Medicine wheels are part of many First Nations’ cultures. They serve to connect people to the environment and reflect our interdependence with nature and each other. They signal the need for balance required in our lives and ground us with and in our world. I took the picture on Bowen Island and began to write the poem.
I feel welcomed–
At home,
I found my way–
Linked to the universe,
With each being
Inseparably bound–
I could not lose my way
A voice gently beckons,
“Cross the hearth.”
Bask in its warmth–
Refresh with its water–
Breathe its sweet air–
Let the earth ground–
Replenish here;
No magic–
Only magical.
About ivonprefontaine
In keeping with bell hooks and Noam Chomsky, I consider myself a public and dissident intellectual. Part of my work is to move beyond (transcend) institutional dogmas that bind me to defend freedom, raising my voice to be heard on behalf of those who seek equity and justice in all their forms.
I completed my PhD in Philosophy of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA. My dissertation and research was how teachers experience becoming teachers and their role as leaders.
I focus on leading, communicating, and innovating in organizations. This includes mindfuful servant-leadership, World Cafe events, Appreciative Inquiry, and expressing one's self through creativity. I offer retreats, workshops, and presentations that can be tailored to your organzations specific needs.
I published peer reviewed articles about schools as learning organizations, currere as an ethical pursuit, and hope as an essential element of adult eductaion. I published three poems and am currently preparing my poetry to publish as an anthology of poetry.
I present on mindful leadership, servant leadership, schools as learning organizations, how teachers experience becoming teachers, assessement, and critical thinking. I facilitate mindfulness, hospitality retreats. and World Cafe Events using Appreciative Inquiry.
I am writing and researching about various forms of leadership, how teachers inform and form their identity as a particular teacher, schools as learning organizations, hope, nonviolence and its anticipatory relationship with the future, as essential elements to teaching and learning.
Academic publications can be found at Ivon Gile Prefontaine on ResearchGate
Teacher as Transformer 
Beautiful about the interconnectedness of everything. So important to remember and wonderful to experience. Thanks!
You are welcome Tiny.
Awesome Ivon
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Thank you Sue. Your comment is greatly appreciated.
Very cool!
Thank you for the kind words.
I have heard of them but have never seen a medicine wheel. I like the photo and words.
Thank you Gary. On the prairies, they blend in and are quite non-intrusive. I think they would be similar to Inukshuks that way.
Our group of friends here in Gold Beach, Oregon made our Medicine Wheel 18 months ago for a Summer Solstice Celebration – every time we meet there is gets more and more powerful. Another friend of mine has his own Medicine Wheel in his yard – not a lot of stones, but each one a friend of his… Lovely words and beautiful Picture, Ivon! Thanks!
Thank you for sharing your stories with me. You are welcome.
This is a wonderful post, Ivon. I want to thank you so much for all your support this WEGO Health blog month. Thank you for your ‘likes’ on Facebook, and for the ones on my blog site too. I really appreciate the love of all of you and I will remember to pay forward the same respect for others.The Bodhisattva prayer that I dedicated to my readers means a lot to me, and it reminded me of people like yourself. It also kind of fits with healing power of the Medicine Wheel, and your words above about being connected to All. An apt post today. Lots of love and much appreciation, Ivon.
Thank you. I was so impressed with your daily dedication to your WEGO posts. Lots of love and appreciation to as well, Yaz.
a definite mystical magical force in this place, and a center of power, being one. all is one. thank you. j.k.
You are welcome Jen.
Hi, Ivan. I really enjoy your blog! I just nominated you for “The Most Inspiring Blog Award.” To accept this award, simply go to this link http://4writersandreaders.wordpress.com/2012/11/30/very-inspiring-blogger-award/ and follow directions. You are inspiring! Bette A. Stevens
Thank you Bette. This is greatly appreciated.
Nice 🙂
Magical indeed! We are returning to the power and wisdom of energetic “medicine”, when healing through vibratory interconnection, the healer and healed are no more… just healing remains. Please keep writing poetry, one love my friend.
I will. Thank you.
Medicine wheels of the Native American reminds me of some of the megalithic structures and images of ancient Europe.
I think there are things that are universal or global that happened without any communication.
Beautiful. And interesting. I’ve never heard of a medicine wheel.
They are part of First Nations or aboriginal culture and can be found in various forms around the world. Part of the symbolism is the acknowledging the four directions.