be a powerful enough experience to land one abruptly on one’s rear end. If this should happen, it is thoroughly encouraged to laugh at the situation. Just as we should be mentally flexible (open-minded) and physically flexible (the bent-knee stance) we must also not be so emotionally rigid as to take ourselves too seriously. A good sense of humor is essential to becoming a Medicine Person.

There are as many kinds of spirit guides as there are creatures on this planet. All animals are sacred. Black Elk, the great Sioux Medicine Man taught that even an ant could be a spirit guide. What we need to be aware of is that we do not choose our guides, but they are drawn to us when we make the connection to the universe. It is up to us to make a positive experience out of their presence.

There is no definitive “Field Guide to the Spirit Guides”. We can find information about what each animal is thought to mean to what People and these are good guidelines, but the best thing we can do when confronted with a spirit guide is to think deeply about what it means to us, personally. If a hawk has landed poignantly before us we might start out by thinking what direction is associated with the hawk. If the hawk is associated with the east wind, we can start out by thinking about new beginnings, ideas or inspirations in our lives. Maybe the hawk is letting us know we are started on a good path. If we get a chance, maybe we can give the hawk a nod of thanks for the positive reinforcement. If the hawk takes off and flies south, we can consider that it might be drawing our attention to the red road. We can then wonder about what the red road means to us in regard to a new project. The red south wind is often associated with healing, love, children, and trust. Maybe that will give us a clue about what we might do with our project. Most of all, we need to consider carefully how the hawk made us feel. What kind of attitude did it convey? Did it seem proud, protective, agitated, or calm? Can we use any of that information to help us reach our goals?

A spirit guide’s presence is a message for each person alone and it is up to each person to figure it out through further contemplation. It does not communicate in words and therefore will not spell it out for us. We must think it out for ourselves.

Often a spirit guide or messenger will appear when we are not meditating, in fact when we least expect it. Perhaps it decides to wait until we were not trying so hard to see it. Sometimes we’ll be just minding our own business and not paying any attention and suddenly, there it will be. When this happens, try not to be too stunned. Acknowledge it, thank it and let it move on with its life. Some people suggest that we can go to where it was and leave it a little gift, such as corn meal, for helping to guide us. Corn chips or corn flakes will also do in a pinch. Again, what is important here is taking time to think about the experience.

Sometimes we’ll see our guides in passing as we travel along a road. They may be there just to remind us about our connection with everything else. If we let it cross our minds to feel the brotherly love of this notion, it may help us along our journey. Be glad. This is a blessing, too.

When spirit guides appear in pairs, we may be receiving a message about the importance of giving time to our mates. It might also be about the duality of the universe. One great indigenous American creation story tells about how Space and Time discovered each other and created Zero; the great nothing, the circle through which everything emerged. This occurrence transformed Space and Time into the original parents- Mother Earth and Father Sky. Before them, there wasn’t even a Zero to start from. To the miracle of that union we can be grateful for all that we are, and for all the beauty around us.

A pair of animals may be a message about how equally vital to the world both males and females are, even if they may have different tasks in life. Like Yin and Yang in the Tao, it takes two to fill the circle. We need Mother Earth to provide us with sustenance and Father Sky to give us breath. We are all dependent on each other. We are all necessary. We are all connected.

There are a few more things to remember when we believe we have met a spirit guide. One is that it is a wild thing that must be respected. If a chipmunk appears, we do not rush at it or we will frighten the thing half to death. Likewise, we do not rush at a bear because spirit guide or not, it is first a bear and will react with a bear’s instincts, which in this case might be disastrously defensive. Keep a respectful distance.

Secondly, whether it is an animal, a plant, a rock or an inspiration, every message we receive from the Great Spirit should be a positive one. Anything negative, unfair or destructive is clearly against the Medicine way of harmony and balance. If we get an unproductive thought, we need to grab it, figure out where it came from and do all we can do to turn it around and steer it onto a positive path. If it won’t be wrestled, then we have to toss it out to the universe and tell it to become something good. Positive energy attracts positive energy. Heaven knows there’s all ready enough negativity in the world. Whatever energy we generate will eventually come back to us, so we must really strive to keep it positive. A positive attitude helps with everything, especially the healing process.

If we have been granted a spirit guide or message, the proper thing to do is to give thanks. This is not hard to remember to do because to feel so touched by the universe is tremendously gratifying. The feeling of reaching out, establishing a relationship with the universe and really feeling it acknowledged can make even a tough person weep with gratitude. It is then that we know we are accepted by the All. We are not alone. We belong. It then becomes our duty to create positive energy to give back to the Medicine Wheel. We can go the traditional way and leave a gift on the spot and pledge to always seek positive balance. Medicine people often prepare themselves for just such an occurrence by keeping pinch of tobacco, corn meal or other sacred plant on hand. If we are without this, we can simply express the sincere gratefulness in our hearts and be inspired towards the positive. When we are good to our world, we are giving it the best gift of all.

Plants and rocks can be spirit messengers too, but they tend to appear in more subtle ways than animal people do. We can go for a walk and find a rock that we think is pretty, but it is the rock that chooses us that is the spirit guide. Usually it will make itself known when we are not actively looking for it. Perhaps we will be thinking faraway thoughts when our eye will suddenly be caught by sunlight shining off a good-sized piece of snow white quartz sitting squarely in an area that we just raked clear the day before. We can warm it in our hands and think about what it could mean. If it is white it could it mean that we might do well to seek a path of learning. If we found it when we were facing west, maybe it is guiding us to look inside ourselves for wisdom. Maybe it is round like Grandmother Moon and is telling us something about an ancient or feminine strength. Maybe it is volunteering for the role of the north wind stone on our Medicine Wheel. If we clear our minds, as we do when we meditate, we might be surprised by what good inspirations we receive from a rock spirit guide.

What we are to gain from any spirit guide is a way to enrich our lives through inspiration from nature. Can we just sit and work it out on our own? Maybe. But when we open up to the world around us, we can allow ourselves to be guided out of the complicated maze of our everyday thinking and toward fresh directions. If we are wondering what to do next in life and are trapped into thinking we must stick to what we’ve always done, and then a grand pileated woodpecker with a bright red head appears on the tree before us and pokes, pokes, pokes for bugs, we may understand that another option may be waiting for us if we dig around and do some research. A spirit guide just may be the key we need when we need to think for ourselves outside of the box.

Onward to Autumn

©2009 by E.P. Taylor