Crazy Horse dreamed and went into the world where there is nothing but the spirits of things. That is the real world that is behind this one, and everything we see here is something like a shadow from that world….
BLACK ELKBut 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.
More Black Elk Quotes
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And I saw that the sacred hoop of my people was one of many hoops that made one circle, wide as daylight and as starlight, and in the center grew one mighty flowering tree to shelter all children of one mother and one father. And I saw that it was holy.
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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.
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And as he spoke of understanding, I looked up and saw the rainbow leap with flames of many colors over me.
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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.
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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.
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It’s in the darkness of men’s eyes that they get lost.
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The Universe is circles within circles, and everything is one circle, and all the circles are connected to each other.
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Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours.
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It is hard to follow one great vision in this world of darkness and of many changing shadows. Among those men get lost.
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All over the sky a sacred voice is calling your name.
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We should understand that the Great Spirit is also above all these things and peoples.
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They told me I had been sick twelve days, lying like dead all the while, and that Whirlwind Chaser, who was Standing Bear’s uncle and a medicine man, had brought me back to life.
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I might have been less good to the people than some man who had never dreamed at all, even with the memory of so great a vision in me.
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And I saw that the sacred hoop of my people as one of many hoops that made one circle.
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Hear me, four quarters of the world-a relative I am! Give me the strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is! Give me the eyes to see and the strength to understand, that I may be like you. With your power only can I face the winds.
BLACK ELK