The South is the direction of optimism, enlightenment, clarity and awakening. Father Sun is climbing high into the sky, the earth is approaching summer, and men and women are in young adulthood. South is the direction of alignment, connection, and finding directions.

The South Wind brings us the great warmth of awareness, intelligence and accomplishment. It brings us the pleasures of the body, fresh from adolescence, and ready for the trials of adulthood.

Teaching us to enjoy our part in creation, the South Wind helps us know that we, too, can climb high into the sky, and achieve our dreams and aspirations. Here is where the journey to good emotional health and healing issues of the heart begins.

The South Wind brings us to the Spirit Path of emotional health and healing. This is the path of growth and trust. The Spirit Path that begins here travels to love and deep friendship.

Visit the South Wind when you seek to enjoy your accomplishments and your place in the Universe. Seek the guidance of its Spirit Keeper, Shawnodese, when your heart is troubled.

If you need to sort out your emotions, understand relationships, and work out affairs of the heart, visit the South Wind on the Wheel.

Visit the South Wind and gather its spirit when you need to become creative, to grow responsibly, to achieve your goals. Just as the sun grows high in the sky, so too, can you. The South Wind brings you satisfaction in your life and your triumphs.

The crystal totem for the South Wind is the beautiful yellow Citrine. This is also the color for the south on the Color Wheel of Life.  Citrine brings us the golds and yellows of the South Wind’s spirit.

Yellow is the color of the coming of the sun and the warmth it brings. It is the color of the bright days of early summer, and as the sun, high in the sky, lights up the landscape, its yellow color ray brings us the power of enlightenment, lighting up the landscape of our search for knowledge. It is the color of the summer solstice ushering in the bright time of long days, warm temperatures, and sustained vigor.

Yellow is the color of the natural birthstones of those born in the beginning of summer (June 21–July 21). It is the color of midday, midyear, and the beginnings of midlife. Yellow is a color of journeys beginning well, full of promise and sunny optimism.

Yellow crystals give you the power to solidify new interests and new relationships. They help you to see things in new ways and to become enlightened. They add clarity to your life. They help you wake things up and add zest, optimism, and meaning to your life and relationships. It is a fresh color, a welcome color, and a color that moves us to serenity knowing that the cycle of life is progressing rapidly.

The animal totem of the South Wind is that of its Spirit Keeper, Shawnodese, the coyote or the cougar. The cougar is a great climber. Just as Grandfather Sun climbs high, so does the cougar in its quests. Bring the spirit of the cougar to your quests when you wish to climb higher in life.

Your South Wind animal totem may also be the coyote. Perhaps a story will help you relate to the coyote's spirit.

In a time before ours, death was nonexistent until the coyote of the south tricked the council. The world was not made to hold such a large amount of people. The council members came up with the suggestion that only a few people should die then have them return when space cleared.

Objecting to their idea, the coyote announced that he believed people should die eternally. Since the world would never be big enough for everyone, even if they died and then returned, there would be an insufficient food supply.

Disregarding the coyote’s statement, a medicine man built a grass house that would restore life to the dead only when a person sings a song. Anxious to reveal its power, they waited until the first man died. The medicine man sat in the grass house, filled his lung with air, and sung the harmonious tune. Ten days later, a wind gust burst through the tribe looking for the grass house.

The coyote saw the pursuing wind and swiftly slammed the door shut to the grass house, denying the wind access. Thus, eternal death was born leaving the spirits to wander the earth and people to grieve their lost. Furious with the coyote, the people chased him out of the tribe and into the mountains.

In a unique manner, the coyote holds power of wisdom and folly. He is commonly seen as a trickster, but also stands as an impetus to spark evolution in the mind, body and spirit. The coyote reminds us to not take life too seriously, but to laugh and have an enjoyable time even if things do not work out the way we intend.

To bring the energy of the South Wind into your life – to focus on achieving your goals, focus on the Citrine at the South Wind position, call upon the Spirit Keeper of the Wind, Shawnodese, and let your heart and spirit climb to new heights like the Cougar or spark your imagination with the spirit of the coyote.

Top image © Kris Eitzen and the Estes Park Memorial Observatory