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..........

[Luna]

This is an amazing piece. I have never actually heard of the Medicine Wheel, but I understand that all people should be as one. And each has lost themselves as time as went on, and the bonds have broken and need to be replaced.
I do have a Dream Catcher and it does help me have pleasant dreams and shields my spirit. ^^

[Lena M. P.]

What a beautiful and spiritual vision you allowed me to share. I have several true Native pieces in my home and they are only a precious as the story and persons behind them. Each soul has a journey and a vision. You have been blessed as a story teller.

[Charles]

Never mitakes when one writes from the heart (regardless of us tight-assed critics). There is much wisdom in your writing and the medicine wheel. Have you read my posting here: Medicine Wheel? Tells the story of how different yet alike my wife and I are based on elements (clan, stone, animal, etc.) of the medicine wheel. Keep a sharp eye on those winds!

[Jesse Przewoznik]

This is a very deep and inspiring piece. Your choice of grammar, structure, and tense throughout all come together to form a completely unique work of art. The meaning behind every collected phrase can easily be deciphered, but is so poetically entwined that it also provides plenty stimulation for the creative mind. Great work.

[Iota]

Coyote, sorry it took me so long to make it back to your page. I have heard of a medicine wheel but never knew it's meaning or reason for existing so this was educational. I have only known about dream catchers because of a movie I once saw when I was younger. This was a wonderful message with a great meaning and I thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.

[Ronald Ayers]

Dear friend:

I pray you’re not constipated---you know--suffering from WRITER’S BLOCK. I’ve found that a dose of Dostoyevsky is the laxative that can unblock my brain, and get my creative juices flowing again. Take a look see. You probably have a literary laxative on your bookshelf that will help unstop your MEDULA OBLONGATA.

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WORD!

[Ronald Ayers]

Dear Coyote:

Thank you for your individual experience and wisdom expressed in this universal truth of "UNITY AND ONE-NESS." in the "Medicene Wheel."

[Chirinos20]

It is a beautiful write. I never new about this. It is amazing the things you can learn from reading the works of others. I'm here to read and to learn. very well written and such a strong message. I myself believe in peace. It is something dreamed off.

[deeps]

Wow! There is so much here. This is quite wonderful.
Full of information. This muct have took you a while to write.
I like it alot it's very informative!

[emmajoy]

' Give us wisdom. Teach us humility. Show us clarity. Allow us to trust our brothers. '

Coloured by rainbows we might be, but in spirit we are or should be 'one' . However we've lost a place in the chain of life. Humans are losing their position in Nature by their gradual slaughter of it. Our thinking has distorted, our logic sees machinery, technology, increased production, etc. as the means, the only means to living .. and in the process, our planet is suffering. Maybe if we returned to the past, unity amongst selves and Nature would be our saving grace.

To commune with people is the only way .. to hold out hands of gentle, tolerant friendship is the heart of Mankind. Lessons shared and learned, listening to what has been rather than what must be is part of destiny. We used to rely on instinct, intuition, now we measure actions with so-called logical appraisal about 'what's in it for us' Human tragedy!

Sorry, must step down from my soapbox and thank you for your beautiful and powerful post .. it makes one wonder, makes one think .. that's what writing should be ..