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 American 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 East man tried to sell me a China's made items.
I touched a Medicine Wheel.
 
I told the man.
"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 grins at me.
He didn't understand a word that I spoke.
He told me.
"Does the same things."
I leave the store with nothing.
 
Sitting with my Apache Friend outside the gate of Fort Hood, Texas.
I sat and listen to him.
His skin harden from 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."
With sadness in his voice.
"Us 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.
 Eyes looking at the ground.
Then he raise his  eyes and look to the sky.
 The fire was taught(Atomic and nuclear) too well."
 
"The black people held the strength, wisdom and honor.
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 to dance the dance of friendship.
 
A old Apache man moved around the circle.
Burning sage and blessing everyone who came today.
 
He welcome us.
He begin to speak.
"We were the last Americans allow to dance our Native dances.
We were the last allowed to speak our language in public.
We have not forgot.
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 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 create 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 different. 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 peace with each other and the planet.


                                     Coyote
 
 
 
 
 

Reviews

[just rose.]

i like how you incorporate social themes into this metaphysical concept and how you take the modern, removed, sort of ersatz treatment of the sacred out of the mall and into the hands of the creator and those who continue to create. a wonderful tale as always.

[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.

[Eclipsing Moon]

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

[*~*Butterfly Kisses*~*]

I enjoy every story you have to tell, there is always some simple meanings to point out hidden within each tale. Wonderfully written!

[Writingfox]

I thought this was skillfully executed. The sentence in parentheses at the beginning confused me a bit I would change it to just a sentence without brackets. Its understood to be background. I loved the lesson taught here.

[Hoosier Belle]

Wow I loved the personal depth you put into piece. I have read this twice cause I didn't want to miss anything. This is interesting and quite powerful. Really enjoyed this.