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..........

[Richard McLin]

Damn man, that's a hell of a poem. It's like a poem and a short story had a baby. It's really good, but it's just crazy insane the size and scope of this piece. Great job.
-Richard

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Richard. A lot said in the poem. I appreciate the comment.,

[C. Lee Battaglia]

As a young adult, I am starting to understand more and more each day about the world we live in... About who we are and who we are becoming. This shows that if we all work together, there will be peace and unity. You are such an amazing author/writer. You have a wisdom that is so outstanding and powerful.
I really loved the simplicity and message of your words.
You will forever be one of my all time role models.

Your friend,

C. Lee Battaglia

[Coyote Poetry]

You are very kind. We must learn. One earth and one people. Every life had value. Till this day. This planet will pay for the hate and greed of man. Thank you for reading and the comment. I do appreciate my friend.

[C. Lee Battaglia]

You're very welcome!

[Fatima]

It's such a beautiful poem , so inspirational and love the acknowledgement of Asia.

[Coyote Poetry]

Asia is the key. Ancient wisdom is needed to show the world to peace. Thank you Fatima for reading and the comment.

[peter Duggan]

Hi Coyote, I adored your words and the beautiful mysticism that glows so well with your words. I have read and learned from so many wonderful mystics. This is how I learned to move with the circles, and to search deep within to find out who I am. You are a wonderful man, my friend who I could easily walk hand in hand with. Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful words with us, All the best, my friend....Peter

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Peter. I wish we could learn. Our world. We must share the planet.

[RW Erskine]

Beautiful my friend.
I have a companion, she is Cherokee(from Kentucky) and she makes alot of Native dream catchers, medicine shields, jewelry, etc.
She can also make full head dresses, ribbon shirts, as well as dancing attire.

[Coyote Poetry]

I hold the gifts from my Apache friend with great honor. Over my book case and thank you for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[Whitelillies]

Such a beautiful poem ! In fact, all of your work is so deep and inspiring !! I liked how you acknowledged all of humanity. Thank you for sharing.

[Coyote Poetry]

We must get-along. One earth and one people. The planet getting smaller. I pray we learn. Every life had value and thank you for reading and the comment.

[Whitelillies]

Yes true that...

[KWP]

a timely reminder of our interconnectedness - it's the natives and the aboriginal peoples of this world that have the capacity to 'tap in' so easily to what white man is blind to. white man squaffed at this kind of intelligence - in doing so, cut us off to the universe - how unfortunate for all of us - taking the time to relearn these important teachings must be a priority.

great words X

[Coyote Poetry]

I wish we could. Man is foolish. Only learn the hard ways.. Thank you for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Oh the things we accomplish as one race... so much wisdom and insight in your words sir.

Thank you for all the reviews today by the way.

[Coyote Poetry]

I loved your work today and thank you for reading. We must learn. One people and one race. Poor earth can't take too many beatings.

[Victoria Westing Haddix]

Woah. You have met indians? That is SO COOL. Can you make a story talking about your time with them?!? I would love to hear. The fact that you even know about this so called medicine wheel is amazing. I didn't even know about it!!! That's not saying much, since I'm 12, but still.

[Coyote Poetry]

I did and I'm 1/2 Ojibwa. Thank you for reading and the comment. I have a few poem about the Native Americans. We need to known our heritage.

[Victoria Westing Haddix]

Of course!!!!! I don't know all of mine yet. One day I will though. It's nice to find someone who knows about themselves truly

[Gaia Octavia]

Thank you for sharing this. Ever since I started to "learn" American history in school, something never felt right so I decided to research on my own. It disgusted and enraged me, what my ancestors did. I've always held that so I never forget to look at everyone. To be kind and serve others. To refuse the ways of many. I've always felt thankful to Native Americans for teaching me that.

This is a gift of history; the legacy of a people passed down through oral tradition as it was so long ago. There is so much wisdom and so much beauty in listening. So I thank your Apache friend, his ancestors who stewarded the knowledge to him, and you for this gift.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Gaia. Many great races were almost lost. If you research the USA and the native Americans. USA was cold and heartless. Many great American Natives tribes are gone. This is very sad,

[Gaia Octavia]

Yes. The Chinese railroad workers are another example. And we still do these horrid things across the board today; dropping countless bombs on innocent families all across the middle east, poisoning to death countless marine life with our garbage, and slavery is still rampant in America. We never learn.

[Coyote Poetry]

The world had not changed. This is very sad. What did we leave for the children?

[Gaia Octavia]

Pain and death. You're welcome, kids. 😧

But for real, I love the picture on this piece too👍