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..........

[National Acrobat]

Very interesting. From around the world we can learn many things from eachother. There is wisdom and experience in this poem. It was a nice read, take care Coyote.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend for reading and the comment. We need unity of all countries. To fix our world.

[.]

For eternal peace and tranquil the four medicinal wind truly needed..... I learned through your poem how the east west South and North wind and the four corners are the pillars of mankind...... A piece full of harmony

[Coyote Poetry]

When we learn. This is one earth and one people. Maybe we can find understanding. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Space]

This truly has a beautiful message especially that peace nowadays is one of the things that are hard to accomplish in our modern days.

[Coyote Poetry]

We need to see our world with a multi-color view. It would be a better world. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Ladysue]

A beautiful write. A message that is ever needed today. We need to find a way to bring peace and unity about. Love this piece of writing and all it stands for. A wonderful read. Thank you.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you ladysue. I pray for peace, everyday.

[Dark Tower]

Inspirational beyond words. Another piece my friend. Well written

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend and I appreciate the comment. I wish we could get along.

[Helen Crutchett]

An absolute sterling write. Informative as well as enjoyable. Thank you.

BTW check out The Blue Rose Café, you will find that you are our 'featured' poet for the week!

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Helena. You are very kind to me.

[Helen Crutchett]

You are welcome my friend. Please post any poem that you would like 'featured there" by posting it in the "writing" on our Blue Rose Café page and I will do the rest. Thanks.- Helena

[NonsenseTyper]

A spiritual phenomenon put beautifully into words! Thank you! We are indeed one with the earth. The Native Americans lived not only hand in hand with nature but breathed the soul of the earth, our true mother. The wheel is a universal symbol of immense importance in terms of valuing the connectedness of every particle to the whole. your writing made me want to revisit the letter of Chief Seattle to the president. I never get tired of reading it...

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading and the comment. I will research Chief Seattle to the president.

[Jimmy Yetts]

Oneness: an ancient ideal not closely approached since the Garden of Eden--or, perhaps,
the Tower of Babel. Neither ended well.
Recognizing and honoring humanity's unity in spirit, however, is possible; has been happening.
A wonderfully hopeful and intriguing piece, poet.
Well done!

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Jimmy. I pray everyday, we can find peace before we destroy our world.

[Esteban Morfín]

I liked the idea very, very much, but why is it labeled poem? Isn't it more like a short story?

[Coyote Poetry]

Should be a prose poem, you are right. Maybe a short story? Thank you Esteban for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[olla]

how good it is at this time to re-visit this post.. we seem to wander far afield and then we get into trouble and scramble around looking for answers that were there all along.. in the old wisdom.. our physical mess is a reflection of the chaos surrounding our spirits.. if we can heal our spirits then our bodies will heal as well.. thank you once again for this timely reminder..

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you kind friend. Old world is gone we are learning. We need each other. Need the four corners of our world to work as one.

[olla]

yes we do... and those of us who "know" need to bring that wisdom with us into what ever manifestation the new world decides to take..