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 ELKThe life of an Indian is like the wings of the air. That is why you notice the hawk knows how to get his prey. The Indian is like that.
More Black Elk Quotes
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Each family is a circle, and those family circles connect together and make a community, and the community makes its circle where it lives on the Earth.
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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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Let every step you take upon the earth be as a prayer.
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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.
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When we do understand all this deeply in our hearts, then we will fear, and love, and know the Great Spirit, and then we will be and act and live as the Spirit intends.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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It is in the darkness of their eyes that men lose their way.
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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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As you walk upon the sacred earth, treat each step as a prayer.
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The life of a person is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves.
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The center of the universe is everywhere.
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The Holy Land is everywhere.
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Once we were happy in our own country and we were seldom hungry, for then the two-leggeds and the four-leggeds lived together like relatives, and there was plenty for them and for us.
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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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Behold this day. It is yours to make.
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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.
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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.
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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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The power of a thing or an act is in the meaning and the understanding.
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Everywhere is the center of the world. Everything is sacred.
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It is not enough to have a vision. In order to have its power, you must enact your vision on earth for all to see. Only then do you have the power.
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Any man who is attached to things of this world is one who lives in ignorance and is being consumed by the snakes of his own passions
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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….
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And when I breathed, my breath was lightning.
BLACK ELK