The Medicine Wheel is a sacred symbol used by many Indigenous peoples across North America to represent the interconnectedness of life, balance, and harmony. It is often depicted as a circle divided into four quadrants, each representing fundamental aspects of existence: the four directions (North, East, South, West), the seasons, the elements, the stages of life, and spiritual principles. The wheel reminds us that everything is connected and that true well-being comes from balance between the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions of life.
According to the Native American Medicine Wheel, the Winter Solstice marks the turning from the West to the North. The West represents introspection, reflection, and gathering. The North is a time of stillness, wisdom, and clarity.
This seasonal turning is an invitation to pause and honor what has been learned. The West asks us to look within, to process and integrate. The North invites us to rest, to trust in what we now know, and to share our wisdom when the time feels right. Each direction, like each stage of life, holds its own lessons and gifts.
Rather than seeing change as something to resist or fix, we can learn to move with these natural rhythms. Each phase of our lives carries meaning when we allow it to unfold in its own time.
A Winter Solstice Ritual
Take a blank sheet of paper. Sit quietly and allow your breath to slow. Reflect on the year that has passed and write down any lessons, patterns, or experiences that have come to completion. Let the words come freely.
Gather your paper and any small items that symbolize what you are ready to release. Step outside and connect with the land beneath you. If you can, remove your shoes and feel the earth. Bury your paper and items in the ground, returning them to the earth as an offering of gratitude and release.
Then, go inside and light a candle in honor of the Winter Solstice. Sit with the flame and think about how you will carry your light into the year ahead. Write down your intentions and, if you feel called, share them with others.
May you find your light in the darkness this winter.
Take care and be well,
Françoise