Sometimes dreams are wiser than waking. Black Elk More Quotes by Black Elk More Quotes From Black Elk It is good to have a reminder of death before us, for it helps us to understand the impermanence of life on this earth, and this understanding may aid us in preparing for our own death. He who is well prepared is he who knows that he is nothing compared with Wakan-Tanka, who is everything; then he knows that world which is real. Black Elk understanding real death Also, as I lay there thinking of my vision, I could see it all again and feel the meaning with a part of me like a strange power glowing in my body; but when the part of me that talks would try to make words for the meaning, it would be like fog and get away from me. Black Elk glowing fog thinking The boys of my people began very young to learn the ways of men, and no one taught us; we just learned by doing what we saw, and we were warriors at a time when boys now are like girls. Black Elk warrior girl boys The power of a thing or an act is in the meaning and the understanding. Black Elk understanding power 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 circles strong native-american I was four years old then, and I think it must have been the next summer that I first heard the voices. Black Elk summer years thinking 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 roots depression bird I cured with the power that came through me. Of course, it was not I who cured,it was the power from the Outer World; the visions and ceremonies only made me like a whole through which the power could come to the two-leggeds. 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 vision would-be two The Holy Land is everywhere. Black Elk land inspirational life 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 circles native-american moving I saw more than I can tell / And I understood more than I saw. Black Elk circles shapes native-american Every place is the center of the world. Black Elk unity opportunity world Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is. Black Elk give-me-strength earth giving Everything tries to be round. Black Elk statistics education trying The soldiers did go away and their towns were torn down; and in the Moon of Falling Leaves (November), they made a treaty with Red Cloud that said our country would be ours as long as grass should grow and water flow. Black Elk moon country fall I think I have told you, but if I have not, you must have understood, that a man who has a vision is not able to use the power of it until after he has performed the vision on earth for the people to see. Black Elk men people thinking When you pray with this pipe, you pray for and with everything. Black Elk pipe praying But if the Vision was true and mighty, as I know, it is true and mighty yet;for such things are of Spirit, and it is in the darkness of their eyes that men get lost. Black Elk eye native-american men It is in the darkness of their eyes that men lose their way. Black Elk eye darkness men To use the power of the bison, I had to perform that part of my vision for the people to see. Black Elk vision use people
