A Medicine Wheel provides spiritual protection as well as protection from illness.  The Wheel represents the circle of life.  The feathers are for strength and are tradtionally Eagle, which represents higher thinking.  The center of the whee represents spiritual power.  The Medicine Wheel is an instrument for focusing energy  to obtain self knowledge and direction in your life.  The four cardinal axis of the Medicine Wheel represent the Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual consciences of the human form.

The points of the cross represent:

NORTH-Sky, Beginnings, and Birth

The North represents the mind and is keeper of the ancient wisdoms.

EAST-Wind and Childhood

The East is also the place of the spirit world.

SOUTH-Water, Puberty, and Midlife

The Souththern point of the Medicine Wheel also rpresents the center of the emotions.

WEST-Earth, Old Age, and Death

This completes the circle into the next life, which is continuous just like the circle. 

The traditional colors for the Medicine wheel are Red, Yellow, Black, and White, although blue is often substituted for the black.