The Seven Circles Summary

“What if wellness isn't about fixing what’s broken but about coming home to your natural balance?”

1. Wellness Rooted in Gratitude

True wellness begins with a deep sense of gratitude – a cornerstone of Indigenous wisdom. This gratitude isn’t limited to fleeting moments of appreciation but involves recognizing your interconnectedness with every element of life: people, animals, and the earth.

Indigenous traditions emphasize gratitude as the foundation for cultivating resilience. By focusing on relationships with all your relations – living or non-living – you create a steadiness that bolsters your mental, emotional, and spiritual health. The objective is not perfection, but harmony. Life has inevitable hardships, and a mindset of gratitude offers the strength to navigate these challenges with grace.

This connection goes beyond mere thoughts; it is shown through daily practices, such as honoring elders, respecting nature, and performing acts of intentional kindness. It’s about acknowledging both what you give and what you receive from the ecosystem of life around you, making wellness a shared journey rather than an isolated pursuit.

Examples

• Express gratitude at sunrise by naming things you are thankful for.
• Recognize the land’s role in your health by enjoying natural spaces like forests or beaches.
• Practice small acts of kindness as a way of nurturing your community.

2. Movement as Joy, Not a Chore

Incorporating movement into daily life is foundational to health, but instead of viewing exercise as an obligation, Indigenous teachings see it as a gift and a joy. This reframe can transform how you approach physical activity.

Historically, Indigenous communities integrated movement into every aspect of life. Whether dancing ceremonially, building shelters, or foraging for food, motion was an essential and fulfilling aspect of their existence. It wasn’t compartmentalized into gym workouts or steps on a fitness tracker. Instead, it served purposes such as bonding, survival, and spiritual expression.

By engaging in natural movements – like walking, squatting, or climbing – you can align your body with its natural patterns. Viewing movement as a privilege allows you to nourish not just your body but also your spirit and relationships. Movement becomes a mindful practice, connecting you more deeply to yourself and your surroundings.

Examples

• Practice functional movements such as lunging or lifting while gardening or doing chores.
• Join a local group that organizes communal hikes or dance activities.
• Utilize natural landscapes like parks or forests for exercises instead of gyms.

3. Reconnecting with the Land

The wellness of the earth mirrors your own wellness. Rooted in Indigenous wisdom, this idea posits that human health cannot be separated from the health of the environment.

Indigenous peoples have always viewed the land as a living force that nourishes, teaches, and heals. The natural world, from sunlight to fresh air, offers unrivaled resources for emotional and spiritual renewal. Being in nature fosters inner calm, provides perspective, and lifts your mood in ways that indoor routines cannot.

Today, you can honor this principle by making the natural world a more integral part of your routine. Connecting with the land is about more than just preserving it; it's about respecting its power to ground and heal you physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Examples

• Spend 30 minutes daily outdoors, soaking in the healing power of fresh air and sunlight.
• Learn about the ecosystems around you by exploring local trails or parks.
• Participate in local land restoration or gardening projects to give back to the earth.

4. The Role of Community

Community is not simply a part of life; it is intrinsic to wellness. Indigenous teachings highlight the central role of collective care and shared purpose for a fulfilling, healthy existence.

Community connections give people a sense of identity, belonging, and responsibility. Throughout generations, Indigenous ceremonies and traditions have reinforced these bonds, ensuring that knowledge, culture, and values continue flourishing. Communities also promote sustainability – tasks are divided, and help is always nearby.

Building and nurturing your “tribe” in modern life can create a robust support system. By giving to others and receiving in return, you can experience deeper emotional and social well-being.

Examples

• Reconnect with distant friends or family by sending thoughtful notes or scheduling visits.
• Join interest groups or attend events that align with your values and passions.
• Volunteer locally to help and become part of a reciprocal support system.

5. Rediscovering Ceremony

Ceremonies in Indigenous cultures serve as spiritual anchors. They connect individuals to nature, traditions, and the people around them while creating moments of reflection and renewal.

From harvest celebrations to rites of passage, Indigenous ceremonies highlight gratitude, community bonding, and reverence for life. They emphasize the importance of intentionality, enabling individuals to live more mindfully and harmoniously.

Even in contemporary life, rituals such as morning meditations or shared family dinners can echo these time-honored practices. You can perform simple personal or group rituals to build meaning and connection in daily life.

Examples

• Create a small ritual for significant life transitions, like lighting a candle to honor the moment.
• Practice gratitude by starting each meal with a short moment of thanks.
• Use physical gestures, like mindful movement or breathing exercises, to ground yourself in the present.

6. Your Space Shapes You

Your physical environment has a profound impact on your emotional and mental health. In Indigenous culture, homes are viewed as sacred spaces that reflect and shape an individual’s spirit.

A cluttered, poorly maintained space can amplify stress and unhappiness, while a clean, inviting home becomes a sanctuary. Elements such as natural light, meaningful decor, and open layouts foster positivity and ease for occupants.

You can align your home with this vision by making thoughtful design choices promoting simplicity, natural materials, and features that nurture your well-being.

Examples

• Add house plants to improve air quality and bring nature indoors.
• Arrange furniture to streamline movement and create intimate gathering spaces.
• Keep areas tidy to create a calming atmosphere at home.

7. Rest as a Foundation

Indigenous traditions prioritize rest as essential for mental clarity, physical recovery, and spiritual insight. Unlike modern cultures that glorify constant busyness, these teachings embrace rest as a vital part of life’s rhythm.

Healthy ancestral sleep patterns followed natural light cycles and ensured balanced hormone regulation, immune strength, and creativity. But today, disrupted sleep leads to chronic health problems.

To re-align with natural rest rhythms, establish bedtime routines that prioritize calm, dark environments, and avoid technology.

Examples

• Dim your lights at least an hour before bedtime to mimic the setting sun.
• Create a device-free zone in your bedroom for undisturbed rest.
• Spend time outdoors during the day to synchronize your body’s internal clock with the sun.

8. Food as a Sacred Act

Traditional Indigenous diets view food as a source of life, spirit, and connection. Rather than focusing solely on nutrients, they emphasize gratitude, ceremony, and balance.

Western culture has largely lost this sense of relationship with food, emphasizing convenience over meaning. Reclaiming a connection to food means honoring its origins and using it to deepen relationships and express creativity.

By learning family recipes, eating locally grown produce, or preparing meals together, food can become sacred once again.

Examples

• Grow herbs or vegetables at home to strengthen your connection to your meals.
• Share recipes and cooking traditions with loved ones to keep them alive.
• Practice mindful eating, focusing on flavor, texture, and your body’s signals.

9. Healing Through Simplicity

Simplification is a powerful concept in Indigenous wellness, helping you focus on what truly matters by decluttering your mental, physical, and emotional surroundings.

Overwhelm and distraction often stem from excess – too much noise, material objects, or mental clutter. By stripping away what isn’t essential, you open space for clarity, connection, and joy.

Cultivating simplicity doesn’t mean deprivation but choosing to prioritize elements that deeply nourish you.

Examples

• Spend one day disconnecting from social media and screens to reduce mental noise.
• Declutter one room in your home to create a more peaceful environment.
• Focus on quality over quantity in both possessions and relationships.

Takeaways

1. Begin each day with gratitude by reflecting on three people or elements of nature you are thankful for.
2. Commit to moving daily, whether through natural motion, hiking, or a full-body exercise routine.
3. Build or strengthen your sense of community by reaching out to friends, neighbors, or volunteer groups to nurture mutual support.