Solstice Time
The North of the Medicine Wheel Article

By Laureen Rama
-Published in Soul Healing Email Update December 1999

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 North direction represents for me. Future articles will cover the other directions.

I also want to share some information I received from fellow shamanic teacher Rick Gossett. This year the solstice, the longest night of the year, falls on Wednesday, December 22nd. That night there will also be a full moon (once every 30 years or so these fall together) and the lunar perigree--the time that the moon is closest to the earth that month, and also for the whole year. This conjunction has not happened since 1866 and then the moon was simply at its closest point that month. This points to a cosmically charged evening--ideal for ritual and celebration. Based on cosmic configurations rather than an arbitrary calendar date--why not celebrate this night as well as, or instead of December 31st!

Suggestions for ways to make use of this night are to do a shamanic journey to ask what the main lessons of the year have been for you and how to carry them forward into the new year and millenium. You could also do a talking circle where everyone shares their main lessons and how theyÕll take them forward. IÕd follow that with some drumming, rattling, dancing, and general merriment to celebrate the lessons and welcome back the light!

Note in the events section above that I'm leading celebrations in Edmonton and Calgary.

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 IÕve followed suit. Although many traditions also use similar qualities when calling in the spirits, what follows is what has come to me personally.

The North for me represents the energy of winter and nighttime. This is the time to rest and recharge and care for the physical body and the physical aspects of our lives. It is also a time to reflect on what weÕve learned that day or that year, to capture the wisdom in the learnings from our experience, and to plan on how we will use that wisdom in the next cycle. North energy is practical and strategic. It is 'seed catalogue' time--the time when we decide what we will plant come spring. Night is often the time when spirits visit us and when we can take the time to visit them, so North is the direction from which we ask for guidance and support from our ancestors. We can also ask others, living or passed on, to be present with us in spirit form to support our sacred work or play.

In Winter, the North time of the year, it is important for us to take the time to rest, reflect, strategize, plan, repair and ready our physical lives for the next season of our lives, and to commune with spirit. Modern urban work life does not follow this timing cycle very well, which is often why we can feel so harried at this time of year. ItÕs also why itÕs even more important to take some North time.

When I call in the spirits or energies of the North, I call them in to specifically support my intention (eg. my healing, healing for others, learning). Aloud, or in my mind, I ask for the qualities of North that seem appropriate to come in to the space (eg. of reflection, of taking care of the physical details, of strategy). I stand and face the North, rattling and feeling the energy of those directions coming in through my body. When the energy stops flowing, I know the appropriate energies of the North are with us and I turn to face the next direction I'll call in.

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.