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..........

[Akshay Rawal]

This ontological concept is refreshing, and with a good message. Learnt something new. Thanks for sharing.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Akshay. We must learn about the cultures of the world. So much to be learn.

[carolyn]

This is an interesting poem, I liked the verse about finding things you can buy in a mall which are copies of genuine articles.

[Coyote Poetry]

Malls are not good places to buy ancient and hand made product. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[~]

Wow.. there is so much in here. A lot of things I did not know. Thank you for this great way of teaching me new things. It is my favorite way! :D

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome. If we are lucky. We are taught new things daily.

[trainwreck]

There were scattered typos, and I assume they were from typing up the work too quickly, but other than that, your work, as always, was beautiful and thought provoking. I love the conversation you spoke of with the Apache man.

[Amber "Victoriomantic" ..]

Wonderful write. The Native Americans are probably the wisest people to walk and love the planet. I really enjoy how you've intertwined their mythology with the current issues of the time.

[Eric Cox]

I like the light here and story penned. An excellent write.

[Pax]

meaningful insights my friend. nature is slowy dying and somehow some people don't care. Depletion and extinction is at doors step closer to none. Great write!

[Author Rucha Joshi]

Merging of ideas and fabricating them twisted-ly into each other, can become tacky and complex at times, but you have mastered the art!
This is excellent!

[Patricia B. Hepler]

...' "We are one.
Let's pray for peace..." '
Excellent. Absolutely. Let us ALL pray for peace~ Thank you for sharing your knowledge and memories of one of our peoples~ Peace~ pat

[Earthy Mumma Soul]

wow, thank your educating us on the medicine wheel and what it means , that's cool. I felt sad that the elder felt they had done a poor job, when I feel they are to be so respected .. I don't know.. truly.. wow , so many different voices in just one person.... we are all connected eh ..