Quote

Everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the power of the world always works in circles, and everything tries to be round. In the old days when we were a strong and happy people, all our power came to us from the sacred hoop of the nation, and so long as the hoop was unbroken the people flourished.

Black Elk

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Black Elk
Age: 86 †
Born: 1863
Born: December 1
Died: 1950
Died: August 19
Heyoka
Medicine Man
Tribal Chief
Everything
Nation
Circle
Trying
Days
Native
Long
Came
Circles
Always
Nations
Round
World
Happy
Rounds
Hoop
People
Strong
Indian
Flourished
Power
Sacred
Unbroken
Doe
Works
Tries

More quotes by Black Elk

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A good nation I will make live.This the nation above has said.They have given me the power to make over.
Black Elk
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When you pray with this pipe, you pray for and with everything.
Black Elk
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I had a vision with which I might have saved my people, but I had not the strength to do it.
Black Elk
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Now suddenly there was nothing but a world of cloud, and we three were there alone in the middle of a great white plain with snowy hills and mountains staring at us and it was very still but there were whispers.
Black Elk
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So I took the bright red stick and at the center of the nation's hoop I thrust it in the earth.
Black Elk
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It may be that some little root of the sacred tree still lives. Nourish it then, that it may leaf and bloom and fill with singing birds.
Black Elk
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If I thought that I was doing it myself, the hole would close up and no power could come through. Then everything I could do would be foolish.
Black Elk
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One should pay attention to even the smallest crawling creature for these too may have a valuable lesson to teach us.
Black Elk
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But I think I have done right to save the vision in this way, even though I may die sooner because I did it for I know the meaning of the vision is wise and beautiful and good and you can see that I am only a pitiful old man after all.
Black Elk
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Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a person is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves.
Black Elk
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As you walk upon the sacred earth, treat each step as a prayer.
Black Elk
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It's in the darkness of men's eyes that they get lost.
Black Elk
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The power of the world always works in circles.
Black Elk
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It is in the darkness of their eyes that men lose their way.
Black Elk
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To use the power of the bison, I had to perform that part of my vision for the people to see.
Black Elk
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Like the grasses showing tender faces to each other, thus should we do, for this was the wish of the Grandfathers of the World.
Black Elk
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Let every step you take upon the earth be as a prayer.
Black Elk
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The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit, and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us.
Black Elk
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Grown men may learn from very little children, for the hearts of little children are pure, and, therefore, the Great Spirit may show to them many things which older people miss.
Black Elk
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There can never be peace between nations until there is first known that true peace which is within the souls of men.
Black Elk