FRHD 2280 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Medicine Wheel, The Good Life, Vision Quest
28 Jan 2020
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Document Summary
The four directions of the medicine wheel begin in the east. The east represents the beginning, a new life, and babies. We move through life around the wheel beginning in the east until we complete our journey in the north. Human beings come from the spirit world to the physical world. Winter: elders share stories and teaching to pass on knowledge to those at earlier stages of the journey. The good life - the life children have as they enter the world. The fast life - where we start to see adolescence. The elder, giving back life - elder, share wisdom with their community. Child is being prepared for 4-day vision quest (fast) at the time of puberty. Rites of passage ceremonies help to nurture confidence and build healthy self-esteem, celebrate transition to adulthood. Young people learn about the changes that are happening within, and about their roles and responsibilities as men and women.
