It came in the shape of a dome, which we still use today. In the beginning, it didn’t come in the shape of a tipi. But traditionally, when my mother was teaching me about the tipi, she would say Kitche Migawap. There is a Cree word we use today we say migawap.
![circle of life language circle of life language](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QPtg3BGf6fg/sddefault.jpg)
You’re never done learning.įor us, the word tipi doesn’t mean anything. But in sharing a little bit of the meaning it is hoped that you will continue on your journey to seek the teachings that you require. I won’t be able to share all of them with you. There are many, many teachings that belong here with the tipi. When I talk about the teachings, it’s not to alter or change them I can only share how it was told to me. The tipi is also a symbol of the women, so in honour of my mother and great grandmother and Cree women everywhere, I will share some of these tipi teachings with you. The tipi teachings, as I call them today, relate to nurturing the four aspects of the self, the spiritual, physical, emotional and mental, which are rooted in the four directions. This way of being in the world was taught to me by my mother through the teachings of making a tipi. So we need to remember where we came from and the gifts that were given to us as human beings. Sadly, we tend to forget that and then we neglect our spirit and take it for granted. It is remembering that the first thing that was gifted to you when you came into being was the spirit. People think you have to make a commitment of time through long periods of devotion to be spiritual. So we have learned to replace those things with anger.Īs for the spirit, there never seems to be enough time. But we won’t show our true emotions, our vulnerability and sensitivity, because that is not accepted. Sadly, some people even think it is respected. But we’ll show anger before we’ll show that true part of ourselves because we have learned to be embarrassed by it. The sensitive part of us is our emotional realm, the part that feels the truth about what’s around us. Anger is a defense mechanism that protects the emotional part of us. But that is not what it means to be emotional. People think that by showing anger they are expressing their emotions.
#Circle of life language how to
They forget to look after their spiritual side, and often don’t know how to express and deal with their emotions. Today, many people are out of balance because they tend to only favour two realms of self, the mental and the physical. This is where the gifts of the four directions are needed - the gifts of the spirit, physical body, emotions and mind - and where we need to find balance within these four realms. It tells the whole story of how all life came into being abundantly bright, rising in the east and then fading away as it moves west and north. Spring in the east, summer in the south, fall in the west and winter in the north. Look at the four seasons and follow the sun. The old people will tell you it is life itself.
![circle of life language circle of life language](https://www.ccjk.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Understanding-the-Impact-of-Internet-on-Language.png)
This is how the Medicine Wheel represents the life journey of people. And as you look out, you make your circle. When you look at the Medicine Wheel, you start from self.
![circle of life language circle of life language](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nl_8UhJucbc/ThS3Uw2C1GI/AAAAAAAAAMw/LG3SFkkoBHc/s1600/circles%2Bpoem.jpg)
That is where the meaning of the teachings comes from. The fire is in the centre of the Medicine Wheel. We need to try and balance these four parts that were given to us, to function as people. These four parts for human beings are the spiritual, physical, emotional and mental aspects of the self. It means being balanced in the four parts that are found in the four directions of the Medicine Wheel. As Cree people, we were given the gift of being named for the four parts of human beings.