Big Medicine…
Big Wolf and his questionably suitable traveling companion on this particular trek, none other than yours truly, had elected to ride all three paved roads up or down the western slope of the Big Horn Mountains; however, obviously, we could only do them one at a time. In the broader scheme of things, it worked out that we would ride US 14A second, back towards Sheridan, WY. Today was the day…
I was really looking forward to this most scenic and inspiring crossing for more reasons than the obvious. The ‘Medicine Wheel’ is reached from this route, and I had passed-by the turn-off down to it on all previous rides… It was time to shore-up that glaring missed opportunity in my quest to ‘discover America’ for myself.
It is the site of a Native American assembly of stones into a giant circle with a central cairn as its hub and stone spokes radiating outward, some beyond the outer circle itself, and it was used in their… It’s not known precisely what all its uses and meanings might have encompassed, but it was very likely part of their routines, ‘spiritual’ and religious ceremonies, probably a guide marking the changing of the seasons, and possibly used in other aspects of conscious life/thought for them about which understanding has been lost to antiquity.
Modern people usually cordon-off those areas of thought into separate silos… The original inhabitants of this land tended to combine them all into one harmonious whole… This stone circle, dating back to the time other ‘monolithic-age humans’ during that period were constructing Stonehenge plus other well-known monuments to something or other around the globe, intrigued this ‘grasshopper’. It seemed to this student curious about ‘higher things’, to be something that might hold great special meaning…
The upcoming ride the next day and its possible implications had been on my mind, as I had placed my head upon the pillow that evening, then closed my eyes… and soon drifted off. In my deep slumber, an old wiseman of obvious Native origin came to me and began to share some things I needed to hear. Had that been just a dream… or, could it have been something far more…?
“Why have you come to visit me like this?” I asked in serious disbelieve that this was even happening.
“Because you are in need of some perspective adjustment and the rethinking of your priorities. You have traveled far, my son, but you have further to go. You needed to know that your journey is not yet done.” He had comfortingly informed me…
“How much longer will my journey be?” I eagerly sought to learn.
“I will not tell you… Knowing the answer would completely change the remainder of your journey by largely shifting your focus to thoughts about the eventual end only and to its implications. No one knows the number of days they have, and this is good. We must learn to accept each day as a gift and to use it the best way we can… as if it might just be the last… because it very well could be.”
“What is your message, then?”
“You have set three objectives for yourself to guide you the rest of the way… These are good, and you have done well in being true to them. You must, however, be ever mindful that all people ‘cast a longer shadow’ than they realize. Each ‘touches’ more people and has more impact upon those around them than they can know, and you must remain mindful of that. You should strive to not have undue influence upon others who might make ill-advised choices because of that. Choose your words carefully, sparingly, and considerately…”
“What of my priorities? What should I do there?”
“You must worry less about financial and health concerns, and you should spend less time regretting past mistakes or missed opportunities. You should think more about all of the wonderful possibilities that might yet await you along your path. The ‘Great Spirit’ watches over you, so you are in good hands. Think more about what good is still to come and less about what might go wrong… Exercise due caution, of course, but do not become pre-occupied with insignificant minutia or things over which you have no control.”
“Anything else…?”
“You are on a good path, and you have done well. Continue to adjust and readjust as additional knowledge presents itself, and always seek to maintain an approving conscience. You have paid a heavy price in order to lead the life you now do, live in such a way as to ensure it has been worth the cost. Above all, enjoy the remainder of your journey…”
I awoke the next morning wondering if that vividly recalled encounter had actually been real or just imagined… I couldn’t decide. The ‘message’ contained in it, though, would occupy much of my thinking for some time to come. Because of this ‘experience’, I was doubly eager to visit the ‘Medicine Wheel’! Wouldn’t it be something if I saw that old wiseman there, too…? Perhaps there would be more useful wisdom and important lessons for me to absorb?
As we made the turn onto that unpaved road down to the ‘Wheel’, I found myself mentally ‘multi-tasking’. My thoughts were divided between the loose gravel on that treacherous surface, the dust being kicked-up by an on-coming car, and what all might await me a mile and half down that road! I admit to being more than a little anxious and eager…
We arrived at the parking area and made the usual dismount sequence of steps. The wind was howling, I was again under-dressed for the brisk temperatures, and the sky had become overcast and dark; but, I was on a mission, so… Dang! A most unwelcomed sign informed us that another mile and a half walk down a path to the actual Wheel site would be necessary! The Wheel could not even be seen from there, either. Double dang.
We read all of the signs and ingested the information available… then we elected not to make a three-mile round-trip hike… at an elevation above 9,600 feet! My breathing had been labored just a bit already, so… such a hike would not have been advisable for this candy-ass. A visit to that potentially worthwhile relic apparently just isn’t in the cards for this disappointed spiritual pilgrim in search of meaning and purpose. Perhaps that’s why that old man had come to me as he had the evening before…
DDT
