Black Elk
Black Elk
Heȟáka Sápa was a famous wičháša wakȟáŋand heyoka of the Oglala Lakotawho lived in the present-day United States, primarily South Dakota. He was a second cousin of the war chief Crazy Horse...
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native-american circles people
And I saw that the sacred hoop of my people as one of many hoops that made one circle.
prayer earth sacred
As you walk upon the sacred earth, treat each step as a prayer.
native-american would-be foolish
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.
mother running father
When I got back to my father and mother and was sitting up there in our tepee, my face was still all puffed and my legs and arms were badly swollen; but I felt good all over and wanted to get right up and run around.
giving earth give-me-strength
Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.
people vision might
I had a vision with which I might have saved my people, but I had not the strength to do it.
beautiful wise men
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.
stars native-american wind
The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours...
two vision would-be
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.
understanding
The power of a thing or an act is in the meaning and the understanding.
native-american world sacred
Everywhere is the center of the world. Everything is sacred.
rain vision storm
When a vision comes from the thunder beings of the west, it comes with terror like a thunder storm; but when the storm of vision has passed, the world is greenier and happier; for wherever the truth of vision comes upon the world, it is like a rain. The world, you see, is happier after the terror of the storm.
country fall moon
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.
native-american grandfather wish
Like the grasses showing tender faces to each other, thus should we do, for this was the wish of the Grandfathers of the World.