Indigenous cultures across the planet have constructed four-direction “medicine wheels” from stones, carved them into rock, painted them on all kinds of surfaces… These cultures often associate specific colors, animals, etc with each direction. While these associated elements vary from culture to culture, there is a consistency to the larger concepts of each direction. The day feels different when the sun is rising than when it is setting, and everything feels different in winter than it does in summer. Recognizing these simple yet profound patterns is foundational to place-based ways of living.

The 8 Seasons Cycle I’ve developed is based on these patterns. It is an expansion of the 8 Shields Model, which was codified by Jon Young through decades of living relationships with indigenous people from place-based cultures including the San of the Kalahari, Haudenosaunee from the Lake Ontario region, Odawa of the Central Great Lakes, Lakota of the Great Plains of North America, and Aloha of Hawai’i. While the patterns themselves are inherent to life on planet Earth, much of humanity has lost connection with those simple truths, and the teachings of specific cultures are helping us reconnect.

Individual elders and whole communities shared specific teachings with Jon, and encouraged him to develop this model and the other teachings that he shares. In my understanding  this unconditional gifting of the teachings helps  distinguish  cultural mixing from cultural appropriation (which is often based in non-consensual taking). We are not attempting to adopt or implement specific lifeways from specific cultures. Instead, we are connecting with the larger concepts that inform those culture-specific teachings, and seeing how those concepts apply to us in our daily lives. I do not tell indigenous peoples’ stories, share their songs, or lead their practices. Instead I try to help people reconnect with the natural rhythms of the world around them, and of their own bodies. If you ever feel that anything I’ve shared is inappropriate for me (as a descendant of colonizers) to share, please let me know.

Because I and the people I work with have benefited so much from these teachings, it feels important to me to give back to indigenous people. That looks like many things, including donating money to indigenous organizations and gifting my coaching services to indigenous people in financial need. If you are indigenous, want to work with me and would struggle to cover the financial cost, please use the form on this page to  let me know. I would be honored to gift my services to you.

All of this is complicated, and I think there are no perfect solutions. I’m doing my best and I trust that you are, too. If you have questions, concerns, suggestions, or insights I’d be happy to talk more. Please use the form on this page to contact me.

Thanks so much for reading all of this.