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..........

[Tate Morgan]

All peoples have something to give to humanity If only they could all see that we are all one in the same descendants of the human race

[Coyote Poetry]

I wish we could. For the sake of all the children in our world. Thank you Tate for reading and have a fun and safe New Years.

[Tate Morgan]

you are a good soul May that be enough to get through life and be remembered fondly

[Deanna M.]

This is such a beautiful piece of writing and shows how the medicine wheel pertains to all of us. When I was reading it I was so moved with how the medicine wheel was explained. Thank you for writing such a beautiful poem!!

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Deanna for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[Ahmad Cox]

Wow. That was amazing. It is beautiful to see just how much the story of the medicine wheel truly fits a lot of things I believe in. Thanks for sharing.

[Coyote Poetry]

All races are one. Each with different strength and purpose. I wish we would learn. Every life had value. Thank you Ahmad for reading and the comment.

[Irenic]

Excellent write which gives excellent message. Love it. It is superb. :)

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Irenic. I wish we would learn. We must get along for the sake of the children.

[Irenic]

yes definitely i agree. and i should say thank you for sharing such an excellent work of yours with us. :)

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome my friend.

[Irenic]

:)...............................................:)

[Irenic]

:)...............................................:)

[abderrahmane dakir]

Thank you for this wisdom writing. We are created in order to love each other. All colors would melted in one goal. Living in the peace, we have nothing. We leave with nothing as our beginning.

[Coyote Poetry]

One day we will learn. All life had value. One people and one earth. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[annalysiar]

Well minor spelling, but everyone has them. The grammar makes the story flow beautifully. This is a raw and amazing story that holds your reader. Beautifully done. I love the concept and the truth of it.

[Coyote Poetry]

We must keep the truth alive. So the past cannot be repeated. Thank you for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[annalysiar]

So true and you are right there is no argument

[Mary]

Amen! Your poem is etched in my heart and mind. Perfectly spoken. Thank you for this.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Mary for reading. When we learn. Every life had value. It will be a better world.

[Workvio]

A piece penned ever so full of wisdom the world is dying to possess, but simply cannot for the rejecting of its simplicity ... Very touching and thought provoking ...

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Marvin for reading and the help. I appreciate the help.

[David Scott]

Thank you for sharing this ancient wisdom with us... I have felt the magic of the tom toms... I have smelled the pipe of peace... Your words carry such deep and rich fragrance.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you David. I appreciate the comment. I wish we learn before it is too late. One earth and one people.