Earth & Spirit
Council

This ceremony was developed by Linda Neale in 1996, has spread to locales throughout Oregon, and replicated in other states. The primary intention is to help participants understand the deeper meaning of the medicine wheel. A secondary purpose is to help women develop their ceremonial leadership skills and expand their awareness of ceremony in general. Structure: Eight women travel to a site during each of the four seasons and spend a weekend in a ceremony focused on teachings from the medicine wheel. In Spring, they go to the east, in summer they travel to the south; in fall, they go to the west, and in winter, they travel to the north. Two women agree to act as ceremonial facilitators for each direction. The facilitators work together to develop the ceremony. Location: Locations are chosen based on the characteristics of the land. Usually, a home is rented that can accommodate eight women for a weekend. In each of the four directions, an altar is constructed, and the women spend time alone and in silence out on the land, focusing on a particular teaching from their direction. There are many available resources for these teachings. One foundational book is The Sacred Tree by Judie Bopp, Michael Bopp et. al. The ceremony begins in the East in the springtime, so the women facilitators rent a home somewhere east of Portland in a location with easy access to hiking trails and nature. In the summer, the group travels to the south; in the fall they travel west (usually the coast); and in the winter they travel north. This ceremony emerges from the land itself – THE EARTH IS THE REAL TEACHER. It requires a year-long commitment. This kind of commitment is not a small thing and should be considered carefully. The medicine wheel is not for beginners; it is for women grounded in ceremony and spiritual practice. Commitment: When women commit to this ceremony they commit to four three-day weekends per year. This means that if they work, they usually need to take Fridays off, especially, in Portland, for the East and the South. Intercessors need to be mindful of the time needed to drive home and plan accordingly. Other commitments include commitments to one’s co-intercessor, to the land on which the ceremony is done, the commitment to provide food for the group, and a commitment to pay one’s share of the expenses. Expectations of Facilitators:  Work together with their co-intercessor to develop the intention and ceremonial structure.  Select the site for the direction, provide any teachings and hold the intention and energy for the duration of the ceremony. It is best if the intercessors visit the site prior to the ceremony before selecting it.  Create a ceremony that allows for learning from the land, the season, and the different attributes of each direction  Communicate to the rest of their wheel directions to the site and what to bring 3-4 weeks prior to their ceremony  Ensure that participants stay focused during the ceremony and limit social and non- ceremonial talk.  Open and close the ceremony with prayers and/or songs. If you are interested in participating in or learning more about the Women’s Medicine Wheel ceremony, please contact us at info@earthandspirit.org,

A ceremony that began eighteen years ago in the Portland area and has since grown and spread throughout the United States. This ceremony requires a year-long commitment traveling to each of the four directions for a weekend during the corresponding season. Each year there is a winter organizational meeting for interested women via Zoom. Hundreds of women have participated in this ceremony over the past thirty years. s;dfohgds;foghsldfugh ;sdiofg;sdfhgds ;sdfhdshfglkdsufh

The intention of this ceremony is to create a space where we can all reconnect with our ancestral heritage, appreciate diverse cultural practices, and engage with each other in meaningful ceremony. This is an opportunity to remember and honor those who came before us and learn more about how to keep ancestor memory alive within ourselves and our communities. Many cultures around the world honor their ancestors with ceremony. Guidelines: Decide which of your ancestors you would like to honor. Take some time to organize all your memories and thoughts around your ancestor. Here are some tips: Talk to others in your family about your relative, look at old photographs, learn about the time and place your ancestor lived, and/or consider doing some genetic research. You may decide to honor someone who is not genetically related to you, perhaps a a teacher, mentor, or other person who's direct presence in your life has been important to you. Learn as much as you can about their story. What to Bring: Your Ancestor's Symbol: a photo, drawing, icon/figurine, stone, emblem, or any item that represents a connection to your ancestor. Stories and history known of your ancestor Food: a favorite dish of the ancestor you are honoring or a traditional ancestral food to share. Flowers: If you know your ancestor’s favorite flowers, please bring some to place on the altar, though any bouquet of flowers will add to the beauty of the ceremony. Everyone may participate, whether you choose to share about an ancestor or simply wish to listen and learn. This is a time to remember ALL ancestors. Schedule: Arrive, set up food, place photo or item on altar Introductions, history, and setting the intention and structure of ceremony Depending how many people are participating and how much time you have, divide into smaller groups or stay together – each person has 5-10 minutes to share ancestors story with group. Introduce your dish and the connection to your ancestors. Share food with everyone - Eat! Close with reflections and what people got out of this experience.

With the right conscious intent, even the simplest and most ordinary action can be transformed into a sacred ceremony. For example, take something we all do every day – the act of drinking water. Our intention in drinking the water makes all the difference between an unconscious action and a ceremony. when you drink a glass of water you could say, ‘This is the blood of the holy, sacred Mother.’ Rod’s words and guidance at that moment changed my entire experience of water and of ceremony. Thirty-five years later, I continue a daily practice of drinking water and remembering Mother Earth as I do so.

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