The Medicine Wheel (sometimes called the Sacred Hoop) is an ancient and sacred symbol used by many Indigenous tribes, signifying health, healing, wholeness, and balance. The four quadrants represent the spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional planes of existence, as well as the four sacred medicines: Tobacco, Sage, Cedar, and Sweetgrass. This energy embodies the four directions, along with Father Sky, Mother Earth, and the Spirit Tree, all of which symbolize the dimensions of health and the cycles of life.
Each quadrant is traditionally associated with a color—black (west), red (south), yellow (east), and white (north). The circle itself represents wholeness, eternity, and the continuous flow of life’s cycles. It serves as a sacred reminder that everything is connected. Medicine Wheels may appear as artwork (such as those painted on drums or canvases, like the beautiful pieces shared here by Lakota elder, Mr. Charging Crow) or as physical constructions, and are used in teachings, ceremonies, and personal practice. While specific teachings vary among Indigenous communities, the central theme remains the same: the Medicine Wheel represents balance, healing, and the relationship between the natural and spiritual worlds.
In Western culture, the word medicine usually refers to pharmaceuticals, treatments, or interventions used to address disease or illness—something external that restores the body’s health. In Indigenous traditions, medicine carries a broader and deeper meaning. It encompasses spiritual power, wisdom, and the natural forces that sustain life. Medicine can be found in plants, rocks, animals, songs, ceremonies, dreams, and relationships. A person’s medicine may refer to their unique gifts, strengths, or teachings. Thus, the Medicine Wheel is not merely a tool for physical healing, but a sacred symbol of the interconnected medicines of life itself.
As many as 150 Medicine Wheel constructions have been identified across North America. The best-known in the United States is the Bighorn Medicine Wheel, located near the crest of the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming. It consists of a circular pattern of stones approximately 80 feet in diameter, with a central cairn and 28 spokes connecting to the outer rim. Its exact age is uncertain—estimates range from several hundred to 3,000 years old. Aligned with the solstices and key celestial events, including the summer solstice and the rising points of significant stars, it continues to serve as a place of prayer and offering.
How to Use a Medicine Wheel
The medicine wheel can be used in a variety of ways, depending on tradition and personal practice.
When working with the Medicine Wheel, it’s important to approach it with respect and awareness. These teachings originate from Indigenous cultures and should be honored as such. Whenever possible, learning directly from knowledge keepers or elders is the best way to deepen your understanding. We are deeply grateful to our dear friend and Lakota elder, Mr. Charging Crow, for sharing his wisdom with us.
The medicine wheel is more than a symbol-it reminds us that true wellness comes from honoring all part of ourselves and our places in the world. By embracing its teachings of balance, respect, and interconnectedness, we are reminded that our well-being is tied to Mother Earth, to each other, and to the cycles of life itself.
