Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle.
BLACK ELKYou remember that my great vision came to me when I was only nine years old, and you have seen that I was not much good for anything until after I had performed the horse dance near the mouth of the Tongue River during my eighteenth summer.
More Black Elk Quotes
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All over the sky a sacred voice is calling your name.
BLACK ELK -
Perhaps you have noticed that even in the very lightest breeze you can hear the voice of the cottonwood tree; this we understand is its prayer to the Great Spirit, for not only men, but all things and all beings pray to Him continually in differing ways.
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Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were.
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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.
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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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The Universe is circles within circles, and everything is one circle, and all the circles are connected to each other.
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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.
BLACK ELK -
Let every step you take upon the earth be as a prayer.
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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.
BLACK ELK -
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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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.
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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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The Holy Land is everywhere.
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Grandfather, Great Spirit, once more behold me on earth and lean to hear my feeble voice.
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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.
BLACK ELK