All four elements of the medicine wheel are mentioned in this statement about the characteristics of a learner who is both critical and creative. “Curiosity,” “wonder,” and “desire” could be characterized as parts of the mind, emotions, and spirit. An “independent approach to judgment” is the function of the mind. It is important to note that Gallo adds that the roots of good judgment “lie in self-esteem and courage,” stemming from the spirit and emotions. With these three aspects of the “whole person,” only then can the body act comfortably and take action to ask questions and offer challenges.

How Violence Affects the “Whole Person”

The idea of the whole person emphasizes that all four aspects of the person need to feel safe. In addition, each aspect of the person can be affected by violence. For example, if the body is harmed by violence, then the person might have a negative self-image of their own physical body. If the spirit is damaged, then the person might experience feelings of worthlessness. When violence injures the emotions, a person might suffer from anxiety or stress. Violence that impairs the mind might cause a lack of confidence in a person’s own educational ability (See Appendix I) (Horsman, 2000).

People of First Nations cultures, as well as those of Buddhist and Hindu religions, are continuously striving towards “wholeness.” Their culture says, “[d]isease occurs when there is imbalance, or blockage, of the body’s energy flow and can be caused by trauma, or disharmony in the physical, emotional, mental or spiritual levels (Herbert, 1996).” So First Nations people often engage in meditative ceremonies to “heal the body and re-balance its electro-magnetic energy (Herbert, 1996).” Mindfulness meditation, in Asian cultures, is a dominant method of establishing balance between the mind, body, spirit, emotions, and qi. In balancing these elements of the person, the four elements are healed and the person achieves a state of peace. Another means of attaining peace is Qigong. Qigong is a self-healing art that combines movement and meditation. These are only a few examples of how certain cultures approach peace and healing.