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..........

[asdarkeyesclose]

I think there is much to be learnt from tribes such as the Apache who live far closer to nature than we can imagine. A well written and thoughtful poem.

[Helen Woodward]

Beautiful message Coyote, filled with solid and sage advice for all people. I love the native American philosophy...there is no waste.

The only issue you have is to do with tense...the time frame of certain words (verbs)...eg;
'Old Apache raise his hands to the sky.
Then create a full circle.
He move slowly around the inner circle and looks in all our eyes.'
Should be;
The old Apache RAISED his hands to the sky
Then CREATED a full circle
He MOVED slowly around the inner circle and LOOKED into everyone's eyes...

I hope you understand what I mean by TIME frame of certain verb use Coyote, it is so difficult when English is not your first language, but I must say that you do a great job regardless.
Wonderful piece, thank you...

Blesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

[emmajoy]

Just read this again, your words are as wise and gentle and beautiful as they were two years ago. Thank the dear Lord there are people like you in this sometimes sad world.

January, 2019.. my thoughts are the same - and more. We learn how to - and why..

Almost March, 2020 and reading this again, John.
The history it holds, the faith and beauty of ots core is magnificent. The following words should be held close day after day, especially in this day and age, this wilderness time,

'"Teach us the four winds. - Give us wisdom. - Teach us humility. - Show us clarity. - Allow us to trust our brothers."

[iliketowrite]

To get a good review from someone as talented as yourself is, to me, a great honor. As you have shown us through this piece, there is beauty in the metaphysical. Thank you for sharing this piece, and thank you for reviewing my writing.

[eatmills]

I wish my family had kept our Mi'kmaq heritage alive. This peace is beautiful. Makes me yearn that much more for the death of technology. Fewer and fewer truly understand the word humility.

[Gabrielle Travis]

There was a soulful quality to the piece that I found touching. It reminded me of Medicine Wheels my mother would take me to as a child. The elders often shared wisdom after the ritual dances around the fire. Unity and tolerance of all living things, connected by Spirit, usually being at the heart of most messages. I wasn't sure if certain words were out of context for effect or not. Example: "so-call" instead of "so-called". But overall it hardly mattered. I enjoyed this. Thanks for posting :-)

[sushi]

Its indeed a key to protect one's spirit and keep bad dreams away.... The four winds should be given equal space to flow.... The black, white, red and yellow form the medicine wheel, the color or race should not be given importance. What really matters is the spirit inside these colors.... The wisdom and courage to trust, protect the good and the prayers which spread the peace is what matters, its the key ingredient of the Medicine Wheel which the colors depict. Every teacher tells the story differently, lets us understand what these color really mean, lets not go for the race of people and be mislead our-self...

Great message.... Thanks for sharing....

[moonbeam40]

THE MEDICINE WHEEL, thankyou Coyote for such a wonderful poem, All native American Indians, led a life most people would love to live now, in this cold monetary system we live by now, chaos and mayhem rule, I really enjoy all of your poems, I will catch up with you again after the 31st of JANUARY, off line till then as I am changing phone companies takes about 11 days, till then my friend, may the rain of blessings surround you and your family,:) Moonbeam.

[Larry Dyson]

even more so true today my Birthday..ty..""The medicine wheel is a compass to all life.
We must know all four directions."