Black Elk on circles
Black Elk48 quotes“And while I stood there I saw more than I can tell and I understood more than I saw; for I was seeing in a sacred manner the shapes of all things in the spirit, and the shape of all shapes as they must live together like one being.”
More from Black Elk
We should understand well that all things are the work of the Great Spirit. We should know the Great Spirit is within all things: the trees, the grasses, the rivers, the mountains, and the four-legged and winged peoples; and even more important.
Black ElkBlack Elk The Holy Land is everywhere.
Black ElkBlack Elk We should understand that the Great Spirit is also above all these things and peoples.
Black ElkBlack Elk Everything tries to be round.
Black ElkBlack Elk Everywhere is the center of the world. Everything is sacred.
Black ElkBlack 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.
Black ElkBlack Elk Let every step you take upon the earth be as a prayer.
Black ElkBlack Elk I was four years old then, and I think it must have been the next summer that I first heard the voices.
Black ElkBlack Elk There can never be peace between nations until there is first known that true peace which is within the souls of men.
Black ElkBlack Elk It is hard to follow one great vision in this world of darkness and of many changing shadows. Among those men get lost.
Black ElkBlack Elk The visions and ceremonies only made me like a whole through which the power could come to the two-leggeds.
Black ElkBlack Elk Sometimes dreams are wiser than waking.
Black ElkBlack Elk 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 ElkBlack Elk I saw more than I can tell / And I understood more than I saw.
Black ElkBlack Elk The hawk swoops down on its prey, so does the Indian. In his lament he is like an animal.
Black ElkBlack Elk 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 ElkBlack Elk
Original quotes
From our community writers
Someone rejected you does not mean you are not worthy. Maybe they can’t afford to be with you.
Jacklyn TysonJacklyn Tyson I will love you from afar it’s better this way because close up it hurts too much.
Melissa AndersonMelissa Anderson Maybe if you hold me tight, our love won’t be as shallow.
Mira R. AridiMira R. Aridi Sometimes a person is in peace & in the piece at the same time.
Jessica CollinsJessica Collins Between day and night there was a moment of silence.
Frode GaslandFrode Gasland But doesn’t it hurt to feel so much and pretend not to?
Brad NeatonBrad Neaton Admire your sweet way of glowing; your passionate way of flowing.
Ana SoulfulAna Soulful Darling, you are a warrior, for even though each day feels like a battle, you keep fighting and live on.
Sarah ShawkatSarah Shawkat
Meet the writers
More on circles
To refrain from storytelling is perhaps one of the highest forms of respect we can pay. Those people, with no stories to circle them, can die without being misunderstood.
Ben MarcusBen Marcus It was a real surprise to me to come across the evidence that Christianity might once have been a danced religion. Certainly, some of the early church leaders thought this was great and spoke of what seems to have been circle dancing, perhaps around an altar.
Barbara EhrenreichBarbara Ehrenreich Evolutionary circles are one of the key social forms in which people are connecting and can connect to make a difference throughout the world.
Barbara Marx HubbardBarbara Marx Hubbard When he gets mad, it’s like he’s in another world. He’ll look at you with those big eyes and they’ll be going around in circles.
Barry BeckBarry Beck [T]here is only one large circle that we march in, around and around, each of us with our own little picture — in front of us — our own little mirage that we think is the future.
Lorraine HansberryLorraine Hansberry That’s enough, and I have a ministry as a neighbor as well. A ministry as a friend and a ministry as an aunt and a godmother, and family is very much in the circle of my vocation.
Barbara Brown TaylorBarbara Brown Taylor The less sophisticated of my forbears avoided foreigners at all costs, for the very good reason that, in their circles, speaking in tongues was commonly a prelude to snake handling. The more tolerant among us regarded foreign languages as a kind of speech impediment that could be overcome by willpower.
Barbara EhrenreichBarbara Ehrenreich I joined another circle and the leader gave us a little leaflet in very small print, asking us to read it carefully and then come prepared to ask questions.
Agnes SmedleyAgnes Smedley
