Excerpts From The Vision: Grandfather Black Elk - A Sacred Dream

These are excerpts from one of Grandfather Black Elk's dreams, entitled: "The Vision", that was written into the book "Black Elk Speaks", by John G. Neihardt. There is a newer 2023 video made, with the complete dialogue from this vision, entiltled: "The Great Vision".
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Heȟáka Sápa (Black Elk) (December 1, 1863 - August 19, 1950)[1] was a famous wičháša wakȟáŋ (medicine man and holy man) and heyoka of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) who lived in the present-day United States, primarily South Dakota. He was a second cousin of the war chief Crazy Horse.
Born December 1, 1863
Little Powder River, Wyoming
Died August 19, 1950 (aged 86)
When Black Elk was nine years old, he was suddenly taken ill; he lay prone and unresponsive for several days. During this time he had a great vision in which he was visited by the Thunder Beings (Wakinyan), and taken to the Grandfathers - spiritual representatives of the six sacred directions: west, east, north, south, above, and below. These "... spirits were represented as kind and loving, full of years and wisdom, like revered human grandfathers. When he was seventeen, Black Elk told a medicine man, Black Road, about the vision in detail. Black Road and the other medicine men of the village were "astonished by the greatness of the vision." Black Elk had learned many things in his vision to help heal his people. He had come from a long line of medicine men and healers in his family; his father was a medicine man, as were his paternal uncles. Late in his life as an elder, he related to John G. Neihardt the vision that occurred to him. Among other things he saw a great tree that symbolized the life of the earth and all people. Neihardt recorded his account in great detail, later publishing it as Black Elk Speaks. Since the late 20th century, Black Elk's words have received renewed attention, including from non-Lakota. An annotated edition was published by the State University of New York in 2008.
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.."You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the Power of the World always works in circles, and everything tries to be round. In the old days when we were a strong and happy people, all our power came to us from the sacred hoop of the nation, and so long as the hoop was unbroken, the people flourished. The flowering tree was the living center of the hoop, and the circle of the four quarters nourished it. The east gave peace and light, the south gave warmth, the west gave rain, and the north with its cold and mighty wind gave strength and endurance. This knowledge came to us from the outer world with our religion. Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle. 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. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves. Our teepees were round like the nests of birds, and these were always set in a circle, the nation's hoop, a nest of many nests, where the Great Spirit meant for us to hatch our children. When the buffalo return, the “Sacred Hoop” will be mended and Indian nations will become strong again." Black Elk made a prediction earlier in his life that lights in the sky would accompany his death. Black Elk died in 1950 on a night when the Pine Ridge area experienced a meteor shower.
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I claim no ownership of any of the clips, video and words expressed in this video...and employ my borrowing of them with much respect and thanks. No personal monetization is being done with this video, by me..., nor am I receiving any other benefits from any of this video.. It is meant for all.., to heal, teach, discuss, inspire and inform...and share. Fair use policy applies for all material used in this video.
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I thank Black Elk..(in Spirit), his family..., John G. Neihardt.... and all the other brothers and sisters who have made beautiful music... and saved some great photos of Grandfather Black Elk....
Philamayaye/ Many Blessings & Thanks / Chi Miigwetch!....
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