Spiritual Health: Finding Balance in Natural Spirituality

West Power (Black)

We acknowledge the life-giving rains from the West as the power to make life. Thunder and lightning are power to destroy, but we realize more life than death transpires with each rain. As the sun goes down in the west, darkness comes to the land. The color for the West is black. It is also the time when human must rest for there is less distraction.

North Power (White)

We think of endurance, cleanliness, truth, rest, politeness and strength as associated with the North. The cold north has Mother Earth rest beneath the white mantle of snow. She sleeps and gathers up her strength for the bounty of springtime. When the snows melt, the earth is made clean. When native people wintered over, often confined to a small area for a lengthy time while they waited for the spring thaw, they learned to be extremely polite, to be truthful and honest with each other. They kept clean by using the sweat lodge to take winter baths and to beseech to the spirit world. The power of the cold white north taught them to endure. The cleansing white wing within Black Elk's great vision emphasizes endurance and cleanliness.

East Power (Red)

The third power brought him the red pipe of peace. Peace begins with knowledge. To have peace, one must first become aware of knowledge, which comes forth out of the red dawn, the East, with each new day. The sun rises bringing with it new learning experiences for each new day. When you have knowledge and it is discussed and considered, it can become wisdom. Others share their thoughts, their observations and their needs.

South Power (Yellow)

Medicine from roots, stems, herbs and fruits are associated with the South Power. Today, many species are beginning to disappear and resultant medicines can soon be lost. The sun rises higher and higher as the South Power advances with summer. Eventually plants such as corn and wheat will bring forth yellow or golden kernels that will sustain much life through the long winter. Abundance is the primary gift from this power, for it makes all things grow and we are allowed to take that which grows. During the heat of summer, buffalo hunts provided meat to cure in the hot, blowing wind for long winters. During this time of plenty, gatherings of thanksgiving would happen. To be thankful for what you receive adds strength to your search for sustenance, provisions and shelter.