The Medicine wheel

Old Native American wisdom. We need to gather as one people to save earth and all people.

 
 

Wisdom of the Medicine wheel
 

I have been  lucky.  Many kind Native Americans took me under their wing and taught me how to find peace.
 
At the Mall I went to the so-call Native American store. A Middle Eastern man tried to sell me a Chinese made items.  I touched a Medicine Wheel.
 
I told him:  "A proper Medicine Wheel has the power of the four winds."

I touched a  Dream Catcher." A real one would protect your spirit and keep bad dreams away."
 
He grinned at me. He didn't understand a word that I have spoken. He told me. "It does the same things." I left the store with nothing.
 
I sat with my Apache Friend and his family outside the gate of Fort Hood, Texas. I sat and listened to him.  His skin hardened by the Texas sun. I came and sat with him every Saturday for many months.

He had a story for every item he sold. I brought him food and water.  His stories were passed on to him by family and elders.
 
He gave me a Medicine Wheel. He rose up and made a circle with his hands. He told me.  "All people are part of the circle of life.  We all have a purpose, he had sadness in his voice. We Apache and Native Americans were responsible to protect Nature. We did a poor job."
 
"The white people were responsible for the fire. They shared their gift and now fire is held in every corner of the planet. His eyes looked at the ground, then he raised his eyes and looked to the sky. The fire was taught Atomic and nuclear power too well."
 
"The black people held the strength, wisdom and honour. The wisdom of the black people lost direction. We need their strength before we kill off all that is good."
 
"The yellow people have courage, leadership and clarity. The gentle and calm souls will be necessary for this world to seek peace."
 
"The medicine wheel is a compass to all life. We must know all four directions."
 
At a Pow Wow in Texas a few Native Americans danced and invited all of us to join the dance of friendship. A old Apache man moved around the circle. Burned sage and blessed everyone who came.
 
He welcomed us. He began to speak.

"We were the last Americans allowed to dance our Native dances.
We were the last allowed to speak our language in public.
We have not forgotten. 
We go on and hope for better days."
 
He blessed all of us and his kind eyes show respect for all.
He raise his hands and spoke to the sky.
"Teach us the four winds. 
Give us wisdom. 
Teach us humility. 
Show us clarity. 
Allow us to trust our brothers."
 
I'm proud of my Ojibwa heritage.  I'm proud of my Mexican/white heritage. The Medicine wheel showed us we are one. We need to work together. Red, black, white and yellow were given gifts.
 
Old Apache raised his hands to the sky. Then created a full circle. He moved slowly around  the inner circle and looked in all our eyes.
 
 
"We are one.
Let's pray for peace."
 
East wind - Yellow people - Path of light - Spiritual - courage.
West wind - Red people - Path of vision - physical -prayer
North wind - White people - Path of quiet - Mental - wisdom
South wind - Black people - Path of peace - natural - trust

 
This is a view of many years of learning. Every teacher tells the story differently. I believe we are one people. Peace will come when we learn to work together.

Black, White, Red and Yellow are the four corners of the Medicine Wheel. All with important gifts to bring to achieve peace with each other and the planet.


                                     Coyote

 
 

Author's Note

If mistakes. Please tell me. Never too old to learn.

Reviews

[Neville]

What a truly inspirational and important poem we have here. Until now, I did not appreciate the true significance of the 'Medicine Wheel'
I have learn't many things this evening and am subsequently both humbled and very grateful to you my dear friend Coyote.................All Good Things, Neville

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Neville. The Medicine. A symbol of peace. One people and one earth.

[Neville]

Amen to that..........

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

I love this. It's clearly not a poem, but it is a beautiful narrative of history and hope. It's always kind of saddened me that I have Native American blood but no connection to the history. This has given me some knowledge that I was unaware of. I really feel like the Native Americans had it right. All things have spirit, and we are one. They understood that. Thank you.

[Coyote Poetry]

The Native American belief is needed. Need the four corners of the world to get along. Thank you Linda for reading and the comment.

[DAH]

I feel a total catharsis has come over me. Enriching, to say the least.

Good job, CP, and perfectly composed.

Cheers,
DAH

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[DAH]

My pleasure!

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

Great! Great!! Great!!!
This is really awesome.
What a wonderful reality you posted here. World is lacking love and the deficiency of unity is really drowning us. All races of the world should stand as one without the deadly racism that is killing us. We are from the same origin, emanated from the same source, we are all human regardless of color and here we are together on the same planet.
I so much like the last stanza. It's one of the truth the world is too blind to discern. It makes me think yonder as a imagine a world that commune together in peace and love and liaison. Where no one seems superior to others. Where we can stand and together make the world a better place.

This is amazing, Coyote.
Thank you for sharing this.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend for reading and I pray daily. We learn peace. Find the path where war is myth and tale.

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

Amen. I agree with you in prayer.

[Fay Slimm]

What an honour to have caught this wonderful instruction on the Medicine Wheel which I never knew had such meaning for all - - thank you many times Coyote for sharing this with us - we now have vital reasons to pray for wisdom and peace.......... best of all wishes........... Fay

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Fay. We need the wisdom of the medicine wheel.

[Perdition]

Mitakuye Oyasin Coyote... See you at the Prayer tie ritual. Was Americanized in my early age but strange happenings eventually lead me in my teens to find out the truth of my heritage by hitting the road with thumb and same kindness I received at places not usually allowed. All as one as I started the research through their lessons and I believe a majority still deep in the DNA. Glad to know you are familiar.

[Coyote Poetry]

I hold my Ojibwa heritage proudly. Thank you my friend for reading and the comment.

[nazia]

Peace and serenity has become so rare these days.. We truly need to go about and look for ways to join forces, review our ancient histories to spread the message of solidarity. It is so important to remember that we all are a part of one large group moving in the same direction. A truly amazing work :)

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you nazia. I appreciate the comment. I pray we can learn. All life had value and is needed.

[Trouble]

This was very intesting.
Allie

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Allie. We must learn. One earth and one people. Every life hold value.

[Crosby Idasa]

Oh my God, this piece is nice... Anyway Africans are strong and ever ready. Making herbal drugs is a great thing, I make those drugs too because they're good for medication. Coyote this a nice write from you

[Coyote Poetry]

We need the four corners of our world to work as one. Before it is too late. Thank you Crosby for reading and the comment.

[Fairy Khan]

This is so good. Haven’t read anything like this since a long time. I love the storyline in this prose poem. Amazing work here.

[Coyote Poetry]

A very old one and thank you for reading. I appreciate the comment.