Everything an Indian does in a circle, that is because the Power of the World always works in circles, everything tries to be round. In the old days all our power came to us from the sacred hoop of the nation, so long as the hoop was unbroken the people flourished. The flowering tree was the living center of the hoop, the circle of the four quarters nourished it. The east gave peace, light, the south gave warmth, the west gave rain, the north with its cold, mighty wind gave strength, 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, I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, 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, goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, so it is in everything where power moves. Our teepees were round like the nests of birds, 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. Black Elk, Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux 1863-1950. [Over a hundred years ago Black Elk had a vision of the time when Indian people would heal from the devastating effects of European migration. In his vision the Sacred Hoop which had been broken, would be mended in seven generations. The children born into this decade will be the seventh generation.]
A Leonard Peltier My Space Page
Cherokee Prayer Blessing - May the Warm Winds of Heaven Blow softly upon your house. May the Great Spirit
Bless all who enter there. May your Mocassins Make happy tracks in many snows, may the Rainbow Always touch your shoulder.