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..........

[The Analog Kid]

Coyote,

Much wisdom. Thank you for sharing this with us!

Pat

[Trisha]

wow this is amazing. What a beautiful experience. I have always found the Red Way to be the most beautiful way to live. I have studied many different beliefs but this one by far is the most compassionate way. YOur words gave me goose bumps and your experience touched my heart.

[Sunflower/Sara Kendrick]

Great write that is educational...I really enjoyed this one..Keep the creative pen flowing..Sunflower/Sara

[Desert Dreamer]

We all have something important to share with others. Such a wonderful poem. We should listen to the teachings of native cultures. This culture we (most of us) live in is destructive to the world and to the human soul. So many of us long for meaning and the current culture offers none. If we all work together we can change the world. Your poem offers hope for change.

This poem is so full of meaning I have difficulty looking for mistakes. I did find this one:
-"His skin harden from the Texas sun." - possibly change "harden" to "hardened"

[Gandré]

Sometimes placebo is also healing. Our will can mobilize healing elements. They can be anything. I have respect for native folks, they kept their myths and their memory.... You are lucky to be able to experience them. This was my favorite part "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." They were relocated, I believe this fact causes the urge to go back to the roots. We might go back by different ways, sometimes just enjoying a certain food. I loved this poem. It was an experience and also, thank you for your generous words on my last poem. I am always glad when you like what I write.

[LeeAnne]

Amazing! I really like it! :) Keep up the extremely good work! :D

[Ama May Cooper]

This is actually amazing!.. such a sensautional piece filled with a deep and wise honesty that society lacks these days.
An almost romantic bond with nature spread out across all cultures it is a shame many do not share you views wise coyote

[Laura Sparkle]

Incredible poem with an absolutely wonderful message in which wisdom is interwoven between the letters of the words. Thank you for sharing it :)

[Tina Kline]

I'm impressed. Such wisdom in this. Important message for a world that would rather hate then accept and love. If people of the world could only see the goodness in each other instead of what they see as badness/negative things.
Excellent job on this.

[Star Wolf]

Very profound and so very true. Too bad this message isn't allowed to flow free around the world but if it did, would people listen? I think they might if they were free to listen and hear.