Spirit Wheel: Meditations from an Indigenous Elder

by Steven Charleston

I stand in the midst of creation's wheel And watch in wonder the quiet majesty of its turning. We are in the care of a love without limit or definition Under the protection of a love that never looks away. When the Spirit speaks to him in his daily prayers, Choctaw elder and spiritual explorer Steven Charleston takes a pen and writes down the messages. He then shares these thoughts with thousands on social media. In these musings, Charleston taps into the universal questions that draw us to prayer, no matter our spiritual Why am I here? Where do I belong? Where am I going? This stunning collection of more than two hundred meditations introduces us to the Spirit Wheel and the four directions that ground Native tradition, kinship, vision, and balance. The life we inhabit together has been called many things by Indigenous the Spirit Wheel, the hoop of the nations, the great circle of existence, the medicine wheel. We are all on that ever-turning wheel, Charleston says--all of creation, people and animals, rocks and trees, the whole universe. Together we can turn toward the wisdom of our ancestors, kinship with all of Mother Earth's creatures, the vision of the Spirit, and mindful balance of life. We are all searching for belonging and a vision of the world that makes sense. We can meet those longings as we ponder the blessings of Spirit Wheel , in the breathtaking moments when insight becomes an invitation to wonder.

Genres: Indigenous, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Poetry, Devotional

264 pages, Hardcover

Published July 11, 2023

About the author

Steven Charleston is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the first of the Five Tribes from the southeastern part of the United States to be removed on the "Trail of Tears". He is a bishop in the Episcopal Church with forty years of service in the ordained ministry. He has been the director of Native American ministries for his church, the first Native Bishop of Alaska, the President and Dean of a seminary in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a seminary professor. Currently he teaches at the Saint Paul School of Theology.

Reviews

[David Crumm · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Kind of Daily Spirituality Many of Us Need

I have admired the work of Alaska's former Episcopal Bishop Steven Charleston for several decades. He is a Native American leader, part of the Choctaw people of Oklahoma whose roots are in the Trail of Tears. In fact, he's back living in Oklahoma with his family now. Throughout his 74 years on the earth, Charleston has tried to bring compassion, healing and connection with the earth—wherever he traveled, taught, preached, led workshops or participated in global conferences.

He told me in an interview this week about his new book that we should not envision him, now, as a globe-hopping spiritual teacher but as a man with long white hair and beard sweeping the floor and washing dishes. He is a nearly full-time caregiver for his own parents and his wife, who has had some serious health concerns.

He insists that this is most definitely not a divergence from his path as a spiritual elder and teacher. This phase of his life is a deepening of the path of his elders.

“I follow a traditional way of life now and part of that is the importance of my family,” Charleston told me. “My father will be 100 years old in December. My mother will be 97 and I am the sole survivor to help them. I spend much of my day helping them and helping my wife, who has MS and also just got through a struggle with cancer. So don’t think of me as way off on some remote mountain top in some romantic vision of a spiritual leader. Think of me washing dishes, sweeping floors, doing laundry and taking care of my family. This is the path that I am on. This is a very important path. It’s less visionary than people might imagine, but it’s the path my ancestors followed—and it’s what I will continue to do.”

Each morning, Charleston begins his day with prayer, usually standing outside with both feet on the earth in a traditional Native American posture for meditation. For years now, he also has written a few lines each morning based on those reflections. This new book contains more than 200 of those short passages.

The goal,  Charleston says, is timeless and cuts across nearly all religious lines: “The saints of old—and certainly the elders in our Native American tradition—teach us that we should hope for our spiritual lives and our daily lives to be the same.”

The great majority of these pieces are a single page. My favorite is called “The Spirit Lives Next Door”

I still have trouble believing the Spirit lives next door.
I thought Spirit lived far away, in a gated community.
But at times I find the Spirit shuffling around next door
Early in the morning, coffee cup in hand
Looking a lot like me.
Spirit waves, I wave
But this neighbor Spirit
Disconcerts me with such nearness.
Until I need a favor.
Then I am glad the Spirit lives nearby
And is always home when needed.
I peep over the fence for a chat
A time to borrow what I need
And never be asked to return it.

I know a lot of Goodreads friends are open to spiritual reflections from many traditions. I am giving this book 5 stars because I think it is an inspiring gateway that can provide more than half a year of morning meditations to folks who like a bit of transcendent wisdom to start their day.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book to read and contemplate throughout the year. I marked and jotted down many passages that touched my own spirit. I feel as though I spent the year blessed with the teachings of a wise elder.

Here are a few of my favorites:

“Words will one day pass away / But the love we release into creation will never be lost.” (pg 68)

“I am family before I am me.” (pg 80)

“Only the love we were will linger. / Only love will speak our name / In the hearts of those we embraced.” (pg 219)

“In the end, the memories we make / Are our most enduring achievements.” (pg 236)

[Bonnie Westmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed each poem so much I was sorry it ended. This book spoke to me deeply, and I found myself wanting to know the author on a personal level, since I agree with his thoughts on every page. The mere knowledge that I’m not alone in my beliefs was transformative. Each poem was filled with insight and valuable wisdom. It’s a book I want to recommend from the rooftops. I wish every human could read it and live it. What a peaceful world we would have.

[Judith Lauder Byrnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many gems from this modern mystic. I was drawn to him as an Episcopalian seeking guidance in these troubling times. I’m not in a persecuted group, yet how ironic to find such hope and wisdom from those whose lives have been irreparably harmed by the majority who are once again amassing power beyond justification.

[Robert Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect daily reader.

[Ebb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about finding inner peace and our essential roll of creating a peaceful world through the examples and lives of others.

[Linda Reinhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reading 1 page each morning. Usually reading the page twice. Letting it simmer in my head and soul. Not allowing myself to read on is difficult.

[Jorie Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new bible. While I've read to the end of the book, I haven't by any means finished it. I'm memorizing certain prayers, and will re-read it from start to finish again and again. It's a blessing.

[Daphne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was hoping it was more of a story instead of individual writings. Still very interesting.

[Meleece · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible.

[Angelica · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful

[Emma Di Pace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous collection of poems