Restoration of A Medicine Wheel

Thursday morning in early January arrived with blue skies, sunshine, with only a slight breeze brushing over a calm ocean. A perfect unexpected day, as if forecasted specifically for restoring the Medicine Wheel. The Eagles chirped and soared over the rocky shores announcing today's the day, it’s time to restore the medicine wheel.

Yesterday I rescued the center pole, and brought it home to keep safe until the medicine wheel could be restored. When Mishi’s sister arrived late Thursday morning with instructions from the Elders on how to repair the medicine wheel, I carried the center pole outside, so it could be cleansed first. We burned Sage while Mishi's sister advised me of the restoration instructions.

With a dog, my middle child, and two adults to repair the desecrated wheel, we strode down to the beachfront with the center pole, which held the still intact original prayers tied on by Panji Mishiikenh Quay, from when the Medicine Wheel was constructed in November.

Mishi’s sister led the restoration. The time had been set, and we knew the Elders were with us working their corners. Sage was lit, and the circle cleansed. Sage was laid at the Eastern door and burned through the restoration. Mishi’s sister entered through the eastern door, first removing the lantern, then returning for the plastic bag, and last the cross. All items were placed respectfully against a log facing East. This had been stressed by the Elders. Even though we may feel like tossing these items out like garbage, we were not to stoop to the level of the desecrater. We would treat their items with respect. And so we did. 

The bright sun shining on the restored Medicine Wheel

Now it was time to restore the center pole to its original intent, facing South. The rocks were stacked around the pole to hold it upright. And the smaller rocks that had been scattered inside the medicine wheel and outside, were placed where they needed to go. The Eagles chirped while we restored the wheel, the sun shone and a light breeze kept the Sage burning. 

Today is January 16, twelve days since the Medicine Wheel was restored, and I'm happy to announce the Medicine Wheel remains undisturbed.  

See Part 1 - Desecration of a Medicine Wheel
See Part 2 - The Storm - Gathering Information

The Storm - Gathering Information

The wind picked up through the day, into the evening. Thick clouds released heavy rain held back for days. Wind driven showers blew the trees, the bushes, soaking the dry ground creating mud and deep puddles everywhere. The power flickered on and off. 

Into the evening on Tuesday, Mishi had studied the photographs of the desecrated wheel. Her warning was clear—the same warning I received that morning. Don’t touch anything until you’re protected--until we know what we’re dealing with. The elders were consulted, and instructions were given. The tools needed would be on their way.

The storm blew through the night, high winds and rain. At first light the rain had tapered off to a light drizzle. Wearing boots and rain gear we wandered to the beachfront to the desecrated medicine wheel. But something had changed in the night. The cross had been knocked flat to the South, the northern Rocks scattered, and the lantern spilled on its side across the northern line. How interesting.

We took photos again and sent them to Mishi. The Elders advised the medicine wheel needed to be restored to its original intent. I chose not to do it alone, and not today. But to wait until help was available. Thursday the Wheel would be restored to its original intent. The Elders would be working the corners, walking the wheel with us on our chosen time. 

For those who missed the original blog when the medicine was built. Panji Mishiikenh Quay, which means Little Snapping Turtle Woman but most know her by Mishikeenhquay or Mishi for short, built a medicine wheel on the beach in front of my home. This spiritual wheel was built for Truth Honesty and healing. It is part of Native American culture representing the Universe. The best way to describe a medicine wheel and to have a greater understanding of, is if you think of it as a mirror in which everything is reflected. The Universe is a mirror of the people, and every person is a reflection of a mirror to every other person. The Eagle, flowers, the wolf, a story, can all be such a mirror. 

To give you an example each stone in the medicine wheel represents one of many things in the Universe. One represents me, one you. Others hold our ancestors. Others symbolize our government, religions, philosophies, friends hawks, eagles, deer, even entire nations. All things are contained within the medicine wheel. 

All things within the Universe Wheel know of their harmony with every other thing and understand how to give away to the other, except man. Of all the Universe’s creatures it is us alone who do not begin our lives with knowledge of this great harmony.

This wheel was built for goodness. Was built out of love. The intention was for Truth, Honesty and Healing.

I will leave you with an Apache Blessing sent to me this morning.

See Part 3 – Restoration of a Medicine Wheel
See Part 1 - Desecration of a Medicine Wheel

Desecration of a Medicine Wheel

The Original Medicine Wheel

Early Tuesday morning as the dim sun struggled at the edge of the horizon, to find its way through the grey, hazy clouds, but only a hint of the morning light appeared. The Ocean surged with power, rippling whitecaps as the waves crashed over and over against the rocky shore. A southwester, energy building and only begun to show us what was coming.

I yanked my wool cap over my head, wearing gloves and a warm coat. I gripped my hot mug of coffee and strode through the wet yellow grass, on the windy path down the hill. As I approached, the bushes that hid the medicine wheel at the edge of the rocky beach, a hint of light wood flickered over the top. When I rounded the bend, I stopped cold and blinked once, twice as I took in the scene before me. The center pole of the medicine wheel that held the prayers was gone, in its place surrounded by the center rugged rocks, stood a large wooden cross.   As I stepped closer to the medicine wheel the center stick which held the prayers were lying in a heap outside the circle, tossed away as if a worthless piece of garbage. Several rocks forming the circle and each of the directions had been scattered and moved as if someone had taken their hand and mixed up their purpose, a subtle, deliberate disrespect. From a distance, this spiritual medicine wheel appeared intact with its meaning changed.

I took another step closer approaching from the West. In the space, between the West and North was a plastic shopping bag tied up and filled with some mysterious goods. I remained outside the circle, stepping around clockwise to the North. In the space, between the North and East stood a forest green tarnished camping lantern, the type you’d fill with propane. I took a breath then another when I studied the sturdy cross built with 2 x 4’s and solid screws. Something someone took time to build. Staring at the cross, anger rose toward the Christian Churches history of residential schools and what they’d done to the Native people. Someone with no understanding of what this spiritual wheel represented, for the higher good of all. Hadn’t wars been started on less?

My son strode behind me, and I sent him back to the house to grab his camera. He returned in a hurry, down the grassy hill with his camera and flicked it on. We took photos from the four directions, cataloguing this desecration. I squatted outside the circle in front of the white plastic bag to look inside. 

“Mom don’t touch it.” My son yelled behind me when I tried to pull open the knotted bag, and study its contents. 

I pulled my hands away but could see the carton of milk, the wrapped piece of ham what appeared to be something dark, a candle and a lighter. Something used for a ritual, not someone’s garbage. I couldn’t see what else was in the bag as I stepped back feeling ill for what I’d touched. 

I realized then this was much more than a mere statement of Christianity. There was nothing good or loving in what had been done. A message, not of love, had been sent.

We left without touching anything else. With no answers except I knew we needed help. And the realization this was not as it appeared, but a trick to confuse and scapegoat the Churches for its past transgressions, something with intent of deception, to mislead, and confuse.

This was beyond me, and not something I could repair myself. So I sought out help from those with a greater understanding of what had been done. The photos were downloaded and sent to Panji Mishiikenh Quay, (Little Snapping Turtle Woman) but most know her by Mishikeenhquay or Mishi, the wise native lady who built the medicine wheel.  Throughout the day and the evening help arrived from long distance, through emails, and the telephone rang. Mishi and “The Sisters” were on it. This was not something I fix alone. Help was on its way.

***to be continued Part 2—The Storm