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..........

[Hebe]

This piece is brilliant and the wisdom the American Indians share is precious. They where one with the land and honored nature.... how foolish and short sighted those white invaders were.... nothing has changed, we are still destroying the planet!
Thank you for writing this.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right. With vacant houses everywhere. Contractors destroying the forest and making new houses. The sad part. Our children will pay for our greed and thank you for reading.

[Maria12]

I really like getting to know more about the Native American customs.I read that the same people inhabited North America, Central and South America before the white man came.So it was almost Pole to Pole... like a big semicircle since the earth is round.No doubt a lot has been lost but enough left to show us the wonder and understanding that modern people no longer have the intelligence to know.I feel modern society has made us more stupid in many deep ways even if we can work

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right. We must know our heritage and respect all people. Thank you Maria for reading and the comment.

[Maria12]

My pleasure

[scarlet 10]

nice poem keep up the good work

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Scarlet. I appreciate the comment.

[Vria P Crow]

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I adore the medicinal wheel. It brings back to my personal connection with Native American heritage despite how meek it is displayed in my genes since I clearly have a fair complexion. The image itself informs the reader about Native American culture; simplistic yet beautiful.

CONTENT

The writer takes the reader into his spiritual quest or as I like to call it vision quest; he does not blur the line between religion and spirituality. I am not a guru when it comes to the medicine wheel but I do have a multitude of dream catchers. However, it is stated in the factual narrative they have the same role of keeping the bad dreams away. The colors remind me of oriental beliefs in chakras, identified by the rainbow spectrum. However, it is used to depict the good and evil of ethnic groups; white, yellow, red, and black. I adore the wisdom that the Apache shared with you in classifications. Instead of basing of rigid science, it is based on conjecture and nature.

Overall, I thought this personal story was inspiring even for me since I am finding my roots again without getting caught up in ritual. There must be a balance between reality and escapism.

PERSONAL CONNECTIONS

I can relate to the need to be in touch with your spirit. Without getting too philosophical, we need to believe in something and have faith otherwise self doubt overwelms the psyche. Native American beliefs, specifically Apache in this case is refreshing with its Romanticism; it brings back a renewal of innocence that we need in our adulthood.

MINOR CRITIQUE

I would only suggest citing where you found the wheel. It is not something that bothers me personally. However, I would love to be more informed.

[Coyote Poetry]

Many forms of the wheel. I found this one on Facebook years ago by a Native American writer. I had my version and it was more simple. This wheel went into many places and teaches with art and words. Thank you for the detailed comment. I do appreciate.

[Vria P Crow]

I find this wheel wonderful. I still prefer dreamcatchers though. Circles are my forte and I find them soothing. And you are welcome! :D

[Chip Murison]

Very nice Coyote. I resonate deeply with Native American spirituality. Deep stuff here.
Thanks for sharing.

[Coyote Poetry]

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

[Max Meunier]

what an enjoyable read. being of sioux descent, i found this piece to be particularly resonant. your style of writing when conveying personal experience is perfect in its subtle flow. your sensibilities in peppering just the right amount of articulated embellish leave me wanting more. thank you for sharing a part of your experience. what area is your ancestry rooted in? i have a wonderful resource you may find interesting.

[Coyote Poetry]

I'm 1/2 Ojibwa and what is the source?

[Tmkanlis]

amazing words, amazing story, I hope one day we could all live as one

[Coyote Poetry]

Me too. I hope we can find the road to peace before it is too late.

[Mauricio Montoya]

thank you for sharing and may the great spirit be with you.

[Coyote Poetry]

I return the wish and hope. One earth and one people. We must get along. Thank you for reading.

[Raven Wyntermoon]

What a natural & creative way to tell a story and be able to encompass our society's continuous battle of race and cultural differences...especially in this heightened time.

Thank you for taking it old school and creating a peaceful format to discuss the issues at hand as we (society) are uncomfortable to see what is in front of us and tend to stay safely behind the line instead of crossing it.

[Coyote Poetry]

Old ways were better. Don't waste land or food. Try to live in peace with another. Today the word peace is rarely spoken. When men of war and profit run the land. The common people will pay. Thank you Raven for reading and the comment.