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..........

[Schatzi]

Hello Coyote Poetry,

Your story was very beautiful. Like you, I have several full-blooded Native American friends, as well as, having a shared DNA with them. It is a common misconception that the four colours that form the backbone of the Native American culture are in respect to race. Maybe it is different with the Apache clans but I have always been taught the four colours are in reference to the four corners of Mother Earth. White is in reference to the North because it is cold and covered in snow, Yellow is in reference to the Sun because that is where the bright yellow rays of the Sun appear to welcome us to a new day, Black is in reference to the South because it is very hot in relation to where the Plains Natives lived and the wild fires were born from there, and Red is in reference to the West because that is where the Sun sets and gives off a reddish colour before disappearing and giving way to the night sky.

Regardless, there is beauty in the Native American culture and their ways. I have great respect for both. Thank you for sharing this version.

Kinds regards,

Schatzi

[Coyote Poetry]

Many versions. I liked this one. Old Native wisdom. One planet and one people. We must get along for the sake of the children. Thank you Schatzi for reading and the comment.

[Farmgirl]

I like this Coyote .
I love reading about my Indian heritage .


By the way I'm back ! ;)

[Coyote Poetry]

Good to have you back and thank you for reading.

[Farmgirl]

Tja is and you are very welcome... Your pieces are always astounding to me I quite enjoy visiting from time to time for a good write from you.

[Matthew Ian Herrawood W]

I like this. There's a few typos but nothing to serious. The first typo was in the very first line
" I have been a lucky." Simple to fix, remove the "a" or tell us your a lucky what. Most of the typos are like this. It seems an extra "a" has been added to the sentence. Just give it a read through but focus on a sentence a bit longer than usual and you will find them. Apart from that a smooth easy read with a good message.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Matthew for the help and reading. I will repair now.

[Matthew Ian Herrawood W]

This reads much smoother!

[Baby Ricochet]

The native American people could teach us all such wisdom if we would only listen. When I think of the history of the native people's genocide at the hands of the white man I'm both saddened & angered at once. It's too much to take in. This is a great story. I love how it touched on the crass commercialization of the Native people's spiritual beliefs by contrasting it to the real thing. Great story my friend.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend for reading. I hope it isn't too late. Natural resources are lesson with each new day.

[Onyia-Ali, Kingsley Chu..]

A very good write up that does well due to its stregnth of admonishment. I learnt somethint and there is so much to be learnt from this one. Well done, Sir.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend. The world is getting smaller. We must help each other.

[Onyia-Ali, Kingsley Chukwuebuka Benson]

Yes ooo. Sir!

[Patrick Roach]

swanky writing and really good job,

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you and I appreciate the comment.

[genocide]

very good poem man keep on writing you have a passion for poetry

[Coyote Poetry]

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

[William Liston]

Wow. This was a very interesting story. I loved reading it. Thanks for sharing.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you William. Ancient ways. Better than today.

[William Liston]

I agree. That's one reason I love to learn about ancient philosophy and teachings.

[Coyote Poetry]

Good to study ancient people. Some places had never been touched by war.

[Diamond]

Very beautiful, I so liked the how you encompassed all the races for a great cause of harmony. Thank you for sharing it

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Queen for reading and the comment. Color of skin, your religion or location doesn't matter to war. If we don't seek peace. You will find war.

[Jon Roggie]

Not sure of the percentage, but I fall into the Black Foot. My brother and his wife were married in a hogan near Ganado. Interesting ceremony. I lived in Arizona most of my life, and saw so much garbage being sold to the tourists. Fake turquoise, and so much more. Sadly, a lot of it was being sold by some of the tribes.
Now, to get back to your write.
I agree.
"We are one. Let's pray for peace."
The words which follow are a simple explanation,
one to be listened to.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree. More fake than real. I go to the Native American pow wows. Real Native American will bless the item being sold. Thank you Jon for reading and the comment. The word peace is rarely spoken today.