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..........

[Niki Wilson]

Wonderful and truly written! Beautifully expressed too, enjoyed this.
~Clara Quinn

[Joiedevivre]

I am overwhelmed by what I read here. Apart from this being an excellent peace of writing almost written like a native american chant (tone, imagery, language, flow), it has taught me things I had no idea about but which make so much sense. This is truly a gift to us from you. Thank you so much for sharing this wisdom in such a magnificent and enjoyable way.

[Ice QueenJen]

This was a wonderful poem and history lesson for all. I to believe we are all one people, just with different aspects of life. And as the wise Native Indians believed we should work with nature- not against. I found this to hit me right in the heart, and it makes me sit and think.

Thanks for your input on how life should be, and hopefully will be one day again!

[KimLove "The Beautiful ..]

You know Coyote, I love your stories that you call poems. You have met so many interesting and intriging people in your life. I am very happy you share the wisdom you have learned through out your years with us. It is truly a pleasure to read your stories.
xo

[Dori]

As a fellow Native American, I found this poem to be very touching! It is true, we are all one people. There is no one group that is bad, but bad people in each group! I really enjoyed this fantastic write! Keep listening to the elders. They hold so much wisdom!

Dori

[Kenneth The Poet]

I like. I was a teacher on a reservation for three years, and I learned much. There are too many people who don't know their heritage and how they are supposed to protect the earth from nasty interests. It's inspiring. I didn't know that about the medicine wheel but I have seen pictures of it in different places on the reservation. Now it makes sense.

[quinfinn]

i often marvel at the wisdom of the native american philosophy and this poem exemplifies that wisdom beautifully. well written, coyote poetry. great write!

[honeyleens]

This was lovely view into the culture and social themes of the world, and it has a good message at the heart of it. I particularly liked these lines: "I sit and listen to him. /His skin harden from the Texas sun." It has a sense of simplicity and serenity, which I believe is part of the point of this poem. Pray for peace. Nice storytelling.

[Daniel Affsprung]

Reminds me of a quote i enjoy,
"Love all, Serve all, Help ever, Hurt never."
I liked this and wonder what you think of my writing, if you ever find the time.