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..........

[Astrid]

It's quite lovely though I want to point out that at first the races are depicted as:

"Us Apache and Native Americans [red] 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.
Eyes looking at the ground.
Then he raise his eyes and look to the sky.
The fire was taught(Atomic and nuclear) too well."

"The black people held the strength, wisdom and honor.
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."

And later are depicted as:

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


They don't exactly line up too much. I mean, I guess they sort of do, but many cross over to others

[Coyote Poetry]

Just a combination of old wisdom learn and taught. My favorite teacher was a Apache who had a van outside the Fort Hood, Texas gate. Sold souvenirs. Him and wife had a story for every item. Old tales not support to be perfect. Just a lesson.

[jeannemarie coulter]

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 different. 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 peace with each other and the planet.

so perfect it makes my heartsoul weep for what could be lost if humankind is not careful...thank you for the reminder...

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend. I stood with many tribes members and we stood in sadness. For the hate and wasting of the good earth. Hard to grasp the need to kill.

[Renée]

Beautiful, Coyote ! Pieces like this...filled with wisdom, peace..are not just read, but absorb within the soul.
Thank you !

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Renee for reading and the comment. The old ways were better. Old wisdom is needed today.

[Renée]

Oh they are needed badly ! Always my pleasure to read your works.

[Willard Wells]

Coyote my words may be short, but then again it's me. This is so beautiful I am blessed to have read your words and the thoughts you have presented. Fabulous. Thank you so much, So true.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Willard. I appreciate the kind words.

[Willard Wells]

"He welcome us. He began to speak." to "He welcomed us. He began to speak." Came back to read again. I tis a great piece.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

all colors bring important items to the wheel of life....and if we all agree to respect each other and learn from each other, we will have a much smoother ride...and protect nature the way it is supposed to be protected.

i always feel so guilty about the way we have treated native americans back in the old days...and how we treated our african american brothers in the more recent old days....not much to be said for us, is there?

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right. Goes for the Mexicans and Arabic also. Don't judge a man by his face. Judge a man by his deeds. Thank you Jacob for reading and the comment.

[...]

What beautiful spiritual artistry! I love this, John :) Peace and acceptance...understanding erases fear and shortens the gaps between us. I enjoyed this greatly and it left me deeply touched dear poet

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Lynn. Just passed down hope and story from my elders.

[Reflections]

While I read through your writing, I tried to visualize your friend as he told you his story. The Medicine Wheel......intriguing.

[Coyote Poetry]

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

[Grace]

This is amazing. It drew me right in with the simplicity of the opening lines. It holds such a wonderful worldview, but my favorite part was near the end, when it becomes more personal. I don't know why that part shocked me, but it changed the tone in my head and I liked the emotion it brought.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Grace. Old wisdom is good wisdom. Today we over think all things. Life should be simple. Lead with kindness, concern and love. Would be a better world.

[Ken Simm.]

This is the wisdom that teaches. This is the way to make us listen with what is inside. This is written extraordinarily well. This makes me think hard. Well done John.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Ken. I appreciate the comment. We must know history to understand the present.

[Saraswati]

I have seen this "Dream catcher " thing in one movie "dream catcher" however i dont know the myth behind it:).its such a beautiful poem..hatts off

[Coyote Poetry]

Dream catcher is a complete different tale. It is mind over matter. I will write a story tonight about the dream catcher.

[Saraswati]

sure..i was actually jus 14 when i watched that movie,whole theme was on dream catcher,please write.will be great .thank you very much for your spontaneity and reply :)