Dear family, I come to you with a dilemma that has been bothering me for the longest time. Perhaps I'll find some answers in here...
About 25yrs ago, I received some basic training from a female shaman, who in turn had received her training while living with a North American Native tribe. She taught me about the sacred directions and how to set up a medicine wheel. As you may know, the directions correspond with the elements, and in this respect, I learned the following:
East = Fire
South = Water
West = Earth
North = Air
I've worked with this set ever since, and with good results. Then I moved to England, where I encountered druids, Wiccans and other 'mystical' folk. They, too, work with the sacred directions, but their system is set up differently:
West = Water
North = Earth
East = Air
South = Fire
Now, apart from the question "How can this be?", for which there undoubtedly must be some explanations, I feel completely confused, trying to wrap my head and heart around the various rituals. I even have a slight inkling that this may have to do with my current difficulty of finding my direction. If any of you have any thoughts on this, please share!
About 25yrs ago, I received some basic training from a female shaman, who in turn had received her training while living with a North American Native tribe. She taught me about the sacred directions and how to set up a medicine wheel. As you may know, the directions correspond with the elements, and in this respect, I learned the following:
East = Fire
South = Water
West = Earth
North = Air
I've worked with this set ever since, and with good results. Then I moved to England, where I encountered druids, Wiccans and other 'mystical' folk. They, too, work with the sacred directions, but their system is set up differently:
West = Water
North = Earth
East = Air
South = Fire
Now, apart from the question "How can this be?", for which there undoubtedly must be some explanations, I feel completely confused, trying to wrap my head and heart around the various rituals. I even have a slight inkling that this may have to do with my current difficulty of finding my direction. If any of you have any thoughts on this, please share!
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London
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Re: Finding the right direction
Thu, February 21, 2008 - 9:30 AMIt is all tradition based on the area you are in. You will find the colors that represent the directions are different depending on who you are with at the time. While some may see East=Red, South=Yellow, West=Black, and North=White, others see East=White, South=Red, West=Blue, North=Yellow. Then there are the differences in which animals are in which directions.
Yes, this leads to a lot of confusion. The best thing is to adopt what is local to you at that time. The local people that you will perform ritual with can guide you in this. Remember that these things are for us, not for the spirits. If you are planning on staying, then you may wish to adopt the customs and traditions of the locals.
Remember, that it is your intentions that matter most. -
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Re: Finding the right direction
Thu, February 21, 2008 - 7:44 PMThank you so much, White Wolf! You're right, I've heard druids argue about various animal connections, so even within one system, there sometimes seem to be no fixed outlines. Well, life's in constant flow, too, so that's okay. I'm just worried about inadvertently doing things wrong or falsifying a tradition that should be kept intact. But your reminder - that these things are for us, not for the spirits and that it's the intention that matters - is putting my mind a bit more at ease. Thank you again!
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Re: Finding the right direction
Sat, February 23, 2008 - 4:27 PMTrans it
Maybe look at the correspondances for these as most Magicks have some.
In Britain it is simply a matter that the sun and moon rise in the East and follow their Track to the West then disappear into the dark of the North. Both planets 'Peak' at the Noon and Midnight Horizons.
I would presume these are ancients observations and a way to relate to 'Time' and Season. -
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Re: Finding the right direction
Sun, February 24, 2008 - 3:42 PMGlenn, thanks for trying to think with me here, but the journey of Sun and Moon that you describe is a global phenomenon, which would support the idea of conformity, rather than explain why things are being looked at differently here in Britain (and perhaps elsewhere). -
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Re: Finding the right direction
Mon, February 25, 2008 - 2:44 PMTrans It thanks I may have misunderstood I think,
or possibly answered too quickly with not enough deeper thought !
This was such a good question and one so few would ask.
An Excellent post Trans It !
I have a friend who is good with this stuff I will see if she will throw some light on it.
You've got me wanting to know now LOL -
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Re: Finding the right direction
Tue, February 26, 2008 - 2:13 AMInfectious curiosity, now there's a bug I don't mind having, lol!
Can't wait to hear what you'll find out, Glenn! -
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Re: Finding the right direction
Wed, February 27, 2008 - 6:33 AMTrans It,
I think i have it, this is what a cherokee friend of mine wrote abiout her tradition,
Fire~East (for the sunrise)...Water~South(towards Gulf of Mexico)...Earth~West(there at the mountains)...and Air~North (upwards towards the sky).
Britain:
East (The Place of Spring and Renewal) South Fire (If you walk South from here you eventually reach the Equator and Desert heats of North Africa. West Water, The Atlantic Ocean. North Earth the High hills and large Mountains of Scotlands border with England.
These attributes may well have come from Nomadic Life and if a Person come from another Country, Directions can easily be explained as to what Terrain one will meet also. Via Rituals and simple observation. -
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Re: Finding the right direction
Wed, February 27, 2008 - 6:36 AMThe East winds in Britain come from Siberia and are usually very cold.
This may be why East is Air in this country.
I wonder how they do this in places such as Australia etc ?
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Re: Finding the right direction
Wed, February 27, 2008 - 10:05 AMAh, brilliant! What your Cherokee friend told you is the same as what I learned way back. It also made sense to me, because I came to this from a mix of astrology and Jungian psychology, where the elements form the same polarity pairs (fire-earth and air-water).
Now the British way makes sense, too! Funny, that none of the people working with this set could explain it to me like that. And indeed, how DO they do it in Australia? Bard, where are you???
Many, many thanks for this enlightening contribution, Glenn - bless you! -
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Re: Finding the right direction
Wed, February 27, 2008 - 12:06 PMI can vaguely remember a ceremony from about 9 years ago, but don't remember from what point we entered the Circle.....will try to find out for you! -
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Re: Finding the right direction
Wed, February 27, 2008 - 1:51 PMtrans It you are welcome and it was fun trying to find out !
Bard, you are down under so you must have entered the Circle from below somewhere LOL -
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This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: Finding the right direction
Wed, February 27, 2008 - 2:03 PMI stuffed the last one up, so I deleted it!
From what I can remember, It was the West!
Your way sounds interesting though, Glenn......hahahahaha! -
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Re: Finding the right direction
Fri, February 29, 2008 - 3:57 PMBard,
It probably was West in all seriousness due to the Polarity.
I would so love to have my water drain away in a clockwise spiral,
although having it anti clockwise does make it more suitable for dragging away old energies in the Tub !
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