But the Wasichus came, and they have made little islands for us and other little islands for the four-leggeds, and always these islands are becoming smaller, for around them surges the gnawing flood of the Wasichu; and it is dirty with lies and greed.
BLACK ELKGrandfather, Great Spirit, once more behold me on earth and lean to hear my feeble voice.
More Black Elk Quotes
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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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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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Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours.
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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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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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It’s in the darkness of men’s eyes that they get lost.
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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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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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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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For instance, the coyote is sly, so is the Indian. The eagle is the same. That is why the Indian is always feathered up, he is a relative to the wings of the air.
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So I took the bright red stick and at the center of the nation’s hoop I thrust it in the earth.
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The 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.
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Now suddenly there was nothing but a world of cloud, and we three were there alone in the middle of a great white plain with snowy hills and mountains staring at us; and it was very still; but there were whispers.
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As you walk upon the sacred earth, treat each step as a prayer.
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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….
BLACK ELK