Harvest Time
- The West of the Medicine Wheel

By Laureen Rama
September, 2000

Many people have asked me to share the words and intentions I use to call in the spirits of the directions when I am creating sacred space. In this article I'll share what the West direction represents for me. Last update I wrote about the East. Future articles will cover the other directions.

I learned to call in the directions to create sacred space primarily from my shamanic teacher Armand Huet DeGrenier. He based the qualities he called in for each direction on the wheel of the day and the wheel of the seasons and I've followed suit. I learned more about the directions from William Sturner, a creativity and management consultant. Although many traditions also use similar qualities when calling in the spirits, what follows is what has come to me personally.

Each time I call in the spirits, some new or different quality may be called in as appropriate to the situation. This is important as whenever I call in the spirits, I am asking for their help with a specific purpose (eg. to aid in healing someone, to aid the group's learning, to guide me in certain decisions).

I usually perform the ritual of calling in the directions by standing and facing each direction. Although I begin with clear intentions in my mind, I am silent but for my rattle, which I shake vigorously. It feels like energies are then pouring through my body into the room. As I am a highly physical person, this works best for me. Others may talk or sing or dance as they do this. The rattle is used because it wakes up energies and calls us to pay attention. When the energy stops flowing through me, I know the appropriate energies of that direction are with us and I turn to face the next direction I'll call in.

I begin by facing the East and rattling sharply four times to signify a beginning. I then visualize a blue shield of light around the building or space I'm in that acts as a filter, allowing only helpful energies or spirits in. I also call on my spirit power animal to circle the building and keep anyone away who would intrude on the space.

I then call on the qualities, energies, and spirits of each direction in turn, as I feel them, to be with us to aid us for the purpose of this sacred work, which I name in my mind. I put the yearning of my heart and soul into this intention, truly calling for help.

For the West, I call on the energies of the setting sun, of the harvest time. For me, this means the ability to uproot and let go of anything that no longer serves in my life, to let go of the chaff from the wheat, to let the vegetable peelings go into the compost to fuel new life. Just as important is the quality of cherishing and looking after what is important to me--here I think of preserving the harvest well, storing it appropriately, doing my canning properly, so that it will sustain me through the winter. This means maintaining and nourishing my relationships and those things I need in my life to keep it going and beautiful.

From the West, I also call on water energies, the ability to flow with the natural rhythms and cycles of life. Water also brings the ability to release and express through emotions and tears of sadness or joy, and to allow emotions to flow through us rather than trying to stifle or block them.

The West is also about Thanksgiving, remembering to bless and thank all those living beings who have been part of creating the harvest. West is about remembering to celebrate and embrace and welcome abundance as it flows in and to be giving and generous with one's abundance.

Enjoy the season and tending to whatever is coming to fruition and harvest in your life!

Laureen Rama is available to lead retreats and workshops for private groups. She also teaches advanced shamanic healing techniques and offers shamanic healings in person or by distance.

Laureen can be reached at info@soulrestore.com or 1-403-851-1198.