Clockwise or Counterclockwise? The Meaning of Spinning in Sacred Practice
When you begin Rite 1 of the Tibetan Five Rites, you spin clockwise. This is not by chance; it’s part of the design.
Why Clockwise?
Clockwise spinning aligns your body and energy with the natural rhythms of life:
The Earth rotates eastward, giving us the cycle of day and night.
The sun appears to move across the sky in a clockwise arc when traced from the Northern Hemisphere.
Tibetan prayer wheels are always spun clockwise, mirroring the flow of the mantras within.
Spinning this way creates coherence in your system.
It reinforces the natural spin of the chakras (your energetic system), circulates prana (your life force/vitality) smoothly, and orients your subtle body to flow with, not against, life’s current.
Why Some Traditions Spin Counterclockwise
In other sacred practices, counterclockwise spirals are also used. This direction often symbolizes release and clearing:
In shamanic and indigenous traditions, counterclockwise movement unravels stagnant or heavy energy.
In some yogic or ritual systems, alternating directions balances creation and dissolution, coherence and clearing.
For those in the Southern Hemisphere, counterclockwise can feel more natural, aligning with local celestial movements.
Which Direction Is Right?
Both directions hold value. What matters most is intention:
Spin clockwise to align, integrate, and attune yourself with life’s flow.
Spin counterclockwise when you need to release, reset, or clear space.
In the Tibetan Rites, clockwise is chosen as the starting direction to promote stability and coherence. The spiral becomes a primer, aligning your body and energy before moving into the Rites that follow.
Takeaway
Clockwise spinning is a reminder: you are not lost in the swirl of the world. You are the still axis around which it turns.
