Medicine wheel teachings
- Amy McComb
- Jun 4
- 4 min read
In the plant world, it is very apparent that everything comes through from the spiritual energetic fields to the physical.
This is how most plants work (in terms of healing effects) - that I’ve noticed in the last 25 years through my work. The plants will frequently be working first with our specific issues, facilitating our life lessons and working with energies that need to shift.
For instance, take Shepherd’s purse. A beautiful delicate plant that restores the kidneys. The underlying issues the plant is actually working with are issues like forgiveness, facing one’s fears, and reminding us what it feels like to not experience energy loss over and over again, reminding us what it feels like to not ‘leak’ one’s energy.
Also the plant’s purpose is along the lines of reminding us of our optimal alignment, our proper spiritual alignment, which translates to the physical. In this way Shepherd’s purse will actually also physically align our spines (literally line the vertebrae up ). No need to see an osteopath, or wonderful to take alongside this treatment!
With respect to the unseen worlds (that is the spiritual and emotional fields) traditional peoples have always known that these are equally important as the mental physical spheres - and acknowledged and work with these aspects just as much.
A long time ago, I was fortunate enough to learn from Mi’kmaq elders on Turtle Island (Canada), and they shared with us the medicine wheel teachings. One simple way to depict the medicine wheel teachings is by drawing a circle, and divide it into four parts - the first quarter is mental, the next one is physical, the next one is emotional, and then spiritual. The circle is made up of four quadrants and all of these aspects are equally as important as the other.
When people talk about shamanic traditions and teachings, working with the unseen realms is actually a basic tenet and foundation.
We primarily work with the unseen worlds as ‘…this is where all the action is’ : ).
And often it where the highest likelihood lies in being able to effect life giving key changes. When we work in these fields we can affect changes that can often be more far reaching than is generally believed possible.
What’s happening in our world today, and you see it across institutions and in our modern day societies, is that we prioritise the mental and physical spheres over the emotional and spiritual aspects.
What is ‘visible’ in our world is acknowledged and accepted, while the invisible worlds have gone largely ‘unseen’ and unacknowledged of late. Indeed whole factions of science communities insist that what we can’t see, or can’t physically prove, doesn’t exist.
Traditional communities and healers through all time know that the invisible worlds are just as important - and key to our understanding of what is going on in the space as a whole.
Being with the ‘invisible’ aspects of the medicine wheel, the spiritual and emotional, requires a deeper listening and opening to our natural sensitivity. And this can take courage.
Working with the unseen worlds can help us in the development of our special gifts which each one of us has, and in connecting with the ancient wisdom of our ancestors.
We can see the following prayer as an illustration of this.
Thank you
I love you
Please forgive me
I’m sorry
This is a prayer called Ho’oponopono by the ancestral people of Hawaii.
The abundant use of which underlines their understanding of the importance of the unseen invisible worlds.
Say this from the heart and watch it change your life.
There are also practical ways to engage with unseen life energies in our everyday experience. Consider this: what if the trees, plants, and natural world we see around us require energy to remain present in physical form? What if their true origin lies within more subtle, etheric dimensions?
When we pause to notice their beauty - when we truly see them - we offer something in return. Our awareness, appreciation, and presence strengthens their capacity to exist alongside us in the visible world. In this way, our relationship with nature becomes reciprocal, a quiet exchange between worlds.
I hold deep gratitude for these unseen dimensions. It is from this subtle realm that creativity emerges, healing unfolds, and profound support becomes available to us. By remembering and honoring this connection, we step back into alignment with a wisdom that has always been present.
The NZ Native Tree and Wild Plant Shamanic Herbal Apprenticeship is a core part of the PRHA program designed for those who feel called to deepen their relationship with plant medicine, the native bush, and holistic wellbeing.
New course starting in July 2026.
Find out more at www.plantrhythms.com
This article has been supplied by Amy McComb. All content is the opinion and copyright of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of DrumRoll Promotions Ltd. Always ensure you know the correct dosage and recognise specifically which plants are safe for ingestion or application. If you have any questions regarding this article you may wish to contact the author direct or consult a professional.
