The Medicine Wheel

THE MEDICINE WHEEL by SUNBEAR & WABUN (1980).
Sun Bear (1929-1992) was born in 1929 on the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota.
Sun Bear was taught by his Ojibwa grandmother & two uncles who were medicine
men.
How Buffalo,Eagle, Coyote, & Bear Began to Help the Spirit Keepers :
E A long time ago when the animals could still talk to each other and to humans,
and when the spirit teachers sometimes dwelled among humans, four of the
mightiest of the animals had a disagreement. Each of these animals felt that they
were the best of the animals and that they deserved to be chief of all the other
animals. This caused bad feelings in the animal council where the bear had always
been the chief. He had this position because he was strong and had always made
wise decisions for brothers and sisters. While most of the animals felt that the bear
deserved to remain the chief, other sided with one or another of the animals
challenging him.
One of the challengers was the buffalo. The buffalo said, "I am the strongest and
most powerful of the animals, and I give generously of myself to all of our brothers
and sisters in the human as well as animal kingdoms. I deserve to be the chief
because of my purity of purpose and my ability to renew all those who receive
my gifts."

How buffalo, eagle, coyote an the bear began to help the spirit keepers :
Another challenger was the eagle. The eagle said, "I fly higher than any of the rest of the winged
creatures. I see more clearly. I fly closer to the Great Spirit than anyone else in this council.
Because of my clarity and wisdom, I deserve to be the chief of this council."
The other one to challenge bear's right to be the chief of the council was the coyote. Coyote
said, "I am the trickiest of all of the animals. I can survive anywhere. I have the ability to teach
things to all of you whether or not you want to lean. Because of the growth I bring about, I
deserve to be your chief."
Bear said, "I have great respect for my brothers who wish to be your chief, but you have no
reason to oust me. I have always served you well. I am strong, yet I am always gentle in my
decisions. I always think long and hard before I decide what I should do about any question that
faces us. I wish to continue to serve you as I have."
After the four powerful animals finished speaking, all of the other animals had their chance as
the talking stick passed around the circle. When the stick came full circle back to the bear, it
became clear that the animals were evenly divided about who should be their chief. No consensus
was possible.. Everyone there felt bad because it was the first time they had ever disagreed so
greatly. No one knew what to do. All four animals were powerful and had medicine that qualified
them to be the chief.

HOW BUFFALO EAGLE COYOTE AND BEAR BEGAN TO HELP THE SPIRIT KEEPERS :
During the council the animals noticed that the winds were blowing from all four directions. They seemed to be
trying to tell the council something. But, since everyone was so caught up in trying to prove that e was right
and his favorite should be the chief, no one was really listening.
Finally, as all of the animal sat in silence preparing for the talking stick to pass once again, on of spirit teachers
appeared in their midst. He appeared as a powerful man of middle age, and, as he came, the West Wind
blew strongly.
I am Mudjekeewis, the Spirit Keeper of the West. Where I walk the West Wind follows. Long ago,
before any of you were born, it was decided that I would be chief of the keepers of the directions.
Like you, Eagle, Bear, Buffalo, and Coyote, all four of us who now keep he directions were
strong. We were children of the same mother, and we all had her strength and wisdom plus the
separate wisdom of each of our fathers. But rather than fight about who was the strongest and thus break the
law of unity, we decided with our mother's help to each take responsibly for one quarter of the Medicine Wheel
so we could each use our separate strengths in the best possible way. By doing this we made the wheel strong
in all directions, and we made ourselves stronger by having a definite direction for our strength to take. I was
chosen by One Greater to be the chief because I always think before I act, so my strength is tempered by
introspection.

HOW BUFFALO EAGLE COYOTE AND BEAR BEGAN TO HELP THE SPIRIT KEEPERS :
"I am sent now by One Greater to intervene in this council. It is clear by listening to you speak that it would take
many years to reach consensus. During this time the law of unity among the animals would be broken as the
followers of one contender fought against the followers of another. This would use unnecessary harm to all of you,
and to your relations on the earth. The Great Spirit does not want this to happen. So each of you four will now
merge your power with the power of one of the directions. In this way your strengths, too, will help to make the
wheel strong, and each of you will have a specific direction that you follow. Bear, you will merge with me, with
the West, because, like me, you are strong and you think long before you speak. When you serve with me, your
coat will be black, like the night, with silver hairs to honor the stars. You will remain as the chief of the animal
council as I am chief of the council of winds."
Buffalo, you will merge with the power of Waboose,of the North, as you share the qualities of renewal and of
purity. When you serve with Waboose, your coat will be white, the color of the snow. Eagle, you will merge
with the power of Wabun, of the East. With your clear vision you will help to bring the awakening, wisdom
and illumination. When you serve with her, you'll wear golden feathers, the color of the dawn. Coyote, you will
merge with the power of the South, Shawnodese. With your ability to teach and survive, you will help to bring
growth and trust into being. When you serve with him, your coat will be the color of the midday sun spotting the
fertile earth.
"So, my honored friends, be happy now with the gifts of power the Great Spirit has given to each of you. Each
of you will serve best in the direction that you have been given, and you can all now contribute to the harmony
of the creation. It is good."

The above excerpts were taken from The Medicine Wheel ; by Sun Bear & Wabun (1980).
I hope you have enjoyed it.