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..........

[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..

[iceintheattic]

How elegant is this. I feel honoured to read it. Simply because I have always been fond with the Native American culture / traditions etc. And this truly makes my heart sings. I have always believed that the medicine wheel starts within ourselves first. But this perhaps just my own silly thoughts. However, thank you for this great insight! -- Cheers

Dolly

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Dolly for reading and the comment. Today world, we must learn. The world is small, we must be kind to each other and help another, if we can.

[iceintheattic]

Amen. So very true.

My kindest regards
Dolly

[Pradnya]

Coyote,

'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.'
loved this line of your work. that is absolutely true. traditional knowledge and the secrets are confined to the native people because they are betrayed again and again by the rich lobbies.

reading it made me recollect my whole thesis :) was based on traditional knowledge. learned about many cultures during my study. life is beyond words in order to be explained, but you can easily feel the energy through process of healing and prayers. its very sacred and beautiful, truly it should be passed on to the future generation , with all due respect.
nice topic and loved it .
thanks for sharing

Pradnya

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Pradnya. The ancient knowledge we need, places like India, China, Japan and Vietnam are ancient places. Africa is the key. Loaded with possibility and the rest of world need to teach concern, kindness and listen. I pray we learn soon. One earth and one people.

[SM Davis]

A solemn and beautiful memory? a wonderful tribute to a respected and revered soul? A fantastic write, fantasy, memory, no matter. Lessons for every soul to ponder, that much is certain.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my dear friend for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[Jennifer Patino]

chi miigwetch for the wisdom & teachings. You're an amazing storyteller as well.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Jennifer. I burn sage for healing and I pray for peace. I hope we learn soon. War doesn't lead to peace. Just grow more hatred.

[Jennifer Patino]

totally agreed

[Writer at last! Sky ~]

Oh man! you really knocked the doors for the sleeping ones. Lots knowledge you shared with a vision for care. I hope this will heal all the wounded souls. Peace for all....

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you SKY for reading. I burn sage and pray daily. One earth and one people. We must get along for the sake of the children.

[Writer at last! Sky ~]

That's really great of you Coy. Don't worry our pray and faith will never let anything good to be lost.

[CLR9]

It is very good and inspirational. For one thing, I was moved by the imagery--I felt like I was in the story of the poem when I read it. Amazing. Truly remarkable. I'm just speechless, to be honest.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading and the comment. I pray we learn. One earth, one people. We must get along.

[Deborah Leah Krempa]

Thank you so much.. beautfully penned.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Deborah. I appreciate the comment.

[sonnie ibadah]

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

This is brilliant Coyote. Very insightful and inspirational!

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you sonnie. I wish we can learn soon. We must be kind to each other and to nature.

[sonnie ibadah]

well said.