Everyone is always curious when the "Native American Zodiac" appears on social media platforms; well, here's some info I've been pointed to on this topic.
Vincent LaDuke (1929-1992, aka Sun Bear) from the White Earth Anishinaabeg reservation in Minnesota attempted to bring a sort of pan-Indian cultural astronomy experience to white people interested in the New Age movement. He founded a new group of mostly Euro-Americans, called the Bear Tribe, which popularized Native American culture. Today some half-dozen books on "Native American astrology" based loosely on his model, are in print. While revered by New Age believers for his insights and wisdom, many Native elders and activists criticized Sun Bear’s work as inauthentic and profiteering.
Societies "appropriate" elements of foreign cultures, ongoing, with no harm done. The problem with taking bits and pieces of Native American religion, reinventing, and popularizing them for a largely white audience, however, is that it offends many Native people, who see it as sac-religious in the context of their own traditional worldview and sacred teachings. Moreover, some nations have struggled in the courts to protect their sacred places and observances, and the notion of a Pan-Indian culture with newly-minted beliefs and in which anyone can participate, harms cases based upon ancient culturally-specific traditions. The depth of Native feeling against New Age borrowers, "plastic medicine men" and "white shamanism" can be judged from the 1993 "Declaration of War Against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality."
Societies "appropriate" elements of foreign cultures, ongoing, with no harm done. The problem with taking bits and pieces of Native American religion, reinventing, and popularizing them for a largely white audience, however, is that it offends many Native people, who see it as sac-religious in the context of their own traditional worldview and sacred teachings. Moreover, some nations have struggled in the courts to protect their sacred places and observances, and the notion of a Pan-Indian culture with newly-minted beliefs and in which anyone can participate, harms cases based upon ancient culturally-specific traditions. The depth of Native feeling against New Age borrowers, "plastic medicine men" and "white shamanism" can be judged from the 1993 "Declaration of War Against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality."
The following summary of the “Native American Zodiac” is from Sun Bear’s book, Medicine Wheel:, co-written by a white member of the Bear Tribe. It draws on Sun Bear's own Ojibwa (Chippewa) culture, as well as several others in combination, notably modern western astrology. It is best understood as a New Age creation, notably because many First Nations do not even live in areas where medicine wheels, sturgeon, or snow geese are found.
For North American Indians, natural phenomena have always been and remain an important frame of reference for spiritual experiences and practical everyday life. And because they live at a latitude that equates roughly to that of Europe (particularly Southern Europe), they experience similar seasonal rhythms:
This influences the basic division of the year which, however, is marked by the winter solstice and not the start of spring. The four resulting seasons are called
This cycle is further divided into three Moons (=Months) which are named after twelve animals. Although they are related to the Western zodiac, the terms have their origins in the North American environment. All the symbols in the American Indian zodiac originate from the animal kingdom.
American Indians also consider four to be a sacred number: It traces back to their experience of the four points of the compass, the four winds and the four seasons.
Sun Bear's zodiac and medicine wheel consists of the following animals:
For unknown reasons, this Native American zodiac has become rather popular in German astrological circles.
For North American Indians, natural phenomena have always been and remain an important frame of reference for spiritual experiences and practical everyday life. And because they live at a latitude that equates roughly to that of Europe (particularly Southern Europe), they experience similar seasonal rhythms:
- the winter solstice around the 22nd December,
- the summer solstice around the 22nd June,
- the spring equinox around the 21st March and
- the autumnal equinox around the 23rd September.
This influences the basic division of the year which, however, is marked by the winter solstice and not the start of spring. The four resulting seasons are called
- Spirit of the North or Waboose for winter
- Spirit of the South or Shawnodese for the summer
- Spirit of the East or Wabun for the spring and
- Spirit of the West or Mudjekeewis for the autumn.
This cycle is further divided into three Moons (=Months) which are named after twelve animals. Although they are related to the Western zodiac, the terms have their origins in the North American environment. All the symbols in the American Indian zodiac originate from the animal kingdom.
American Indians also consider four to be a sacred number: It traces back to their experience of the four points of the compass, the four winds and the four seasons.
Sun Bear's zodiac and medicine wheel consists of the following animals:
- Red Hawk, corresponds to Aries energy
- Beaver, corresponds to Taurus energy
- Deer, corresponds to Gemini energy
- Woodpecker, corresponds to Cancer energy
- Sturgeon, corresponds to Leo energy
- Brown Bear, corresponds to Virgo energy
- Raven, corresponds to Libra energy
- Snake, corresponds to Scorpio energy
- Owl / Elk, corresponds to Sagittarius energy
- Snow Goose, corresponds to Capricorn energy
- Otter, corresponds to Aquarius energy
- Wolf / Puma, corresponds to Pisces energy
For unknown reasons, this Native American zodiac has become rather popular in German astrological circles.
**Information on this page quoted from: ++Image on this page sourced from: