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..........

[LazerRays]

What a lovely peice of writing :) peaceful. There's just something about native American culture that calms you and draws you in. My grandmother is good friends with a native American. I wish I could remember what tribe.... Anyway; thing north eastern. He made her this beautiful dream catcher with leather and the most perfectly crafted arrow head in it. It was so pretty. And youre right; I saw a chinese made dreamcatcher.... Junk. Not a thought wasted into it. Not even the same. There's nothing magical about fake dreamcatchers. Everytime I visit my granparents; the first thing I see it that dreamcatcher in the living room window

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree. A real dreamcatcher is amazing and thank you Sarah for reading and the comment.

[LazerRays]

:D no problem. It was a very enjoyable writing

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

To understand the uniqueness and individual strengths under the different skin colors, to appreciate everyone placed on earth as fellow humans, now that must be true wisdom and the path to everlasting peace and happiness. A humbling poem.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Dhara. One world and one people. We must get along.

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

You are welcome Coyote.

[Mark]

Wonderful insight. We are ALL One People. Just that those in power try to divide us, so they can still control. Only those with Wisdom and Courage will prevail. Thank you Coyote. Powerful message.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Mark. I appreciate the comment.

[Zami Amma]

We are all small pieces to one grand puzzle of life! I feel as though you expressed this in such a creative, vivid and informative way. This piece is more than a poem, it's an essential aspect of all of our lives. I give thanks that you use your platform to display such a synchronized aspect of all things Human and non human! Wonderfully Constructed, Coyote!

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Goddess ZamiRa. One earth and one planet. If one child died from hunger, war or hate. All of us should suffer.

[angel]

Beautiful, and accurate, so far as my grandmother taught me. I had one grandmother who was Irish/English/Welsh, and one who was English/Lakota/Dakota.Both tried to teach me their languages. I learned a bit of Irish, and a bit of Lakota...just a little, but enough to talk to someone.

[Coyote Poetry]

Speaking Irish and Lakota. This is wonderful. Thank you for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[angel]

Tá fáilte romhat/Ta?yâ ¡? yahâ he
(you're welcome)

[Tamara Beryl Latham]

Wow, your poem is amazing and so informative. I'm elated you posted it.

I was given a dream-catcher a while back by the South Dakota Indian school, but even though the medicine wheel's, earth, wind, fire and air is a nice comparison to the signs of the zodiac it is even more in-depth considering it covers races of people, spirituality and emotions.

This poem is a must read for those with inquisitive minds. Great job! :)

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Tamara. I appreciate your comment.

[Tamara Beryl Latham]

You're welcome.

I truly enjoyed your poem. :)

[Blue Ivory]

Such beautiful poetry... The concept of one love is beautiful if we could just see life not color or species the world would be more beautiful.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree. I pray we learn one day. Every life had value. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Carola]

Wow, I had never heard of the medicine wheel before reading your poem !
Very interesting & insightful.
Yes it's amazing how people from all walks of life can loose their way.
I think prosperity whilst it gives an easier & more convenient life, can make people less helpful towards each other because they're too busy hanging onto their material possessions.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right Carola. Worldly items make us forget. There is more to life than fancy cars and big houses. Thank you for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[Teresa Whelan]

Thank you for sharing such a wonderful story, I am deeply interested in the Native American Indian wisdom, a beautiful read,

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Teresa for reading. We need to study the world. If we know their ways. Maybe we can get along.

[silentwriter180]

I know a number of Native Americans, and their stories are very much the same.

[Coyote Poetry]

Each tribe is different. I used the knowledge of my Ojibwa tribe and the South-west Native Americans. Thank you for reading.