Introduction: Medicine Wheel
The Medicine Wheel is also known as the sacred hoop and has been used by generations of various Native American for health and healing. The characteristic design of a Medicine Wheel is the most basic and most perfect form – the circle. In the circle are four intersecting lines, that create a cross in the middle of the circle. The lines separate the circle into four equal parts. These parts embody the four directions, as well as father sky, mother earth and spirit tree – all of which symbolize dimensions of health and the cycle of life. The point at which the lines cross is the center. The center can also represent many things, depending on the people (commonly it is the: creator/cosmos/all in one/divine/universe/spirit/indescribable).
The Medicine Wheel is interpreted differently from different tribes. Each of the four directions is represented by a distinctive colour (black, red, yellow, white).
The Medicine Wheel is a symbol of life or the circle of life. But there is no fixed Medicine Wheel, it is always very individual.
Today we connect the word “medicine” to modern science, doctors, drugs, etc…. That is not what indigenous cultures meant by the name “Medicine Wheel, they more understood it as an interrelated process of physical and spiritual well-being. “Medicine” was to be and live in harmony with the primal energy of nature. It was even more: Becoming aware of the personal power within each of us, that allows us to become more whole and complete.
To read more about the four directions in general and in relation to project management, please see the XMindmap The four Directions on the right.
The four directions (optional)
The four directions can represent...
- Seasons of the year: spring, summer, winter, fall
- Stages of life: birth, youth, adult (or elder), death
- Aspects of life: spiritual, emotional, intellectual, physical
- Elements of nature: fire (or sun), air, water, and earth
- Animals: Eagle, Bear, Wolf, Buffalo and many others
- Ceremonial plants: tobacco, sweet grass, sage, cedar
...and many many more...
My Medicine Wheel
Project Design Reflection
Using the "Medicine Wheel" as my guiding Design Process was very enriching. In the beginning I put a lot of effort in researching about the Wheel in general. I was impressed by the holistic and old approach. Once I felt I understood the main elements of the Wheel I tried to design my individual project wheel. After playing around some time with different elements I came up with the Wheel you can see on the right which is called My Medicine Wheel. My goal was to design a Wheel that contains three project levels which I identified as "project management level", "content level" and the topic "pregnancy". I wanted to design a wheel that I can use for several levels of my project work as well as for my OP-process.
What went well?
- overall impression of the deep holistic approach of the wheel
- designed my own wheel that meets my needs
- applied the wheel for Project management, content and OP-production
- used GIMP successfully the first time to visualize my wheel
- used the Wheel throughout the project
What was challenging?
- structure the wheel in a simple way according my needs
- document and track my progress with the help of the wheel
- always have in mind the different layers (+meanings) of the wheel
- use it in a strategic way
What would I do differently the next time?
- integrate it better in my Action Plan, so that I always know on which level I am working
- document and track my wheel-progress and process at least weekly
OP Design
To design my OP I also used my self-designed Medicine Wheel. The outer circle of the wheel guided me through the process. I soon recognized that these stages of the circle are very similar to those in Dragon Dreaming. Because I have very positive experiences with Dragon Dreaming and especially with a tool called Karrabirdt, I decided to use a Karrabirdt for my OP-process. In the document OP-process steps you can find detailed steps for the Karrabirdt.
OP-Design Reflection (optional)
What went well?
- the use of a Karrabirdt turned out to be very helpful for me (structure and focus!)
- nice meeting with Mona Speth (GaiaU associate) on OP Design
- design process helped me to submit OP in time
What was challenging?
- to use the Medicine Wheel in a conclusive way
- to be satisfied with OP outcome
- to follow step by step the Karrabirdt
What to do differently the next time?
- design a clear time plan for working hours (days and hours)
OP goals
In the beginning of my project I defined also some clear OP goals. To read the evaluated goals, please open the document OP-goals and dreams.
Karrabirdt
