The song and the drumming were like this: Behold, a sacred voice is calling you; All over the sky a sacred voice is calling.
Black ElkRead
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; the visions and ceremonies only made me like a whole through which the power could come to the two-leggeds. 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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that true power and healing come from a higher source rather than from oneself alone.
Black Elk's quote highlights the importance of humility and the recognition that one's abilities are linked to a greater force. It conveys the idea that effective healing and guidance require an openness and receptivity to a spiritual or universal power, rather than reliance on individual ego. By understanding oneself as a channel for this power, one can facilitate healing in others, but losing this perspective can diminish one's effectiveness.
Themes
HealingPowerSpiritualityHumilityChanneling
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about healing practices at a wellness retreat.
More from Black Elk
All quotes βThe Universe is circles within circles, and everything is one circle, and all the circles are connected to each other. 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. It (the community) cares for that part (of the Earth) but cares for it as a circle - which is to say in a cooperative and egalitarian way, where everybody is cared for, and everybody is respected.
Black ElkRead
And as he spoke of understanding, I looked up and saw the rainbow leap with flames of many colors over me.
Black ElkRead
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.
Black ElkRead
Out of the Indian approach to life there came a great freedom, an intense and absorbing respect for life, enriching faith in a Supreme Power, and principles of truth, honesty, generosity, equity, and brotherhood as a guide to mundane relations.
Black ElkRead
You see, I had been riding with the storm clouds, and had come to earth as rain, and it was drought that I had killed with the power that the Six Grandfathers gave me.
Black ElkRead
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