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..........

[Gypsy Dreamer]

Love this Coyote. Well written and very captivating. Even though I'm Cherokee, I'm fascinated with all Indian heritage.

[Sam Severn]

Enormously big-hearted n' all-loving n' crafted with such eternal wisdom n' such deep childlike innocence (the kind I wish we all kept hold of, as adults!)...I LOVE THIS POEM! This is absolutely my favorite of yours, Coyote! ㋡

[...]

. what an epic this is! ... it's tragic that we've forgotten the importance of peace and togetherness ... it's sad that we don't remember what we have in common and don't respect each other's strengths ... it's sadder still that we do everything we can to avoid participating in each other's lives ... the human connection is lost in a sea of political battles and ideological cynicism ... i respect your strong, fearless and sensitive voice ... you bring us all an important message ... it truly is the need of the hour ... thank you ... i learnt a lot today ... am very grateful ...

[Vincent Esprit FMI]

thank you coyote this is is simply beautiful..thanks..You allow me to remember our won native Carib indians at home in Dominica.

vincent
www.esprit.aegauthorblogs.com

[Norma M Sutton]

Sadly we seem to be more divided each passing day. I can see know glaring mistakes.

[just rose.]

i like how you incorporate social themes into this metaphysical concept and how you take the modern, removed, sort of ersatz treatment of the sacred out of the mall and into the hands of the creator and those who continue to create. a wonderful tale as always.

[Mai L Nissen]

Well, I don't think I can say it any better than expressed in the above! I really enjoyed reading this, thank you for sharing :)

[Katie Louise Hughes]

This has such a good message, to be proud of who we are! I appreciate you writing this. It was excellent, and a good story! Thanks, and I'm sure you'll keep up the writing! :D

[Immortal1967]

I totally agree. We are all connected, all share the spirit of unity. We just seem to have forgotten that along the way. I feel there will come an "enlightenment" when those with the capacity for understanding will see this, and then slowly surely we will start to work together for peace and harmony. Native Americans have always had so much to teach us, we just have to have open minds and hearts to listen and learn.

[Crowley]

This was smart and beautiful with a touch of desperation and sadness because these kinds of things are being lost at a rapid rate. I think you were the perfect teacher to tell this and that you told it perfectly. You strike me as a true gentleman and someone who cares much for other people...I like that. I had the wonderful experience of attending a Hopi Rain Dance in Kyokotsmovi, Arizona a few years back, something not everyone gets to do. It was unbelievable, but even there you could see some of the traditions dying with time and the modern era.

[NoneOfYourBusiness akaK..]

an absolutely beautiful message~ your prose is written in a direct and comprehensive way that is the perfect format to deliver this spiritual memorandum~ all our threads are interconnected~ constantly shifting through each other~ on this rich tapestry of the human collective consciousness~
beautiful~