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..........

[AquaWater5674]

Beautifully sculpted ....Enchanting...Thank You...Debbie

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Debbie. I appreciate the comment.

[Paul Bell]

The wheel of wisdom. What we could do with that wheel today in our troubled world.
I think sometimes we love to blame others for our misfortunes. Strangely enough, we all bleed red.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right. All of us will bleed red. Thank you Paul for reading and the comment.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

coyote,
Narrow mindedness is a sharp and damaging mind-set but when humanity can view others with humility it opens doors and nurtures relationship. Your poem was helpful in this area of bridge building. exceptional.............thankyou for sharing blessings to you in life and writing! Kathy

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Kathy. Earth is becoming smaller. We must work together and get along.

[3X3MPLER]

this is a deep poem with alot of wisdom in it. it tought me one or two new things

[Coyote Poetry]

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

[Gandré]

I've read this again, and I must say, it is still inspiring and beautiful. When people learn to love each other and share with each other then we are whole, then happiness is us. Thank you for visiting my page and your generous consideration of my poem 'The Election'.

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed your work and thank you for reading my work. I pray daily for peace. I don't want to be, like my father. Taking sons and grandsons to their departure for war.

[Gandré]

Very well said.

[ROBIN-RAMBLES-ON]

I love this spiritualism that went into it the wheel part especially the words touched me. Bravo well penned.I am a spiritual person so I identify with this.

[Coyote Poetry]

The Medicine simple and true. We need the four corners of our world to work together. Thank you Robin for reading and the comment.

[ROBIN-RAMBLES-ON]

Your welcome

[...]

This is true wisdom it resonates with me deeply. I think natives all over the world posses this wisdom sadly it often falls on deaf ears.
A great write. Starz

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree. Need to go back to the old values. They have been lost. Respect, kindness and concern first.

[ReedWrite]

Yes, I saw a few grammatical errors, but the were eclipsed by the piece itself, so hardly worth mentioning. It's beautiful. In mankind's rush for wealth and power and progress, we have lost sight of what it truly important. If we continue down the path we're on...we will all suffer. As with the yin and yang, there must be balance. Light and dark. Day and night. Physical and spiritual. Male and female. Different. Opposites even, but both play a part. Both are important. Neither can exist without the other. I think the Medicine Wheel tells us the same thing. Opposites...white and black, red and yellow. Different, yet each plays its part. All are needed for balance. All are important. Until all work together, there will never be true harmony in this world. How can there be? Beautiful piece. Thank you for posting.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading and the details comment. I hope we learn soon. We must work as one or we shall fall as one into the road of no return from war and hate.

[M.A.]

This piece brought tears to my eyes. So much wisdom in this. It makes me wish I was there in person to see these experience and hear the stories. Even though I was not there you let me see and imagine my presence during this. Thank you for sharing this wisdom to the world. I hope all who read take this wisdom to heart and grow.

[M.A.]

I just took the Medicine Wheel test. I am a East person, just thought id let you know lol.

[Coyote Poetry]

I'm a East person also. The Medicine wheel follow the same pattern for the need for peace and to protect nature of many religion and belief. I tell people. We need kind nature more than she needs us. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[D Connolly]

When the four parts of the circle are separate, they create sharp corners; easy to poke yourself on those OUCH! When the four parts come together, they are cohesive, with soft edges. One compliments all others. I wish the people of the world could take this wisdom and do something beautiful with it. Great story Coyote.

[Coyote Poetry]

Me too my friend. Rarely do we hear words for peace. Just words for war and violence. If our leaders don't change. We shall be in trouble ASAP.