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..........

[hellfolia]

thisbis such a stylishly beautiful piece. it reads with such ease and wisdom and was an absolute pleasure to read. honestly, i absolutely love it. it is of the utmost importance to know about such things and i think you've done a brilliant job.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading and the comment.You are right. The more we know about other people and places. The more we can understand them.

[Nirupama.H]

I really liked the way you saw the four directions in people themselves.
I too believe in the power that can be unleashed when the four directions unite for a common cause.
Thank you for sharing this piece.
:)

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading and the comment. Will take the four corners of our world to seek peace. To become a realistic goal.

[V.L.Mir]

I love this. This piece provokes you to think back to the things you've done and ought to be done for the betterment of this world. It bridges the differences between each race in this poem wonderfully. Very humbling, Sir. Good job.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading and the positive comment. Will take a effort of many to change our world to a better place.

[Elijah Michael Madden]

I am half Apache, and often times I feel like an outsider or pretender. I've done some personal study on dances and traditional religion, and I'm really glad that the minute cultural understanding I've gathered being off the reservation; never knowing my people's language, could be actively used in my analysis of this poem, Coyote. I appreciate the opportunity more than you could possibly know.

[Coyote Poetry]

Easy to learn the old ways. Apache are the best teachers. They love a good story and long conversation. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Ted Kniffen]

Coyote;
This is a beautiful tale of knowledge being passed from an elder to someone who needs to know what came before. Our elders are being pushed aside in favour of social media I'm afraid. There are a few grammatical things, tenses to change,

I sat with my Apache Friend and his family outside the gate of Fort Hood, Texas. I sat and listened to him. His skin harden from the Texas sun. I came and sat with him every Saturday for many months.

This may read better as

I sat with my Apache friend and his family outside the gate of Fort Hood, Texas. I listened to him, his skin hardened from the Texas sun. I sat with him every Saturday for many months.

There are a few others, but you will see them. Overall, this was a very good story. Keep writing

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Ted for reading and the help. I appreciate it.

[L_]

This was a beautiful piece, read like a story but surprisingly gripping. The message of peace throughout evokes a realisation of how ruined this world really is if we don't start making a change.
Good work, well structured and it was a lovely read.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Lyra. I appreciate the comment. I agree. Need to start ASAP. Before it is too late.

[PhoenixDown]

I love this. The wisdom and knowledge this shares is beautiful and something I cherish closely. My father was a lover of Native American heritage. He & I did so many activities together and visited countless museums. That is a part of my life I hadn't thought about in a very long time. The amount of hours alone I spent just looking through all of his books... jeez, man. Such nostalgia in regards to such holistic ideas. I've enjoyed this recount. Really excellent job, my friend,

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading and the comment. We must learn history. Lack of knowledge of the past will lead us to repetition of bad actions and deeds.

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

I love this and can hear the old voices throughout it. How beautiful and what a message. Is the picture from the Davis Mountains in Texas? I spent a special time there many years ago.

[Coyote Poetry]

This is a old photo. I free-climbed California and Texas. I was stationed in both places for many years. I have a lot of photos. I believe this photo is the fault line in California.

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

I see...it reminded me of West Texas. This was indeed a reverent and beautiful write.

[I am that I am]

Much truth is uttered in this piece. We are all but one. Who am I other than you put somewhere else? We only differ in thought and appearance because I am here and you are there. If you were here, or I was there, then what would our differences be? Great job, Coyote Poetry.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right and thank you for reading.

[Matching Socks]

Such a great message in this one. Though we are all different, we are all one. I find hate to be a difficult thing for me, I hurt instead. Sadly, too many hate and lose sight that are all fundamentally the same. There's always a good lesson in your words.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Ana for reading and the comment. I wish we will learn. Every life had value.

[Matching Socks]

Yes, that's so true. You're welcome.