Herbal Medicine Wheel Garden

The first time I saw a medicine wheel garden was long before I was interested in plants, herbs, or herbal medicine. I don’t remember which historic home or palace I happened to be in when I came across it. But as I wandered through a lovely traditional English garden, I came across a section in a large wheel, divided into four sections separated by walkways. I learned it was a Medicine Wheel Garden, a traditional practice common in England and other parts of Europe for centuries. (Note that these gardens are different from a Native American Medicine Wheel. They serve different purposes and have different cultural histories and significance.) 

A medicine wheel garden is a circular garden that is planted with medicinal herbs. The herbs are often planted in the four cardinal directions, with additional herbs planted in the four intermediate directions. The garden may also include a central stone or other object. The herbs in the garden were planted with their health-promoting properties in mind and could be used used to make teas, tinctures, and other remedies. 

If you want to make your own Medicine Wheel Garden, there are a few things to consider: 

• Choose herbs that have a special meaning to you or that you believe will be beneficial for your health. Start with herbs you are already using, or research remedies you can go to your garden for. Be sure to account for your planting zone.
• Consider the four cardinal directions when planning your garden. Each direction is associated with a different element (earth, air, fire, water) and a different set of qualities.
• Include a central stone or other object in your garden to represent the center of the universe.
• Use natural materials in your garden, such as rocks, wood, and flowers.
• Make sure your garden is a place where you can relax and feel at peace.

Here are some herbs you can begin with that are commonly found in a Medicine Wheel Garden:

Interested in more than just medicinal herbs? You can double your medicine wheel garden to incorporate Astrology, Witchcraft, Meditation, or Pagan worship, just by incorporating elements of those practices into your garden. How would you plan your medicine wheel garden?

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