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..........

[Soren]

A wonderful story and so full of meaning. Well written and engaging until the very end. The colors and their relationship fit well as did the numbers of four directions, four elements, four colors. I loved it

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Soren. When we learn, we are more the same than different. The world can be better.

[Lisasview]

Really wonderful and interesting..
Reads more like a story..
I know of the medicine wheel and it was great to see that you wrote about it.
Lisa

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you, dear Lisa. The medicine wheel, we need to follow. We need the four corners of this world to work as one for peace, no hunger and no war.

[Lisasview]

So so true.. Would be wonderful..we are the lucky ones that can write down our feeling - our thoughts.
Thank you, Lisa

[Lathen Griffiths]

A fascinating read Coyote, thank you for sharing this.

Kind regards

Lathen

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Lathen. I appreciate the comment.

[M. J. Smith]

My Celtic ancestors once knew such wisdom. The great knot is eternal. Thanks for reminding us.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you M. J. Smith. Celtic belief, still holding on. I have the stones still.

[shadrach hah]

Hi Coyote, Yes, we have become more apart than together. We have to come together in order to change anything for the good. We were born to be together and somehow, each day we grow further apart. I think the Native Americans had the true way of life, their reverence for nature, for the world was second to none. Sadly, their ways are dying out. They could teach us much about the world we live in. My friend, this is a most interesting write. I could not stop reading from beginning to end and I learned a few things. This is such a wonderful write. Yours are the words of a true master. Have a wonderful Friday....Mike.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Mike for reading and the comment. If we don't get along. Our children will pay for our sins.

[shadrach hah]

So true, my friend, what we do falls on them. Have a wonderful evening....Mike.

[slfisher89]

Wonderful story; I feel your deep cultural pride and in-depth knowledge. If this writing became a book; I would love to have it on my book shelf.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate the comment.

[Allen Smuckler]

This is an interesting and tantalizing write on so many different levels. Our Native American Brethren had the right ideas, until there were too few to matter. We have found a way through the centuries to destroy and minimize the very cultures and philosophies we need for sustenance and growth. You found a unique and creative way to educate us ...just don't expect to see it taught in schools any time soon... Another blunder by those who think they rule the world in His image. Thanks for the lesson on humanity. Well Done Coyote.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree Allen. I hope we learn. The world is small and we must get along. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[lessa (kenzie)]

A very interesting and intriguing read here, enjoyed this

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Alex for reading and the comment. We (Our world) would be wiser when we learn. Our world is getting smaller and we must get along.

[K writes]

This is a moving write, quite inspirational.
so nicely written

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Kaykey. We must learn. This is one earth and one people.

[red93]

Similar concepts and practices in Oriental Medicine Coyote - too much involved to explain in a brief Review. I like this Piece a lot - it shows real empathy, spirituality and fellow - feeling. Excellent work at the Frontiers of our Knowledge.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading and the comment. One day we will learn. We are more the same than different.