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..........

[Kesha]

The medicine wheel is very sacred in our tribes, this expressed that very well! I liked it a lot, I'm happy you were able to share this with others on here who do not know of the medicine wheel, nicely written :)

I am of the Makwa clan, and leech lake band of Ojibwe. :)

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Kesha. Old wisdom is needed in our world.

[Kesha]

Yes it is, very true

[The Iron Horseman]

Global brotherhood is a noble ambition, but it is rather like trying to stuff twenty cats in a sack! I enjoyed this, but it will require concrete action to achieve your dream rather than wishful thinking. Nice work, though.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right. 20 cats in a sack would be easier. I hope we haven't surpass the possibilities of peace. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[The Iron Horseman]

If enough people believe in the dream, then maybe something will happen! Let's keep hoping!

[J Manuel]

The voice, tone and message in this is write is apropos for the times of today, yesterday and tomorrow. I found myself flowing in the river of wisdom in this piece. As one of Puerto Rican ancestry who never forgets the Taino Indian story, I highly appreciate your work. The Native blood not only runs through South America but also certain regions of the Caribbean as well, excellent work.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you. We must hold on to our heritage. We came from great people.

[J Manuel]

Yes indeed we must

[Norbanus]

My wrinkled mind is largely still a blank
But quickly fills with all that I can clutch.
Whatever senses offered, so I drank
To quench my thirst to know the such-and-such

Of life. I had no fear and never shrank
From seeking knowledge, sometimes overmuch.
New learning would become a narrow plank
To build a bridge. This knowing was the crutch

I thank you Coyote for your broadened pen,
revealing pictures I have seen before.
but painted with a bright and different ken,
to keep me searching on for even more.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Norbanus. I hope we seek peace over war before it is too late.

[Stacy Purvis]

As a person who is 16% native american indian, cherokee, I found this article fascinating. Thank you for sharing!

[Coyote Poetry]

Cherokee. A honored tribe. The still own their ancient mountain in North Carolina. Thank you Anastasia for reading and the comment.

[Writeforlovely]

This was so beautiful and thoughtful. I felt my spirit move. I had a dear friend who had a tattoo of the medicine wheel on her forearm. I think this is lovely.

I agree with your thoughts and I wish all of civilization could come to this realization.

I agree on how things have value. A true dream catcher can not be just duplicated and sold. It has to have a story.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right. We always need a story. Thank you for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[Will Drivel]

Celtic
Cannot all be in each?

[Coyote Poetry]

Everyone is part of the Medicine wheel. Few pure races.

[NAHTEWOHARD]

Wow.
I'm afraid to say I've never been too interested in the Native American culture, most likely because I am not of Native American descent, but now this has peaked my interest!
I love how this points out that all races are needed together to keep the world in peace I love that. And you weren't afraid to point out the strengths of each race, which too many are afraid to do nowadays (sorry if I'm not making sense).
This was a great story and I look forward to seeing more work from you!

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading and the comment. I believe everyone show know their heritage. This is who we are.

[Carrie.]

I'm quite the Native American/European mutt. However, I was raised as a Mohawk woman. Our wheel is similar, but it makes an X not a cross. The beauty of the wheel is it's simplicity. How wonderful our world could be if we followed it's teachings.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree Carrie. I hope we learn soon to get along. Earth is on her last leg. I believe nature will survive when the human beings are gone. Thank you for reading and the comment.