The Medicine Wheel is used by a variety of different Indigenous nations across Turtle Island, but is commonly used by the Lakota, Anishinaabe, Cheyanne, and Cree nations.
The Wheel looks slightly different from nation to nation, but generally the Wheel represents the whole of life as it is split up into four quadrants: spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional. No one part of your being stands alone, all are dependent on one another and when one quadrant suffers, they all do.
The four quadrants have many other different meanings within the Medicine Wheel. They represent the four directions, the four seasons, the four life stages, and the four sacred medicines. The number four is considered sacred in many cultures, like the Saulteaux. The circle within the Wheel is also considered sacred by many. The circle represents the wholeness and balance of life. The four quadrants and the circle are combined to create the Medicine Wheel, a lesson of balance among all beings and the need for interconnectedness.
While the Medicine Wheel may or may not be practiced in your culture, understanding the core values it teaches can be a great way to find balance in understanding your depression and how to treat it.