The wheel’s surface was divided by four bars which represented the four directions: west for danger, north for life, east for knowledge, and south for quiet: the influences and forces of life. Sun Cloud shifted his gaze to the Medicine Wheel that was mounted on a tall cottonwood post, the same tree chosen for the Sun Dance ritual. The buffalo was viewed by Plains Indians as the most powerful animal of the Great Spirit’s creation-a generous and clever gift to His children to provide them with food, shelter, clothing, tools, and medicine. It was painted with the colors and symbols of nature, and was stuffed with a mixture of sweet grasses. Sun Cloud gazed at the buffalo skull, weathered and bleached by Wi-the sun-and Makajou-the rain, that was lying on the mat before the shaman in a place of honor. During this reverent ceremony, no one talked and all meditated. Then the pipe was passed to the next man, to continue around the group until all participants had done the ritual four times. The supplication to the Great Spirit was repeated. He passed the pipe to the man at his right, the Oglala chief, Sun Cloud. He drew the smoke deep into his lungs, held it there for a moment, then exhaled curls of smoke that went heavenward. As I share your breath, Grandfather, open my heart and mind to receive and accept your sacred message, he invoked.
Next, he saluted each of the four directions: the east to summon enlightenment and peace, the south where warmth was born, the west which brought rain, and the north which offered fortitude. Standing Tree raised the pipe upward to honor Wakantanka-the Great Spirit-and downward to honor Makakin-Mother Earth. His wrinkled fingers packed tobacco inside it, then took a burning stick from the fire and lit the fragrant contents. The Oglala shaman lifted the sacred catlinite pipe and fingered the smooth red bowl on a four-foot stem that had ceremonial beads and feathers attached at the joining point. Before I speak it, let us prepare ourselves. As the sun last slept, Grandfather gave me a vision, Standing Tree told the men gathered in the meeting lodge at their winter camp in the Black Hills.
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