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..........

[Sharrumkin]

Very moving. I worked with Ojibway people in Northwestern Ontario. It is still very much a living dynamic culture.

[Coyote Poetry]

Here in Michigan. The Ojibwa are quiet. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Archishman Rick]

Really appreciate what you have shared here, the wisdom of the Native Americans and the overall constructive message is worthy indeed. This story was interesting and informative. The name being 'medicine wheel' is justified. The significance of the elements and Nature and spirits were truly appreciated in Native American culture and they had profound insight.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Rick. I appreciate the comment.

[sylvia b barber]

This story spoke to me. My native heritage reminded me that the medicine wheel has healing powers that may not be seen, but can be felt. I worry though, that there are not enough storytellers left to speak of the old ways.
Than you for posting this. It not only reminded me of who I am, and who I should should be.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Sylvia. We must remember our mentors. We must remember our grandparent. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[carl]

Read this again today, and it was a blessing. Have to tell you, my wife and I drove to California to see our son and his family. We stopped to gas up and went into the store and I looked at some Native American crafts, and yes the tag on them said "made in China" Funny? Not funny, pathetic, and this was in the West where native Americans still live and make beautiful authentic crafts. Take care friend - carl

[Coyote Poetry]

I saw the same Carl. Everything is made in China. Thank you for reading and the comment. And the USA wants to know. Why USA is struggling.

[The_Ancient_Rock]

Deep... no mistakes that I can tell.

Very good!

Blessed be!

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading and the comment. Native American belief, we need today.

[The_Ancient_Rock]

We sure do! ;)

[wu]

I learned so much from your story. Thank you for sharing!
I guess I'm a brown man (a mix of red and white, with black and yellow blood)
At the risk of sounding selfish, I ask: "if you or your elders have anything of Wounded Knee (1973) to share, please do". I've been working on a sci-fi story where the white-man's infant is found abandoned in a field during the occupation, and raised a native. The sci-fi part is how he got there. ;)
Gracias, mi amigo.

[Coyote Poetry]

My tribe in Michigan was lucky. The French were kinder than the British. They allowed the Ojibwa to stay alive and keep some of their land. I have a book. A century of dishonor written by Helen Jackson. Detail history of the United States Native Americans. Thank you for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[JessyJacob]

i like this interesting, there are 4 elements in space(5), Space , Air, earth, water fire. Space & Air are intercharging places so should be north South giving direction, water fire should cool & burn, West and east. East is sun, water is west . Eagle earth. is north, Bear air is South, Wolf is west water, east is fire, sun - again a Eagle in disguise of buffalo. Clear, make a correction of pics. Back by 90 deg and then flip. revisiting again.

[JessyJacob]

yes there is a mistake, w is wolf, and you placed wolf on South, S is south polar bear should be on south.and it should be white.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you. I copied the Medicine wheel somewhere many moons ago. My purpose is to show people. Must be a group effort of the world to create change. Not my picture to change. Off a Apache post somewhere. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[JessyJacob]

Then why did you ask mistake? I explained mistakes and without changing how do you correct it we just change our characters. I know it’s good to work together but don’t change the nature of it else people become robot no feelings don’t know to laugh that someone plays a joke and tears doesn’t come when needed. But it’s team head to pleas order request but I do what is right for me.

[Coyote Poetry]

I don't change the artwork of another. If it was my artwork. I would change. I appreciate the help. I respect the artist. Was their view of nature and I liked it. I appreciate the advice.

[zainul]

A great piece of poem celebrating your heritage. I agree with you that we are one people. Peace will come when we learn to work together.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree Zainul. Need whole world seeking peace, not war. Thank you for reading and the comemnt.

[Red Brick Keshner]

How does one find one's totem, it might be asked. Or is that necessary to work the medicine wheel? Quite intriguing.

[Coyote Poetry]

I believe we will find our totem. Life will direct us. Each of us seeking different place. Thank you dear friend for reading and the comment.