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..........

[Crosby Idasa]

Oh my God, this piece is nice... Anyway Africans are strong and ever ready. Making herbal drugs is a great thing, I make those drugs too because they're good for medication. Coyote this a nice write from you

[Coyote Poetry]

We need the four corners of our world to work as one. Before it is too late. Thank you Crosby for reading and the comment.

[Fairy Khan]

This is so good. Haven’t read anything like this since a long time. I love the storyline in this prose poem. Amazing work here.

[Coyote Poetry]

A very old one and thank you for reading. I appreciate the comment.

[Laura Kate]

This is one of the most groundbreaking stories I have ever read. It is fascinating and powerful. We are too quick to blame one another, this story encourages us to look to each other’s strengths in order to find peace and solidarity. If only everyone could know of this story Coyote. Every time I think I find a new favourite story or poem of yours you completely blow me away with something like this!

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you LauraKate. I burn sage and pray for peace weekly. I pray we learn. We must get along for the sake of the children.

[silentwriter180]

I've just realized I've read this before. Again, it's an eye opener

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend. A very old poem.

[HadesRising]

It is the flash of a firefly in the night.
It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.
It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.

I truly liked you're poem a lot.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading and the comment. I pray we learn one day. We must get a long.

[Amanda Moubarak]

i like how the guy at the store didn't know anything but then the man you know had a story behind each thing. it really shows how one little thing that seems insignificant can hold a lot of history and importance. good job! and always be proud of who you are :)

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree dear Amanda and I do agree.

[bigfootprint]

Very touching insights into the Native American ways. Their traditions and lore carried them through the centuries. They proved their superior character and love of nature. The whites fled to America from destitution and suffering in their homelands. They cared more about grabbing land and gold than about uniting with tribal people and ways dedicated to shepherding the prairie. Fear and suspicion from both sides made a melding of the races impossible. When great change comes, so many people must suffer for the greed and contempt of the few. So much history and knowledge has been lost to future generations. If teaching us where we all made mistakes is your calling, you have made a heroic start with this treatise. Thank you for sharing.-- Doug

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Doug for reading and the comment. I pray we learn, one people, one earth. For the sake of all children.

[bigfootprint]

We must learn to love, but God Almighty has got that covered. Mortals cannot be "one people, one earth." That idea got lost in leftist semantics aimed at creating a world dictatorship.