The 4 Challenges of Existence - Navigated by the Teachings of the 4 Winds
Historic Webinar Recording
This webinar will focus on understanding what is identified as the four “ultimate concerns of life”—death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness and the struggle that springs from each.
In the mid-20th century, there arose a therapeutic movement called existential psychotherapy, constructed upon the idea that some psychological disorders, such as cases of anxiety and depression, are the result of an individual’s inability to reconcile themselves with certain aspects of the human condition. While biochemical imbalances may be present in such people, the imbalances are not necessarily the cause of their suffering, but rather a symptom – the cause being their inability to deal with the existential dilemmas of human life.
In the legend of the 4 Directions we learn how to navigate the challenges of human existence.
Treatment for psychological afflictions of this sort, according to existential psychotherapy, involves not medication but self-reflection, philosophical exploration, an expansion of awareness and acceptance of the human condition.
Every person alive can face the challenges of life – the 4 Existential Challenges. Existential therapy isn’t new. Indigenous people also recognized the challenges unique to the human condition. As a matter of fact, there are even legends of the “Gods” facing these challenges - and how they overcame them.
In this webinar we will explore the understanding of the 4 Existential Challenges from the point of view of the 4 Direction Medicine Wheel. The legend that we will reference explains not just the direction – but how humanity can best come to terms with these universal human challenges.
Join us for this webinar to understand and ways to be in a better relationship with death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness. Learn how indigenous wisdom traditions acknowledged the challenges and how they help their community members be in good relationship to the challenges through ceremony.
Here is what we will cover in the webinar:
- The 4 Challenges of Existence
- The Legends of the Journey of the 4 Winds
- Finding Stability in the Powers of the 4 Directions
- Creating your personal altar in each direction
- How ceremony helps us to navigate these challenges
- How to introduce this to children
- Ritual of Connection which helps to navigate the challenges
- Defining – death, freedom, isolation and meaninglessness
- Embracing the spiritual learning of life to become a wise elder and powerful ancestor
