The Medicine wheel
(I have been lucky. Many kind Native American 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 East man tried to sell me a China’s made items.
I touched a Medicine Wheel.
I told the man.
“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 grins at me.
He didn’t understand a word that I spoke.
He told me.
“Does the same things.”
I leave the store with nothing.
Sitting with my Apache Friend outside the gate of Fort Hood, Texas.
I sat and listen to him.
His skin harden from 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.”
With sadness in his voice.
“Us 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.
Eyes looking at the ground.
Then he raise his eyes and look to the sky.
The fire was taught(Atomic and nuclear) too well.”
“The black people held the strength, wisdom and honor.
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 to dance the dance of friendship.
A old Apache man moved around the circle.
Burning sage and blessing everyone who came today.
He welcome us.
He begin to speak.
“We were the last Americans allow to dance our Native dances.
We were the last allowed to speak our language in public.
We have not forgot.
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 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 create 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 different. 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 peace with each other and the planet.
Coyote
Amazing! How truthful it is too.
LikeLike
Hi John I have the greatest respect for the native american indian and their beliefs. Thank you so much for liking my short story ‘ The Adventurous Youngsters-The Snowman.’ Best Wishes. The Foureyed Poet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading and the comment. Old ways can be better. People were accepted for their hard work and deeds and actions.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on I-NETRADIO.
LikeLike
Beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Annie. I appreciate the comment.
LikeLike
Hi John (again), thanks for all the “likes” on “letting go” etc. Is there an award for faithful likers? If there is, I nominate you for it! It does me good to see all the likes on my blog – thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you I think. I read on three sites. On one site I comment on every poem. Here on WordPress I comment on things if my opinion had opinions. I like your poetry. A old fashion feel and concern. I f you want me to comment or a poor edit. I will help. I read for two reasons. To keep my mind strong and motivation for me to write. Sometimes one line can make us create a complete poem..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks John. All comments are welcome and if I’ve written anything that can be improved on in some way, it would be good to know. BTW, I like your poetry too. It’s a very different style from mine – mine is more simplistic, I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for visiting my blog, good luck on your writing! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome.
LikeLike
I fell in love with an older Native man. At the time, I was 22 and he was 43. The first moment we met, he was playing dominoes with a group of men next to my trailer…he looked up at me and I literally saw a spark of white light flash from his eyes to mine…I immediately knew he would become the father of the daughter I had dreams of…A year and a half later or so, I became pregnant with my daughter. She is white, Choctaw, and Kiowa…unfortunately, due to my life’s direction, I haven’t been able to raise her…her white grandparents have…I laugh because she is now 16 and is more defiant and rebellious than I ever was!
I hope one day once I receive my true wings of freedom, I hope to take her back to her father’s…he’s in his 60’s now and an elder of the Kiowa tribe…my love for him has never faded for he took me and my son in as family and I got to see for myself what harmony within a family actually looked liked. Thanks for following my blog. You have a wonderful talent for writing…keep it up!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope he can met his daughter. I know he would be honored. You were a good mother. Strong blood and wisdom teaches great knowledge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is beautiful. I see oneness every day…the change may be slight for now but it is a change. Faith ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
The world is slowly learning. We need each other. I hope we learn before it is too late. Thank you for reading and the comment.
LikeLike
A-ho!
LikeLike
A-ho back to you. Thank you for reading.
LikeLike
If only…… ❤
LikeLike
I wish also.
LikeLike
The other night I dreamt I slowly reached out and put my hand on a wolf’s snout and it was calm. When I awoke, I wondered what it meant. Accustomed to relating the wolf as an evil force from biblical references, I just pondered it. When I read your poem and saw your medicine wheel tonight, I thought about my dream again. What do you think? What is the wolf to native Americans?
LikeLike
The wolf is strength and courage. Trying to lead you to a better place. The wolf isn’t evil. It is freedom and being untamed and not locked up. A interesting dream.
LikeLike
I love that! Thank you. This is fueling my processing of the dream. If I write on it I will ping back to this poem, with your permission.
LikeLike
John, thank you. Each time I read this story it is a bit different. Always it challenges me to move toward those i am less inclined to.
LikeLike
This is so beautiful and authentic, John. Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
LikeLike
Old wisdom passed down to me. I appreciate the positive comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is very touching. If only “we” could come together as one. Imagine the power and unlimited possibilities that could be achieved. That’s for sharing. Blessings!
LikeLike
Would be a better world. I agree. Thank you for reading and the comment. I wish we could learn. We are all just flesh and bones. We need to get along.
LikeLike
Amen! Getting ready for church. I will pray for peace. Stay blessed John.
LikeLike
John, this is so intoxicating. Thank you for sharing such wisdom. I could listen to you tell a story for hours.
LikeLike
Thank you Audrey. I appreciate the kind words.
LikeLike
It’s nice, John, your seeking out the wisdom of the tribes… your poetry reflects that in a good way! thanks…
LikeLike
The old ways can be better. I wish we would understand this is one planet and one people. We need to get along. Thank you for reading and the comment.
LikeLike