Discover how the 10,000-year-old Medicine Wheel framework perfectly aligns with today's Design Thinking methodologies to unlock your team's intuitive wisdom.
By honouring the cardinal directions—North (strategy), East (creativity), South (emotional intelligence), and West (reflection)—we create balanced innovation spaces where solutions emerge naturally from collective wisdom. This integrated approach transforms standard workshops into powerful experiences that engage all dimensions of human experience: the warrior's clarity, the child's curiosity, the nurturer's inclusivity, and the elder's wisdom.
When we consciously incorporate these elements, we don't just solve problems—we access the answers already residing within us and our teams. Ready to revolutionize your innovation process by tapping into ancient wisdom traditions that complement modern design practices? Discover how this holistic framework creates the psychological safety and creative energy needed for breakthrough thinking in today's uncertain world.
Design Thinking may indeed serve as a modern access point to our intuitive wisdom and subtle inner guidance. In our uncertain society at the moment, perhaps the answers to our challenges already reside within us — if only we would ask for help, listen to our quiet inner voice, and follow our internal compass.
Indigenous Peoples worldwide have honoured the wisdom of the Medicine Wheel and the Directions for over 10,000 years. These ancient practices align remarkably with effective modern Design Thinking ways of working:
North (Air) - Strategy and action; our inner warrior. "The masculine energy principle is about defining things clearly, establishing boundaries, and protecting what is sacred." —Tiokasin Ghosthorse. Do you have the right balance of warriors (and Nurturers from the West) in your teams?
East (Fire) - Creativity and new beginnings. "Creativity is intelligence having fun." —Albert Einstein. The direction that also encourages play. How many workshops have you been in were you have felt energised by how creatively you worked and how the energy was pro-actively managed for the good of the teams wellbeing?
South (Water) - Emotional intelligence and curiosity. "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few."—Shunryu Suzuki. The child is our curious intra-preneur interacting with senior managers. Do they feel safe and free to explore?
West (Earth) - Reflection and grounding wisdom. "The feminine energy principle offers us the capacity to be inclusive, to care about the whole." —Joanna Macy. How are you changing your activities to access different insights from the nurturers and teachers, and to balance the warriors?
Mother Earth - Safety and connection to earth. "When we reconnect with the earth, we reconnect with ourselves." —Robin Wall Kimmerer. Do you go outside enough in the day time to re-balance yourself?
Father Sky - Higher wisdom and perspective. "Look up at the stars and not down at your feet." —Stephen Hawking. In your meetings on stuck projects or situations, do you allow the natural light in with your teams, or do you work in only unnatural lit environments? Do you dare to encourage the teams to dream?
Heart Centre - Authentic presence and connection. Zulu expression “I am here to be seen, I see you”. Do you create and nurture diversity and inclusion of your entire team, young and experienced?
Effective Design Thinking processes naturally incorporate these elements—balancing action with reflection, creativity with grounding, and individual insight with collective wisdom. By consciously honouring these directions in our work, we create spaces where innovation can flourish through our innate wisdom.
Applying the Medicine Wheel Design Thinking Framework
NORTH (Air) - Strategy & Action
· Problem definition and framing
· Strategic planning and roadmapping
· Decision-making and prioritisation
· Implementation planning
· Resource allocation
"I receive energy from the airy winds that bring subtle wisdom and creativity from the northern skies"
EAST (Fire) - Creativity &New Beginnings
· Ideation and brainstorming sessions
· Divergent thinking exercises
· Exploring novel approaches
· Prototyping new concepts
· Embracing the beginner's mindset
"I determine energy from the dawn of the day and her warm winds to illuminate my emotions and pathways"
SOUTH (Water) - Emotion &Connection
· User research and empathy mapping
· Stakeholder interviews
· Emotional journey mapping
· Building trust within teams
· Creating psychological safety
"I give energy from the fluid winds as I become present, relate, and build trust"
WEST (Earth) - Reflection &Wisdom
· Evaluation and assessment
· Retrospectives and lessons learned
· Integration of feedback
· Refinement of solutions
· Grounding ideas in reality
"I hold energy from the earthy sunset winds for introspection and access the places of wisdom"
CENTRE (Heart) - Integration& Wholeness
· Team alignment sessions
· Purpose and vision clarification
· Values-based decision making
· Holistic solution assessment
· Ensuring ethical considerations
"The circle shape represents the interconnectivity of all aspects of one's being, including the connection with the natural world."
Workshop Environment Elements
· Physical Space: Natural light, circular seating arrangement, connection to nature
· Time Management: Alternating between active and reflective modes
· Materials: Tools for both analytical and creative expression
· Facilitation: Honouring diverse perspectives and ways of knowing
· Rituals: Opening and closing ceremonies to mark transitions
This framework honours the Medicine Wheel teaching that "medicine wheels represent the alignment and continuous interaction of the physical, emotional, mental and other subtler realities" by ensuring design thinking processes engage all dimensions of human experience and wisdom.
Creative Applications - Consider creating physical artefact's that represent each direction in your design thinking space. For example, you might place symbolic objects at the four cardinal points of your workshop room, or create custom cards with the direction qualities that participants can reference during different phases of the process. These tangible reminders can help participants consciously tap into the specific energy and wisdom of each direction at the appropriate time in your Design Thinking process.
