And I say the sacred hoop of my people was one of the many hoops that made one circle, wide as daylight and as starlight, and in the center grew one mighty flowering tree to shelter all the children of one mother and one father.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the interconnectedness of humanity and nature, representing unity and shared heritage.
In this profound quote by Black Elk, the image of the 'sacred hoop' symbolizes the circle of life and the interconnectedness of all beings. The 'mighty flowering tree' stands for growth, nurturing, and the importance of community, while 'children of one mother and one father' reflects the idea of a shared origin, emphasizing that we are all part of a larger whole that binds us together, regardless of our individual differences.
In practice
Using this quote in a speech about environmental conservation to highlight our shared responsibility for the Earth.
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.
The song and the drumming were like this: Behold, a sacred voice is calling you; All over the sky a sacred voice is calling.
The 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.
And as he spoke of understanding, I looked up and saw the rainbow leap with flames of many colors over me.
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.
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.
Those instrumental goods which should serve to maintain the life and health of all human beings should be produced by the least possible labour of all.
Thoughts are to the Desires as Scouts and Spies, to range abroad, and find the way to the things Desired.
If a man can permanently establish his awareness in contact with that pure field (of consciousness), then problems wither away. It's a very simple thing. When the light comes, then where is the darkness?
Apart from Jesus Christ, we do not know what is our life, nor our death, nor God, nor ourselves.
Voidness is that which stands right in the middle between this and that. The void is all-inclusive, having no opposite--there is nothing which it excludes or opposes. It is living void, because all forms come out of it and whoever realizes the void is filled with life and power and the love of all beings.
It is in vain to dream of a wildness distant from ourselves. There is none such.
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