The Medicine Wheel
(part II)


The South - Uganowv

To start with a more in-depth study of the Cherokee, we need to carefully study every direction represented in the seven directions. I will start with the South as this is the start of every natural life. When we are born, we are born pure, innocent, unaffected by the influences, bad and good, of life. Thus the color white, without blot or blemish. This part represents every creation, not only man. All of nature resides in this area. And this is the area that shows how we should treat nature, all creation, with respect and complete brotherhood. This is the direction we, our spiritual beings born into the flesh. Knowing this, children should be treated with respect, protected and nurtured in the knowledge that it is the children that are closest to knowing the will and ways of the Father. Biblically, Jesus said in Matthew 18 that unless we become as little children, we will never enter into the kingdom of heaven. And if anyone should cause a child to do wrong, they would be better off if they had drowned themselves at that very moment! And again later in the next chapter He says that the kingdom of heaven belongs to children, so don't hinder them! Therefore, this agrees with the Cherokee belief that we are born in innocence and purity at the closest time of our earthly lives to the Father as we have ever been. Children are to be treated with the greatest of respect. And yet it is still our responsibility to teach our children the "rules" of this world, but without beating down their God-given spirit. It is true that each of us are born individuals and that each of us have our own will. And it is up to the parents to help guide this child in this "new" world they've entered in to make their own decisions, yet be open to the Creator's will and purpose for putting us here and not teach them the wrong ways of the world. And here I must note, we should teach our children there such a thing as "right and wrong" according to God, the Father and His teachings. And this is not only Biblical, but historically lived.