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Shadowhawk, Auntie Lizzie's ex-husband, and Granbear discuss plans for Meeko's future beginning with the teachings of the Medicine Wheel. Meeko begins his training full of doubt and fear as well as an unbending mind. Granbear often despairs that his great-grandson will ever learn the sacred ways of his ancestors. Early on in his training, Meeko is lazy and can't understand why he has to study since he has many opinions and thinks he is already Medicine. He learns that being an apprentice to Medicine means that he must follow Granbear's rules without question, and that Granbear would direct his every thought until it was pure enough not to harm another. He learns that ignorance is a terrible thing that breeds disrespect. By hearing the old legends, Meeko has the opportunity to reach beyond logical thinking to help him control his emotions. To reach his highest potential he learns that creation is ongoing, this being one of the many secrets that lies in the knowledge of the Medicine Wheel. Through this knowledge he would come to respect the power of all life forces, this being the walk of a visionary and live in many worlds at the same time. We can all learn from Meeko's Medicine Wheel training, since all races are intertwined as part of the whole that makes us all one. As we follow North on the Medicine Wheel, we learn that colors have a meaning. The Medicine Wheel has four directions; the good Red Road runs North to South; and the Black Road of Experience East to West. West is the home of Wanbli Gle'ska, the Golden Eagle, who speaks to us from where the sun goes down. It is an honor to wear an eagle feather and even Dog Soldiers and medicine people must earn the right to carry one. We have the opportunity to travel with Meeko and the eagle by moving into the power of pure love, then we are able to travel along shining filaments of pure energy. Eagle teaches us to fly high and see the bigger picture so we can look into the future and see a problem coming. It demands that we seek our true selves. As we travel clockwise to the North Door, we meet our relatives, the Bear, Buffalo, Wolf, and his little helper Coyote. We learn that the North teaches us hard lessons, but such brutal experiences shape our lives. At the East Door we meet He'aka the Elk, one of the hoofed tribe. It provided first meat, a sacred gift from Wakan Tanka as well as being one of the rulers of the forests. It teaches us to love ourselves in spirit and have a forgiving heart. Moving to the South Door we meet Igmu the Cougar, who teaches us to walk with confidence, gives us the power to get rid of sad feelings, and have the right to make good choices in our lives. Granbear gives Meeko a mouse, representing truth, growth and love. Meeko shows resistance to taking care of the mouse. As a result we learn with Meeko that if we do not care about the smallest creatures we will never learn to be part of the whole in the name of respect. |
© 2000 The Red Pathway Learning Center & Foundation, Inc.
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Wind Wolf Woman |