North
|
West--Self--East
| 
South

These four colors represent the directions, they do not represent four races, as in ancient Lakota Star Knowledge tells of five original races from which all people come from.

The medicine wheel also represents the four parts of the self, as shown below:

Mental
|
Physical--Self--Spiritual
|
Emotional

The medicine wheel can represent the four parts of the self in another way, as shown below:

Mind
|
Body--Self--Soul
|
Heart

The above illustration shows that the longest walk we will ever have to take is from our heart to our mind, and vice versa.

The medicine wheel also represents the four parts of a Tiospaye, as shown below:

Political
|
Economic--Tiospaye--Cultural
|
Social

Two medicine wheels can be put on top of each other to show how each member of a Tiospaye is important to the health of that Tiospaye. If one part of the self is neglected or abused, the other parts will also, become diseased. The same is true for a Tiospaye. As shown below, the self contributes to the strength and health of the Tiospaye/Tribe/Nation he/she is a member of:

Political
|
|
Mental
|
Economic--Physical--Self--Spiritual--Cultural
|
Emotional
|
|
Social

In a Tiospaye, every person is important and contributes to the success, strength, and health of the Tiospaye. If a person loses his/her 7th Direction, it affects the entire Tiospaye. How a person chooses to communicate also affects his/her Tiospaye.

A medicine wheel also represents the four ages, as shown below:

Stone
|
Fire--Ages--Water
|
Pipe

The medicine wheel also represents the four categories of Wamakaskan, as shown below:

Four-Legged/Hu Topa
|
That which moves & grows--Wamakaskan--Two-Legged/Hu Nump
|
Winged/Hupahu

The medicine wheel also represents the four ages a person lives through, as shown below:

Childhood
|
Birth (Death)--Ages--Adulthood