The Three Sisters: Ancient Wisdom for Balance of Mind, Body, and Spirit
Do you ever feel like your life is out of balance? Maybe your mind is racing with too many thoughts, your body feels neglected, or your spirit longs for deeper connection. In today’s busy world, it is easy to get pulled in different directions, forgetting that true health comes from harmony.
But what if ancient wisdom could show us a better way?
The Haudenosaunee people have long shared a teaching rooted in the land itself—the Three Sisters: Corn, Beans, and Squash. At first, it seems like a simple agricultural practice. Yet this way of planting, passed down through generations, carries profound lessons about balance, cooperation, and living in harmony with ourselves, others, and the natural world.
In this episode of Ongwehonwe Wisdom, host Evita Teiohonwake Stacey, a proud member of the Haudenosaunee Nation, explores the Three Sisters and how their wisdom can guide us in bringing balance to mind, body, and spirit.
For centuries, the Haudenosaunee and many Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island planted the Three Sisters together. Each plant supports the others in ways that ensure mutual survival and abundance.
Corn grows tall and strong, creating a natural pole for the beans to climb.
Beans wind their way around the corn, returning nitrogen to the soil, replenishing the earth for all three plants.
Squash, with its wide leaves, shades the ground, keeping the soil moist while protecting against weeds.
Individually, each of these plants might struggle. Together, they flourish.
This agricultural wisdom is not only about food—it is about relationship. The Three Sisters embody a worldview that values interdependence over isolation, cooperation over competition, and harmony over imbalance. They show us that true growth happens not when we stand alone, but when we live in connection with one another and with Creation.
So how does this apply to us today? What can the Three Sisters teach us about our own lives?
The Three Sisters mirror the balance of Mind, Body, and Spirit.
Corn as Mind: Corn stands tall, reaching upward, symbolizing clarity, direction, and vision. Like corn, our mind seeks growth and knowledge. But just as corn needs the support of beans and squash, our minds need the grounding of body and spirit. Too much focus on thought alone leads to imbalance.
Beans as Body: Beans represent nourishment, strength, and resilience. They provide the protein and substance needed for health, just as our bodies provide the foundation for living. When we honor our bodies with movement, good food, and rest, we strengthen the structure that allows our mind and spirit to thrive.
Squash as Spirit: Squash, spreading wide across the earth, offers protection and balance. Its vines and leaves create shelter, symbolizing the spirit’s role in connecting us to the earth, to community, and to something greater than ourselves. The spirit grounds and protects us, reminding us of our place in the circle of life.
When these three aspects—mind, body, and spirit—are in balance, we live in harmony. But when one is neglected, our lives feel incomplete.
The teaching of the Three Sisters is not only about self-care—it is also about community and cooperation. Each plant thrives because it supports the others. Likewise, each of us has unique gifts. When we bring those gifts together, we create stronger families, healthier communities, and more compassionate societies.
Imagine if we approached relationships, workplaces, or communities with the wisdom of the Three Sisters. Instead of competing, we would collaborate. Instead of taking without giving back, we would contribute to the whole. Instead of isolating ourselves, we would recognize that we are interconnected.
The Three Sisters remind us that we are all part of something larger—and that when we live in balance, we not only thrive ourselves but also create abundance for those around us.
This episode of Ongwehonwe Wisdom invites you to bring the teaching of the Three Sisters into your daily life. Here are a few simple ways to begin:
Practice Balance: Ask yourself, “Which sister in me needs more care right now—mind, body, or spirit?” If your mind feels overwhelmed, take a pause. If your body is tired, rest and nourish it. If your spirit feels low, reconnect with nature or gratitude.
Live in Relationship: Like the Three Sisters, don’t try to grow alone. Lean into your relationships, ask for support, and offer your gifts to others.
Honor Creation: Each sister plays her part in sustaining life. Likewise, practice gratitude for the plants, waters, and animals that sustain you. A moment of thanks each day grounds you in harmony.
Reflect Daily: Start or end your day with a reflection: Did I feed my mind, care for my body, and nurture my spirit today? This simple question keeps you aligned with balance.
In this episode, you’ll hear not just the story of the Three Sisters, but also how their wisdom can help you cultivate harmony in your own life. It’s about more than agriculture—it’s about a way of living that honors relationship, responsibility, and authenticity.
Are you ready to bring more balance into your life?
Tune into this episode of Ongwehonwe Wisdom and discover how the Three Sisters—Corn, Beans, and Squash—offer timeless lessons for mind, body, and spirit.
Explore more teachings, resources, and reflections at www.ongwehonwewisdom.com, where you can continue your journey of connection to authentic living through Haudenosaunee wisdom.
Remember: Like the Three Sisters, we thrive not alone but in harmony—with ourselves, with each other, and with the earth.
