The Medicine wheel

The Medicine wheel

A Poem by Coyote Poetry
"

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

 
 

© 2016 Coyote Poetry


Author's Note

Coyote Poetry
If mistakes. Please tell me. Never too old to learn.

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Featured Review

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

Posted 6 Years Ago


2 of 2 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

6 Years Ago

Thank you Neville. The Medicine. A symbol of peace. One people and one earth.
Neville

6 Years Ago

Amen to that..........



Reviews

This is a moving write, quite inspirational.
so nicely written

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

2 Years Ago

Thank you dear Kaykey. We must learn. This is one earth and one people.
Similar concepts and practices in Oriental Medicine Coyote - too much involved to explain in a brief Review. I like this Piece a lot - it shows real empathy, spirituality and fellow - feeling. Excellent work at the Frontiers of our Knowledge.

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

2 Years Ago

Thank you for reading and the comment. One day we will learn. We are more the same than different.
Your writing has a cadence that allows the reader to almost hear the narrator voice and listen to the story being told.

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

2 Years Ago

Thank you for reading and the comment. I appreciate the kind words.
Love it thanks for sharing ;-)

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

2 Years Ago

Thank you dear Lisa. When we learn, we are more the same than different. It will be a better world.
yep the whites brought with them fire sticks and fire water. great day to you

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

2 Years Ago

Some things. The deadly things, easy to spread and thank you for reading and the comment.
That's a peaceful poetic story. Thanks for writing it.

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

This comment has been deleted by the poster.
Coyote Poetry

2 Years Ago

Thank you dear Shelley.
This is amazing! And so true. What happened in the past is not as important as what happens in the future. If we can be forgiven for our wrongs, and walk forward in peace, how much we could learn from each other!

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

2 Years Ago

I agree dear Zoe. Our world is getting smaller. We must get along. Thank you for reading and the com.. read more
I love this Coyote. We all need one another to be strong

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

2 Years Ago

I agree. Take a village to raise a child, Take the four corners of the world to work as one to know .. read more
Hi Coyote--
I honestly have no words. This is astonishing. That's all I've got. This is something I could-- and need to-- read over and over and over.

And before I forget, when you mentioned the Ojibwe, immediately Louise Erdrich came to mind. Have you ever read anything by her?

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

2 Years Ago

I haven't read Loise Erdrich and thank you Seth for reading and the comment. We must learn. We are m.. read more
Seth Cason

2 Years Ago

Louise is quite the prolific author, and her novels are set in the Dakotas and Minnesota, mostly his.. read more
That was intellecttual deep and spiritual. There is no doubt that they don'y mske things like they use to. Plus the best medicine are made from Earth's resources.

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Coyote Poetry

2 Years Ago

The old ways were not perfect. But we didn't seek to kill everything near. Thank you my friend for r.. read more

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Shelved in 51 Libraries
Added on January 1, 2010
Last Updated on July 27, 2016

Author

Coyote Poetry
Coyote Poetry

MI



About
A Poet and writer who love to read and write. My pleasure is reading about the bad and good in a life. Also to honor the Poets/Writers of the past by reading their words. Remember .. more..

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