Not a poem, just good information/If you like to read, buy the book" The Red Road Of Wellbriety."+
I did not write this, It is about the Sioux Lakota Medicine wheel which I
Believe in...
The medicine wheel is a scared symbol used by Plains tribes and others to represent all knowledge of the universe. The medicine wheel consists of a circle. A horizontal and vertical line are drawn through the circle's center. Sometimes, an eagle feather is attached where the two lines cross in the center.
The circle represents the sacred outer boundary of the Earth often referred to as the Sun Dance Circle or the Sacred Hoop. It represents the continuous pattern of ongoing life and death. The horizontal and vertical lines represent the sun and man's sacred paths, respectively; the crossing of the two lines indicates the center of the Earth where one stands when praying. The eagle feather is a sign of Wankan Tanka's - the Great Spirit's - power over everything.
The directions, as they are called upon in the medicine wheel, are often associated with a sacred color and each direction has a messenger. There is no common Lakota expression for the color placement of the medicine wheel. It is found that the color placement will vary based on individual band customs.
The power of the east is closely associated with the sun. It is there the sun rises to bring light and enlightenment to all creation. The path of the sun is from east to west. It is thought of as a clockwise direction, and all good things are to conform to that pattern. The Morning Star, which is the star of wisdom and new beginnings, comes from the east. East is the home of the Elk people. The sacred color of the east is yellow, and the messenger is the brown eagle.
The sacred power of the south is connected with life after death and directs men as they walk toward that awe-inspiring place. Life begins in the south, and nourishment of every kind comes from there. Warmth, happiness and generosity are associated with the power of the south. South is the home of the animal people. The sacred color of the south is usually red, and the messenger is the crane.
The power of the west is where the sun sets and the day comes to an end. It is this direction connected with the power of the rain and of the water, which is used to purify. Joy and growth always follow the rain, and release ignorance. West is the home of the powerful Thunder-being who flies in the midst of the thunderstorms in the form of a huge bird. His wings produce the thunder, and the lightning flashes from his eyes. This being stands against evil and ensures the respect of the others. The sacred color of the west is often black, and the messenger is the black eagle.
Winter's home is in the north. Its power promotes good health and growth. Those who misbehave look to it for correction and for the wisdom needed to walk the straight path again. It is a challenging power, and it promotes endurance. The north is the home of the Calf Pipe Woman and the buffalo people. Its color is generally white, and its messenger is the bald-headed eagle.
Sources:
Black Elk Speaks, John Neihardt, Pocket Books, 1972
Lakota Ritual and Belief, James Walker, University of Nebraska Press, 1980
Oglala Religion, William K. Powers, University of Nebraska Press, 1975
The Pipe And Christ, William Stolzman, SJ, Tipi Press, 1998
Sundancing At Rosebud and Pine Ridge, Thomas E. Mails, Graphic Publishing Co., 1978
