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..........

[DoormanDan]

Oh, I definitely like your way of thinking! I think this is the most unique piece I've read on Writerscafe, and it sure is a powerful piece as well. Every line of this narrative is written in a way that kept me reading until the very last line, and some of the lines here are actually amongst the best lines I have ever seen in poetry period (such as "the fire was taught atomic and nuclear power too well." That's a hard hitter.) When I first loaded this page and saw the view/review count, I almost did a double take in disbelief, but after reading the piece, I can definitely understand why this has gotten so much attention. The world needs more messages like this, now more than ever!

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Dan. I agree. Need more messages of peace. Today desperately.

[Nicole Laszlo]

This was phenomenal. Again, you gave me chills. A true experience, I assume. If not, it holds the same wisdom. Profound words, and beautifully written.

[Coyote Poetry]

A true experience. Most of my poetry is based on real life. I served in California and Texas. Native American in the west are willing to teach. I appreciate the comment Nicole.

[Ellis Hastings]

When it says "a middle eastern man tried to sell me a chinese items"

Do you mean plural or singular? If plural you could say "A Middle Eastern man tried to sell me multiple Chinese items"

or if singular, "A Middle Eastern man tried to sell me a Chinese item."

Other than that tiny thing, good poem.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Ellis. I appreciate the help.

[Great Aunt Astri]

Words of wisdom, my friend.

[Coyote Poetry]

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

[Papaya]

Strong message here that we can All learn from!

[Coyote Poetry]

The old wisdom is needed today. Thank you Ana for reading and the comment.

[Papaya]

You're welcome. I agree. :)

[Flower]

I've always felt very deeply for the indigenous populations. This was a lovely insight into the community.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you. Ancient ways were not perfect. Better then the rules of this new world.

[angeleapaugh]

Absolutely Awesome. Caught my interest and carried it till the end.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for reading and I appreciate the comment.

[Lina Lotus]

Well composed! Words of wisdom that resonate. I wish more people could agree that WE are ONE ~~ we are all searching for that same fountain of peace...we just express it differently

[Coyote Poetry]

Me too my friend. No-one want to die in war. Thank you Lina for reading and the comment.

[Rosalind Gale]

"Teach us the four winds.
Give us wisdom.
Teach us humility.
Show us clarity.
Allow us to trust our brothers."

Surely that is so true now, as to render all other mantras redundant to this moment. A wonderful work, friend. A sort of patchwork of thought, a leveler to those who know only "now" and the most "recent" of all cultures and ideas. As others have said here - rich, complex, light - the world in a poem.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Rosalind. When we learn. All life had value and every life is meaningful. We can know peace.

[Rosalind Gale]

I hope we all can.

[Effector Prime]

its just identifying colours and attributing them to behaviour. if u ask me, i've associated 'piece of s**t' to black, lately BAHA! because of a black lunatic from london lol. a shame to all wonderful africans, it..
on the other hand,
oh wait!
South wind - Black people - Path of peace - natural, like animal, unfortunately (not gloating) - trust

on the other hand, a portal into a universe, this. beginning with the precincts and winding up with only a curiosity, simply discontinued..

We do strive for the same things. But that does NOT mean that we can-oh-can oh-so-comfortably forget how intimidating or demeaning we ourselves appear to be, if we expect any compassion from people of a different colour.

Al be reading this piece, again and again.. wisdom, humility, clarity and trust.

[Coyote Poetry]

I spend time in Africa. I found only kind people. There will always be bad people of all color, religion and who does not respect life. But if we don't stop and gather as one. We shall die as one. Thank you my friend for reading and the comment.

[Effector Prime]

It's those Africans living in Western countries who think they can thug around and get away with it just because they wield the illusional liberty to bring shame to their brethren; unfortunately.