The painting Rocky Mountain Wild is an artist’s representation of the Native American Circle of Life or Medicine Wheel. Native American theology teaches the concept of man and all creatures being connected one with another through a purpose far greater than mortal understanding. Indian theology describes life as a circle with four lateral directions, North, South, East and West with Mother Earth being down, and Father Sky being above; giving six directions. This concept becomes visual as we imagine all life caught up within a great circle or wheel known as The Circle of Life.
Within the painting The Circle of Life is found in a brilliant wheel of color which holds the wildlife together as a part of a beautiful whole. Red, yellow, and blue are the three primary colors which come from the elements of nature, and are not created by man. All other colors are created from blending these three basic colors together in varying degrees. Place these three colors, each at the point of an equilateral triangle and move from one color to the next, mixing them as you move around the triangle, thus creating a circle of color. Mix red with the yellow, and orange is created. Every shade of orange is found in the spectrum between the red and the yellow pigments. The color variations depend upon the amount of yellow pigment or red pigment used in the blend. The variations are endless. Next, take pure brilliant yellow and mix it with blue; green will leap forward with its vast variations. Moving on around the triangle, pure blue is mixed with pure red and purple is the heavenly result. Thus is the creation of what is known as The Color Wheel in which all colors are found. Six basic directions and six basic colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple from which all colors emerge and six directions, from which all life blossoms.
The Circle of Life encompasses all life. Every living thing is important in the great plan of things. All are bound together within the great circle and blend just as colors in The Color Wheel blend with total harmony. It is a vibrant, but simple representation reminding us of the importance of all that is living and the need to live in harmony.
What is “THE MEDICINE WHEEL” — The Circle of Life
Tree-Song, a renowned Native American theologian, explains that in Native American theology, all of God’s or, “The Great Spirit’s” creations are encircled about and included within the wondrous plan of life and mortality. This circle is known as The Medicine Wheel and is sometimes called The Circle of Life. The wheel is said to open the eyes of the spiritually blind and cause them to better understand their own personal "Visions" as well as the purpose of life itself. The Medicine Wheel helps man to see exactly where he is in life, and where he needs to improve in order to develop to his full potential. Within the wheel we are all connected to one another, man and animals alike. We share the same environment, the same air, and water. Man and beast survive by harvesting from Mother Earth and it is vital that we share. The circle is complete when every creature, man and beast, is in their respective place living in harmony one with another. The wheel enlightens as to the true nature of the interwoven threads of life, as well as the importance of each thread, and the part we share with each other and with our wild animal brothers.
The Medicine Wheel “helps us understand that without our part in the tapestry the ‘Bigger Picture’ is not as it should be. We add color, dimension, and life to each other, to all of life. No matter what color, race, or creed we are, we need each of us to create a beautiful existence and expression of the Whole.”
Tree-Song continues and adds, “… [The Medicine Wheel is] the recognition of spiritual energy. It is an outward expression of inward thoughts and feeling…It is the physical manifestation of spiritual energy... It is a wheel of protection and enables us, and allows us, to gather surrounding energies into a focal point and to commune with The Spirit, Self, and nature (All elemental forces)…” (Circle of Life, What is A Medicine Wheel? by Tree-Song —http://www.spiritualnetwork.net/native/medicine_wheel.htm)
The beliefs encompassing the Medicine Wheel give us the opportunity to seek and see more accurately the true nature of life, and our surroundings, thus creating better self understanding. Understanding of this nature opens the doors to the mysteries that lie beyond our comprehension, making inspiration from all that is divine possible. The sacred truths of this life begin with being at-one with the Great Spirit and all His creations.
Artist’s Comments
In my research on how the Circle of Life might be represented, I found to my amazement that the four (or six) directions and sections varied from tribe to tribe. Some thoughts are common, such as the principle that life is a circle and that the four directions stand for North, South, East and West with Mother Earth being down and Father Sky being above; giving six directions. Some include one more – a direction for or of Spirit; thus making seven directions. The spiritual essence of the circle is found in the center or the center of man’s heart and soul. It is around this spiritual center that all else in life is bound. The concept is both beautiful as well as inspiring. It was with these thoughts “Rocky Mountain Wild” was created.
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