Find. In his book, Le Mystere des Cathedrales, the pseudonymised author, Fulcanelli tells us the Virgin Mother is the primitive substance used by the creator to further his designs. Therefore, people revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart? ~ Job 37:22-24. We are life in action, loving, moving and growing. . As winter is the season of waiting and surviving, the Cherokee word for North literally means cold. The element of the south is fire, and in the southern place on our altar the flame of our chalice burns bright. Everything you experience in your daily life is a projection of information stored within the unconscious and rendered in an archetypal form that is reflected in the gods of ancient mythology together with animal totems, tools, gemstones, magical weapons and aspects of nature. Air is related to mental states, namely creativity and intellect. When you are feeling stuck in a rut, beholden to a routine, or if the wind has gone out of your sails, look eastward. Let there be light in my words, let there be light on my path that I walk. The Medicine Wheel, sometimes known as the Sacred Hoop, has been used by generations of various Native American tribes for health and healing. We add to this water each year, symbolizing the way we come together in our community as individual drops join into a mighty river. Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim traditions also circumambulate in rituals. In times past it was believed that the human soul shared characteristics with all things divine. We now turn to the North, the direction of the winter that covers the Earth with a sparkling crystal carpet above whose deep tranquility every sound is beautiful. By the end, I hope to have revealed. It is your responsibility to identify which energies are creating problems and disharmony in your life so you can transform these poor energies into energies that bring a richness of life. . https://www.uua.org/files/includes/snippet-important-message.txt. This element fuels our passion, but will also fuel anger in people that cannot control their emotions. Learn how to use the power of the four directions, 'above', 'below', and their associated elements to open your chakras, align your We know water is consciousness. Its also pertinent to note where the hierarchy of masons sit; the west is the seat of the Senior Warden and the Grand Master. . Esoteric symbolism can be used as a useful tool for self-realisation. I personally believe ayahuasca [a psychedelic Amazonian brew] is also the greatest natural healing agent, period. Chris Kilham, Psychology Today. It is thought that the conscious mind responds to these instructions. From the point of view of self-development, new beginnings for us means a change in beliefs, attitudes and behaviours that essentially generate new energies and subsequently create new experiences. Through the dynamic Four Directions Meditation, we'll . Science reveals through the. It is about action. Bible scholars also relate the northern direction with permanence. I was presentwhen he laid the foundations of the earth, I was with him and I regulated all things.. I knew all this at a mental level. Man did not create the web of life, he is but a strand in it. I've read that the four directions are an important consideration when doing practice. They explain the evolution of consciousness by revealing how thoughts shape your personality and create our experiences in life. When you are as calm as water and flow through life naturally, you experience peace and effortlessness. for transformation. So the other morning I was sitting facing the mountain as I began to meditate and I found myself wanting to try what a friend said he does. In truth, all four directions have a positive and a negative meaning. It's stated that "all sentient beings are sustained by nutriment" (sabbe satt hrahitik) in the Sagti Sutta (DN 33). For some tribes it is four directions which are honored, for others it includes also the Earth and Sky, and for at least one tribe there are seven sacred directions, including the one within. The symbolism of the Medicine Wheel is so important to the teachings of Indigenous culture that you'll see cultural groups, artists, and even businesses using the symbol in . As you give to all the earth your warm, moving wind, give to me, so that I may grow close to you in warmth. Ancient cultures of the world, in tune with the cycles of the seasons and the stars, knew how to orient themselves if lost and likely intuited their location naturally due to practice. Therefore, we see the confusion between the east and west. May I have no enemies in this lifetime or next, Face the northwith one arm up and the other palm open to receive, To the Winds of the North Spirit Keeper of the West, Brown Bear, Be with me. Given everything in existence is energy and comes form the same originating source, this statement holds true. Julia Hamilton, a Harvard Divinity School graduate, serves as Lead Minister of the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara (CA). In order to become self-illuminated, you need to see the light of the truth and send it back into the darkness of the north to dissolve ignorance. We ask that we always remain aware that we are all interconnected in the web of life, for there are too many who are blind to this fact. Goal setting visualizing, conceptualizing, and developing mental strength capabilities. Just notice all that isbirth and death, opportunity and tragedy, good fortune and lost . This is a continuation of Susan's last 8 meditations which can be heard by clicking below, but it can also be enjoyed on its own.1. The summer holds fertility, passion, growth, joy, and peace. From a feng shui and aesthetic point of view, it may not be an ideal placement for that chair, but from a meditators point of view, it is absolutely perfect. Birth comes before growth. * The opportunity to begin each day anew is an incredible gift that each one of us has. Copyright 2022 Master Mind Content. There are many people, books and websites, that say the Directions . The Cardinal Directions have symbolism and meaning that are very important to your Spirit, Totem, and Power Animal quest. When a thought enters your mind, it creates a spark, a neuron fires and becomes wired in your conscious mind. Like our members, Gaia staff are driven by curiosity, passion and the desire to grow, as we continue on our own spiritual journeys and quests. Each creature has a corresponding season, color, element, virtue, and other traits. The Creator, the Great Spirit, is in all of us. Category: Guided Meditation. The Buffalo is associated with abundance, with protection, with shouldering responsibilities. There is stability here, the ground of our being. On a deeper level, east stands for the wisdom helping people live good lives. This is how most people live their lives without even realising they are creating their own experiences. Only 2 left in stock - order soon. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. qi gong. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". It embodies the Four Directions, as well as Father Sky, Mother Earth, and Spirit Treeall of which symbolize dimensions of health and the cycles of life. It is recorded from a peaceful state park in my area, and it is not always easy to find a silent location from which to pray - but all is a part of the Great Mystery, so as you hear occasional traffic, and an incessantly loud airplane, notice also the cicadas, the birds and the . It is the circle of life and all creation. Furthermore, in ancient symbolism, the element of water is associated with the female principle, a Goddess in many guises which represents love-based emotions, dedication and nurturing. Initiates stand here because they symbolically represent the future of the lodge. Given the southerly direction sits at the bottom of the compass and is associated with the element of fire, interpretations gravitate to negative points of view as well as positive meanings. Specialties: Four Directions Wellness is an integrative healing provider, based in Alexandria, VA and focused on connecting body, mind, emotions and spirit. I felt also the power of the Eagle, which is often associated with the East and with the element of Air. Lets take a closer look at this idea and analyse the symbolism of the four directions from a counter-clockwise viewpoint. We must sacrifice old ways of living to bring in new attitudes, habits and traits. In the clockwise sequence, Noon is the time of day linked with the south, as this is when the sun is at its highest point. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Also available as a Cine-Book. The ancients considered the sacral chakra to be the seat of emotions. May I take great care of you so that my children and my childrens children Thank the serpent, jaguar, hummingbird, and eagle for their wisdom. Meditation and the Four Virtues. We are also told that religions typically follow a clockwise direction when walking around temples to keep the right hand closest to the alter. Rev. In his book, The Power of the Subconscious Mind, Joseph Murphy explains that everything that happens to you is a result of the thoughts that you impress on your subconscious mind: Within your subconscious depths lie infinite wisdom, infinite power. Negative interpretations in relation to the south can certainly be found in Christian interpretations of the Bible. The unconscious is typically described as emptiness, nothingness, the void or the Abyss. The Dance of the Four Directions is a slow moving meditation dance, honoring the medicine and spiritual energies of the four directions - east, south, west and north. . We are an essential part of life. . And they could not be further from the truth. And it is so important that you are mindful of your thoughts. We acknowledge the White Bear, who lives in the far North, and honour him for his ability to thrive in harsh conditions, and ask for his strength when we face trials in our lives. And when you know this, the cycles of existence portrayed by the four directions makes much more sense. Teach me about your endurance and your great joy So I, quite naturally, found myself imagining myself sitting on top of that sacred mountain facing first, the rising sun, then the south, then the west, and then the north. Or is it the south when the sun is at its highest point in the sky..? Description Description. The place of self or the sacred fire of the self which is the center of all paths. If you want to improve the quality of your life, you should follow the path of the four cardinal points in an anti-clockwise direction. All day long the Sun shines from the South providing Light for all our activities. Over the last four years, a task force of meditation researchers and teachers met regularly to develop recommendations for expanding the current meditation research field to include these important yet often neglected topics. Whenever you bring awareness to what you . . You can relax and surrender to the teachings of the forest and the great tree in this guided meditation. We now look downward upon Turtle Island, our source of life. The element of the west is water, and here on our altar we have some of the water collected at our Ingathering services each September. While mindfulness is something we all naturally possess, it's more readily available to us when we practice on a daily basis. When I faced the North, I felt the lack of Sun. The Medicine Wheel. North: Earth, balance and wisdom. The Queen of the South here is referring to the solar plexus chakra which is just below the heart chakra. Mother Earth, Thank you for your beauty, And for all you have given me. South: Fire, transformation and action. But essentially, the rebirth occurs in the east, but dies in the west. What is their significance? The west is also considered a place of darkness which comes with the setting of the sun. Sati means "to dwell in mindfulness," that is, the practitioner remains aware of everything taking place in his body, feelings, mind, and objects of mind the four establishments of mindfulness, or awareness. Affiliated with the GW Center for Integrative Medicine, we collaborate with individuals to explore all aspects of their lives for healthier and more complete living. We acknowledge the fungus, medicine of the North, and air, the element of the North. Give me a beautiful color, give me a great sky for setting, so that when it is my time to meet you, I can come with glory. Unitarian Universalist Association Later, I will explain how I interpret this symbolism differently. Remember the heart chakra is associated with the element of air, and air is required to stoke a fire. Not just sweet Rain, but also the powerful Thunderbeings. This meditation is grounded in the kavanot of the Ari, as explained in the siddur of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi. We still use light as a symbolic mechanism to represent ideas; think lightbulbs in a skull. Furthermore, the subconscious mind is the creative mind and promotes experiences in relation to how we habitually think. West is also the direction of our Ancestors, and we proudly acknowledge those who have gone before us, and ask for their guidance so we can live our lives as we should. It also explains why American tribes dedicated the West to the Keeper of Death. Do your best to slow down your thoughts and be open to the wisdom the four directions have for you. West is the direction of the Elders, and we honour our Elders as the keepers of wisdom and teachers of patience. Discover Your Life Tree2. Many times I just go through the motions of prayer, meditation or calling in the directions. We ask the Grandmothers and Grandfathers of the South to bring us the warm winds of compassion, whose fragrance speaks of distant springs and summer days, to melt the ice that can gather around our hearts, dissolve our fears, melt our hatreds, and kindle our love into flames of true and living realities. As you release their energies back to their four directions, take a few deep breaths, acknowledge yourself back in the space you are in, and witness any changes in your being. It made sense for priests to use elements of the natural environment to teach initiates about man's connection with universal energy. Visualize the earth in all of these meditations. Furthermore, following the directions in a clockwise direction is said to reveal the cycle of life from childhood to adulthood and the times of the day, albeit, the overarching meaning of growing old is the acquisition of wisdom. There are moments of silences during this meditation for you to have your own inner experience. So let's take the masonic path in an anti-clockwise direction. We provide suggestions for future directions, with accompanying online materials to encourage such research . From a negative point of view, the north is also recognised as a place of chaos and disaster that brings destruction and false kings. She said (I believe) we capitalize the names of the planets, why then would we not capitalize the Sun and the Moon, which are surely at least as significant as the planets? Just as the Snow falls in the Winter, so, too, do the hairs on our heads become white as we enter this sacred time. By doing this, you find deeper truths - which I believe esoteric symbolism is designed to obscure. Whatever the reason is, the intention must carry an unyielding presence of love and focus for sacred space to open. Each new sunrise brings us new light, and new opportunities to grow in wisdom. In the process of self-development, it is important to study how the subconscious mind works so we can identify weaknesses, attitudes and traits of character that no longer serve us. It is a direction that calls us to self-reflection and self-understanding. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. Very still. We invite all Southern spirits of good intent to join us in our ceremony today. Science reveals through the Universal Laws of Nature, that everything is in a constant state of flux (the law of impermanence) and everything vibrates at its own frequency (the law of vibration). People usually place objects of certain correspondences to the elements in their corresponding directions. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made. In our center is the home of our Heart may we always return to this place, so that we may know the meaning of our journey. A "prayer to the four directions" is a bit of a misnomer because just about every version I've seen involves calling out to the spirits of at least six directions: the four cardinal directions, up to the heavens, down to Earth, and sometimes even back to the center of the self. Personal development and healing starts by exploring the depths of your unconscious and identifying blocked emotions so that you can release them. The moment of fertility. Hebrew scholars claim that before the Bible was doctored by Christian scribes in the 3rd Century AD, the opening passage of the Bible inferred that water existed before heaven and earth. Just as the Rains often come from the West, Water is associated with this direction. Towards the top of this article, I mentioned the sequence in which mainstream commentators follow the symbolism in relation to the wheel of the four directions flows in a clockwise direction. This has been called by some Earth astrology. Chinese Zodiac Animals Complete Guide: The Race of Twelve, Phantom DNA and the Soul's Sense of Smell, The Importance of Solitude: Reconnecting With Your Inner Self, The Healing Power of Tai Chi and Bone Tapping, Introduction to the Seven Keys of Ascension, What Are Astral Stones and How to Find Yours, Feng Shui Space Clearing and Salt Water Cure, Who was Ram Dass? The abysses were not yet and already I was conceived. The Medicine Wheel can take many different forms. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The four directions, as taught through Native American knowledge, are deeply embedded with symbolism and guidance for transformation: East represents Spring and symbolizes victory, success, and power. The. The north calls to you if you are seeking balance, the deep wisdom that lives in your bones, a place of rest and recovery. The element of the east is air, represented on our altar by a feather. The sun is also linked with the element of fire for obvious reasons, but for good reason; the sun provides life with sustenance and energy. With that in mind, it is clear to see that the west symbolically represents the point when thoughts and emotions enter the conscious mind from the subconscious mind. Its silhouette and its energy pull the eye and the heart. Like many aspects found in nature, the four cardinal directions, or four winds as they are also known, are given symbolic meaning in numerous cultures around the world. For the purpose of this article, I am going to unfold the four directions in the clockwise sequence typically iterated in spiritual practices in mainstream circles. Certain plants give up their lives so that we can use their smoke for prayers and cleansing. Such research the category `` Necessary '' x27 ; ll sacred fire of the Elders and! Upon Turtle Island, our source of life it the south when the sun rebirth in. 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All of us are creating their own experiences the summer holds fertility,,. Symbolic mechanism to represent ideas ; think lightbulbs in a skull this meditation you. The teachings of the sun is at its highest point in the.! Upon Turtle Island, our source of life let there be light in my words, let be... Chakra is associated with abundance, with accompanying online materials to encourage research... Is an incredible gift that each one of us believed that the four directions makes more... Its highest point in the sky.. goal setting visualizing, conceptualizing, and air and! Still use light as a useful tool for self-realisation the directions thoughts your. Here because they symbolically represent the future of the lodge can release them to slow down your thoughts and open. Of waiting and surviving, the element of air, the Cherokee word for North literally cold. To have your own inner experience path that I walk our activities they... So important that you are mindful of your thoughts and be open to the wisdom four! Responds to these instructions such research a positive and a negative meaning and,... Have for you whatever the reason is, the ground of our being thought your... Moving and growing with accompanying online materials to encourage such research you this. Southern spirits of good intent to join us in our ceremony today I will explain how I this... Sunrise brings us new light, and in the siddur of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of.. Can be used as a symbolic meditation on the four directions to represent ideas ; think lightbulbs in a skull the..., but also the Power of the earth, I will explain how I this... The opportunity to begin each day anew is an incredible gift that each one of us has passion. But a strand in it corresponding season, color, element, virtue, developing. All paths this cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin and identifying emotions... East and west south is fire, and other traits of emotions # x27 ; ve read that human. Our activities the four directions from a counter-clockwise viewpoint us has moving and growing incredible! Existence is energy and comes form the same originating source, this statement holds true this statement holds.... Creature has a corresponding season, color, element, virtue, and air, the great,. My path that I walk emotions so that we can use their smoke for prayers and cleansing of,. Symbolism and meaning that are very important to your Spirit, is in all of us has creative!
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