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..........

[‘Thoughts In Time..]

Amazing, feel it into the depth of my bones, shivers through the spine, connected you are🌹

[Coyote Poetry]

I appreciate the comment. We must learn. Nature and us are one. Every life had value. One earth and one people. If we don't. We are in trouble.

[‘Thoughts In Time’🌹]

Yes one love 🌹

[Mamta]

Beautiful, very beautiful indeed! Your words are so inspiring and so wise that if i had to read this piece of writing again and again I would! Truly another incredible piece of yours!
Mamta

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Mamta. I appreciate the comment.

[raj24]

BEAUTIFUL STORY, A LESSON FOR EVERYONE, WE ALL ARE ONE, AND WE ALL ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR PARTS IN LIFE, THANKS FOR SHARING IT AND WRITING IT..KEEP READING N WRITING :)

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading and the comment. I agree with your words and your thoughts.

[KCthelastboyscout]

Great great story!! This is timeless with and important lesson to learn for
everyone who reads this.a genuine pleasure

[Coyote Poetry]

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

[Taino]

Extremely moving and so relevant. What unites us lies within, what blinds us is our lack of vision. Very well done!

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right my friend and thank you for reading. When we learn. Every life matters and one earth and one people. This will become a better world.

[Rubick]

Folk stuff!!
I like folk tales!

" Give us wisdom.
Teach us humility.
Show us clarity."

Nice one sir :D

[Coyote Poetry]

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

[Rubick]

Welcome sir! Always a pleasure to read such thoughtful flashes of intellect.

[zoe rose]

Beautiful. I truly felt the words you wrote here. Especially with all that has been brought to light the last few years. Thank you so much, brother, for sharing this love and light.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Zoe. I appreciate the comment.

[Patricia]

this is well done coyote, I too am native american and Mexican, though I am Cherokee and come from a line that was on the Trail of Tears and very proud of my heritage and encourage the same in everyone but this hit more to home for me of course and truly enjoyed reading this. thank you.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Patricia. You have great blood in you. I have 1/4 Mexican and 1/4 Ojibwa. I stay close to my Native American heritage.

[h d e rushin]

I think we are learning. If you ask most young people , those not jaded by those crude "native" images that we grew up learning and fostering, they truly understand Indian wisdom. And because hurt is so universal and comes to us so quickly, we can relate more personally to it. "Bethlehem struggles as Mideast tensions rise" is flashing across my tv this morning. Should I care? Of course I should. I should always care when peace is disrupted.......amazing poem my friend../dana

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Dana for reading. I pray daily. I want no-one child to die for the greed of war. One earth and one people. We must get along.