BLACK ELK'S VISION
Having entered a New Century and a New Millennium, the message of
Divine Humanity needs to be heard more than ever before, as the
predicted "blue man" is alive and well today. The Lakota holy man
and visionary, Black Elk, prophesied the coming of the "blue man"
in the 19th Century. According to Ed McGaa's enlightening book,
Mother Earth Spirituality:
"The blue man of Black Elk's vision is seen as a symbol of those
who have harmed Mother earth and all her creatures. The blue man, the
great violator, symbolizes greed, corruption, dishonesty, and
selfishness. Mother Earth, represented by the four directions, has
fought back against the one who has made the grass and animals sick and
the streams and air unclean. Mother Earth has natural self-healing
powers, but without the help of knowledgeable humans, she cannot set
herself right. A reversal of world values, a spiritual concept of earth
as God-created and sacred, is in order before we two-leggeds can be
environmentally effective on a global basis. The blue man will meet his
death when this comes about." (Pg. 16)
As stated by Ed McGaa, Black Elk's vision also included the rising of
the daybreak star-the morning star:
"Black Elk was told that the star would be as a relative to the
people; those who saw it would see much more, because the star
represented wisdom...
The sacred herb, the daybreak star, symbolizes the powerful knowledge
and serenity that flow from knowing and applying the ultimate values
that only a nature-based value system can provide. Those who become
close to nature, and respectful of her, discover these powerful truths.
By viewing the world through the clear crystal lens of this kind of
value system, one can see the great power of healing, as the
Grandfathers promised. It must be remembered, it is God that has
created nature. We are learning directly from God's creation. There
is no middle person to alter, or confuse, the direct perception of
real, God-designed knowledge...
The herb of understanding is imparted to humanity at the end of Black
Elk's vision. The great opening of modern communication leaves no
question that we are; indeed, at the threshold of this time." (Ibid,
Pg. 15 - 17)
In addition, Black Elk spoke these words about the importance of the
morning star:
"Morning Star, there at the place where the sun comes up, you, who
have the wisdom which we seek, help us in cleansing our-selves and all
the people, that our generations to come will have light as they walk
the sacred path. You lead the dawn as it walks forth, and also the day
which follows with its light, which is knowledge. This you do for us
and for all the people of the world, that they may see clearly in
walking the holy path, that they may know all that is holy, and that
they may increase in a sacred manner."
The following section is excerpted from the John G. Neihardt Internet
Project:
A Brief Summary Of Black Elk's Vision
"About 5 days into the interviews, Black Elk told Neihardt that they
would have to go to a secluded place. There he told of a vision that he
had while he was only 9 years old.
While he was eating with a friend he heard a male voice and his thighs
began to hurt. Eventually, his legs and arms swelled so much that the
tribe members had to put Black Elk in a bed. He then saw the coming of
the two spirits. He recognized them as t he same two men he had seen in
prior visions. This time, however, they did not just speak to him: They
had come to take him to the other world. Black Elk suddenly knew that
he was looking back on his own body and that he was going too quickly
to comfort his family before he left. Black Elk then recollected being
called by the ancestors, and soon he was in the clouds where a bay
horse appeared.
This whole vision is about callings and commandments. Black Elk is then
told that he is going to see the life history of this one horse, which
would become the navigational tool for him throughout the vision.
The vision began with him facing the West, where he saw the grandfather
of the West whose color was Black. This is the direction that Native
Americans associated with Thunderstorms. The thunderstorm is the
perfect dialectic for the Native American warrior. It brings the life
enhancing rain but also the destructive thunder and wind. This is
similar to the Native American warrior who destroys in an effort to
sustain the life and vitality of the tribe.
Everything of the great Earth is within the sacred hoop. When an
individual, such as Black Elk, begins his vision facing the west, it is
often referred to as a "Thunder Vision." A thunder vision is to prepare
a person to be a warrior. Black Elk would eventually was saddened that
he did not become the great warrior that he thought he could be. In
fact, Black Elk became very disillusioned with war, and especially with
the white enemy, which was too overpowering.
The horses that Black Elk saw began, from all directions, to line up in
formation. Suddenly, as Black Elk was facing the west, 12 (a sacred
number) black stallions appear on the horizon. Black Elk was scared
because their manes were lightening and they were snorting thunder.
The horses represented the thunder power of the West. Spirit horses of
the North then appeared (visions always move in a clockwise fashion,
since the sun moves clockwise when facing the South). The color of
these horses was white. The white represents more than just death; it
is seen as cleansing. Black Elk then saw white geese, which started in
the North, and they proceeded to the South.
The horses of the East are the next that he sees. They are a reddish
color, symbolic of the sunrise or rebirth. Then Black Elk turned to the
South, which was yellow with the summer sun. When the circle was
completed, the bay horse spoke and told Black Elk that his grandfathers
were having a conference and the horses would take him there. The
horses then lined up, with the black horses leading the way. This is
significant since the warriors often led the tribe as they moved. The
bay horse neighed in each direction and the whole sky was full of
horses neighing. Black Elk then saw a cloud, which became a teepee with
a rainbow entrance. This led to his encounter with the six
grandfathers. As he entered the teepee, the oldest of the grandfathers
(of the West) told him to not fear. Then the grandfather of the West
announced that the grandfathers from all over the world were having a
conference and that they were there to teach him, as the six powers of
the world.
The first grandfather then said that his power would come from the
thunder from the West. The vision is, in essence, a thunder vision. He
then told Black Elk that they would take him to the center of the Earth
to understand the ways of the world. In the original vision, there is
not that much emphasis bringing Black Elk there to be taught. Neihardt
instead decided to use artistic license to make it easier for the white
world to understand the vision.
The purpose of Black Elk's trip to the center of the earth was to
attempt to avert the nations from crumbling. The first grandfather them
gave Black Elk the cup of water, which is representative of the power
to make life. He also gave him a spirit bow, denoting the power to
destroy. The first grandfather arose and ran to the West where he
transformed into a skinny horse. The next grandfather entered and gave
the horse herbs, which made the horse powerful again. This section of
the vision is designed to show that Black Elk is not only going to have
the powers to be a warrior, but also those of a healer. The second
grandfather then spoke and said that Black Elk would be the cleansing
wind. This also associated his dream with a power vision. The second
grandfather then ran to the North and became a goose. He and others
sang sacred songs. These songs are not just incidental. When songs are
sung, they are believed to represent actual reality.
The third grandfather was from the East - the place where the sun
shines continuously. He stated that the spirits of the people would
take Black Elk across the earth. He then pointed out to Black Elk that
from the people he would have power. He then held out a peace pipe with
an apparently live eagle at the end. As the East is the place of peace
and understanding, a signal of the east is thus the pipe and the
daybreak star, meaning that those who rise early will be wise.
Finally, Black Elk turned to the South, where the fourth grandfather
resided. The fourth grandfather was very important. He did several
things; He explained that Black Elk's power would be the powers of all
four corners and declared that he would give him the living stick of a
nation which would stand in the center of the two sacred roads. He
proclaimed that it would be Black Elk's quest to help people walk the
good red road. He proceeded to describe the two roads: The red road,
the good road, runs from North to South. On it, the fourth grandfather
proclaimed, Black Elk's nation would walk; the black road, running from
East to West, is a road of troubles and war. The fourth grandfather
then claimed that from this road, Black Elk would get the power to wipe
out his people's foes. In the original, non-published vision, this is
even clearer. The fourth grandfather then ends by telling Black Elk
that with this road he will defend his people. The fourth grandfather
finally ran to the South and became an elk.
The Fifth grandfather turned into an eagle, to demonstrate that he will
go across the world to defend his people. He hence represented the sky
as a power. Black Elk then saw the sixth grandfather, who represented
the earth. He realized it was actually himself and that he would have
that power, and more importantly, he saw that the primary meaning of
his vision was not his being called to the spirit world, but instead,
obtaining the powers of the earth. Black Elk remarked that the closer
he felt to the earth, the more he felt he was returning home.
Thus far, two basic things have occurred in Black Elk's vision: Black
Elk has been taken to the spirit world where he sees the spirit horses,
and second, he has entered the sacred teepee and communicated with the
grandfathers. Black Elk is next asked to walk the black road. The bay
horse then turned and faced the East, and a voice spoke, telling him
that he has been given the sacred pipe and the power of peace. They
then faced the South, and the voice said Black Elk had been given the
stick and told hi m to place it in the middle of the road. Black Elk is
then told to walk the black road and that all others would fear him,
indicating respect more than terror. They then began the slide down
this terrible road while the daybreak star was rising very dim.
Black Elk then realized that they were looking down on the earth. All
things were afraid, and Black Elk was the chief of all the heavens.
Hail fell to the earth as they passed. They then came to three forks of
the Missouri river. Flames were rising from the river where a blue man
was dying, and then he, eagle wings stretched, attacked the man and
killed him, a task his contemporaries could not accomplish. The blue
man in this scene is symbolic of the white solider. The world then
cheered for Black Elk as he stabbed this being with a sphere,
lightening came from his staff, and all that had withered returned to
life. He then returned to earth in the form of rain, which would end a
long drought. Black Elk heard from his crying people that he should
make haste. Black Elk planted the stick in the middle of the village,
and it became a cottonwood. The people rejoiced and claimed they would
live under its wing. After planting the sacred tree, he saw that he
needed to keep the sacred hoop together and walk the sacred red road.
Looking back, he sees the spirits of all his people walking behind him.
Black Elk was then taken to the center of the earth where he sees the
earth as it is. The black stallion then entered into the picture, which
Black Elk saw as amazing. He saw that everyone's hoops are important.
He was painted red with white joints and had the breath of lightening.
Black Elk then returned to earth, and during the trip two things
happened: He received the morning star herb which all of the creatures
saw the light of, and he received a death herb (omitted from book),
which is called the soldier's weed of destruction. He saw a black
flaming man with horns who was the cause of moaning and crying on
earth. The man is then turned into a gopher (war symbol) and then an
herb. He could use it in war. He saw that there would be a dispute of
nations and he would use the herb to defend his nation. However, he
never did use the herb because he was too young and he did not want to
kill women and children.
Black Elk then returned to the six grandfathers, who turned into geese.
Black Elk responded by making a war cry, and he heard cheering voices
all throughout the universe.
He was sad that his father did not know that he had been so far away.
But soon, he, too, would understand."
Having entered a New Century and a New Millennium, the message of
Divine Humanity needs to be heard more than ever before, as the
predicted "blue man" is alive and well today. The Lakota holy man
and visionary, Black Elk, prophesied the coming of the "blue man"
in the 19th Century. According to Ed McGaa's enlightening book,
Mother Earth Spirituality:
"The blue man of Black Elk's vision is seen as a symbol of those
who have harmed Mother earth and all her creatures. The blue man, the
great violator, symbolizes greed, corruption, dishonesty, and
selfishness. Mother Earth, represented by the four directions, has
fought back against the one who has made the grass and animals sick and
the streams and air unclean. Mother Earth has natural self-healing
powers, but without the help of knowledgeable humans, she cannot set
herself right. A reversal of world values, a spiritual concept of earth
as God-created and sacred, is in order before we two-leggeds can be
environmentally effective on a global basis. The blue man will meet his
death when this comes about." (Pg. 16)
As stated by Ed McGaa, Black Elk's vision also included the rising of
the daybreak star-the morning star:
"Black Elk was told that the star would be as a relative to the
people; those who saw it would see much more, because the star
represented wisdom...
The sacred herb, the daybreak star, symbolizes the powerful knowledge
and serenity that flow from knowing and applying the ultimate values
that only a nature-based value system can provide. Those who become
close to nature, and respectful of her, discover these powerful truths.
By viewing the world through the clear crystal lens of this kind of
value system, one can see the great power of healing, as the
Grandfathers promised. It must be remembered, it is God that has
created nature. We are learning directly from God's creation. There
is no middle person to alter, or confuse, the direct perception of
real, God-designed knowledge...
The herb of understanding is imparted to humanity at the end of Black
Elk's vision. The great opening of modern communication leaves no
question that we are; indeed, at the threshold of this time." (Ibid,
Pg. 15 - 17)
In addition, Black Elk spoke these words about the importance of the
morning star:
"Morning Star, there at the place where the sun comes up, you, who
have the wisdom which we seek, help us in cleansing our-selves and all
the people, that our generations to come will have light as they walk
the sacred path. You lead the dawn as it walks forth, and also the day
which follows with its light, which is knowledge. This you do for us
and for all the people of the world, that they may see clearly in
walking the holy path, that they may know all that is holy, and that
they may increase in a sacred manner."
The following section is excerpted from the John G. Neihardt Internet
Project:
A Brief Summary Of Black Elk's Vision
"About 5 days into the interviews, Black Elk told Neihardt that they
would have to go to a secluded place. There he told of a vision that he
had while he was only 9 years old.
While he was eating with a friend he heard a male voice and his thighs
began to hurt. Eventually, his legs and arms swelled so much that the
tribe members had to put Black Elk in a bed. He then saw the coming of
the two spirits. He recognized them as t he same two men he had seen in
prior visions. This time, however, they did not just speak to him: They
had come to take him to the other world. Black Elk suddenly knew that
he was looking back on his own body and that he was going too quickly
to comfort his family before he left. Black Elk then recollected being
called by the ancestors, and soon he was in the clouds where a bay
horse appeared.
This whole vision is about callings and commandments. Black Elk is then
told that he is going to see the life history of this one horse, which
would become the navigational tool for him throughout the vision.
The vision began with him facing the West, where he saw the grandfather
of the West whose color was Black. This is the direction that Native
Americans associated with Thunderstorms. The thunderstorm is the
perfect dialectic for the Native American warrior. It brings the life
enhancing rain but also the destructive thunder and wind. This is
similar to the Native American warrior who destroys in an effort to
sustain the life and vitality of the tribe.
Everything of the great Earth is within the sacred hoop. When an
individual, such as Black Elk, begins his vision facing the west, it is
often referred to as a "Thunder Vision." A thunder vision is to prepare
a person to be a warrior. Black Elk would eventually was saddened that
he did not become the great warrior that he thought he could be. In
fact, Black Elk became very disillusioned with war, and especially with
the white enemy, which was too overpowering.
The horses that Black Elk saw began, from all directions, to line up in
formation. Suddenly, as Black Elk was facing the west, 12 (a sacred
number) black stallions appear on the horizon. Black Elk was scared
because their manes were lightening and they were snorting thunder.
The horses represented the thunder power of the West. Spirit horses of
the North then appeared (visions always move in a clockwise fashion,
since the sun moves clockwise when facing the South). The color of
these horses was white. The white represents more than just death; it
is seen as cleansing. Black Elk then saw white geese, which started in
the North, and they proceeded to the South.
The horses of the East are the next that he sees. They are a reddish
color, symbolic of the sunrise or rebirth. Then Black Elk turned to the
South, which was yellow with the summer sun. When the circle was
completed, the bay horse spoke and told Black Elk that his grandfathers
were having a conference and the horses would take him there. The
horses then lined up, with the black horses leading the way. This is
significant since the warriors often led the tribe as they moved. The
bay horse neighed in each direction and the whole sky was full of
horses neighing. Black Elk then saw a cloud, which became a teepee with
a rainbow entrance. This led to his encounter with the six
grandfathers. As he entered the teepee, the oldest of the grandfathers
(of the West) told him to not fear. Then the grandfather of the West
announced that the grandfathers from all over the world were having a
conference and that they were there to teach him, as the six powers of
the world.
The first grandfather then said that his power would come from the
thunder from the West. The vision is, in essence, a thunder vision. He
then told Black Elk that they would take him to the center of the Earth
to understand the ways of the world. In the original vision, there is
not that much emphasis bringing Black Elk there to be taught. Neihardt
instead decided to use artistic license to make it easier for the white
world to understand the vision.
The purpose of Black Elk's trip to the center of the earth was to
attempt to avert the nations from crumbling. The first grandfather them
gave Black Elk the cup of water, which is representative of the power
to make life. He also gave him a spirit bow, denoting the power to
destroy. The first grandfather arose and ran to the West where he
transformed into a skinny horse. The next grandfather entered and gave
the horse herbs, which made the horse powerful again. This section of
the vision is designed to show that Black Elk is not only going to have
the powers to be a warrior, but also those of a healer. The second
grandfather then spoke and said that Black Elk would be the cleansing
wind. This also associated his dream with a power vision. The second
grandfather then ran to the North and became a goose. He and others
sang sacred songs. These songs are not just incidental. When songs are
sung, they are believed to represent actual reality.
The third grandfather was from the East - the place where the sun
shines continuously. He stated that the spirits of the people would
take Black Elk across the earth. He then pointed out to Black Elk that
from the people he would have power. He then held out a peace pipe with
an apparently live eagle at the end. As the East is the place of peace
and understanding, a signal of the east is thus the pipe and the
daybreak star, meaning that those who rise early will be wise.
Finally, Black Elk turned to the South, where the fourth grandfather
resided. The fourth grandfather was very important. He did several
things; He explained that Black Elk's power would be the powers of all
four corners and declared that he would give him the living stick of a
nation which would stand in the center of the two sacred roads. He
proclaimed that it would be Black Elk's quest to help people walk the
good red road. He proceeded to describe the two roads: The red road,
the good road, runs from North to South. On it, the fourth grandfather
proclaimed, Black Elk's nation would walk; the black road, running from
East to West, is a road of troubles and war. The fourth grandfather
then claimed that from this road, Black Elk would get the power to wipe
out his people's foes. In the original, non-published vision, this is
even clearer. The fourth grandfather then ends by telling Black Elk
that with this road he will defend his people. The fourth grandfather
finally ran to the South and became an elk.
The Fifth grandfather turned into an eagle, to demonstrate that he will
go across the world to defend his people. He hence represented the sky
as a power. Black Elk then saw the sixth grandfather, who represented
the earth. He realized it was actually himself and that he would have
that power, and more importantly, he saw that the primary meaning of
his vision was not his being called to the spirit world, but instead,
obtaining the powers of the earth. Black Elk remarked that the closer
he felt to the earth, the more he felt he was returning home.
Thus far, two basic things have occurred in Black Elk's vision: Black
Elk has been taken to the spirit world where he sees the spirit horses,
and second, he has entered the sacred teepee and communicated with the
grandfathers. Black Elk is next asked to walk the black road. The bay
horse then turned and faced the East, and a voice spoke, telling him
that he has been given the sacred pipe and the power of peace. They
then faced the South, and the voice said Black Elk had been given the
stick and told hi m to place it in the middle of the road. Black Elk is
then told to walk the black road and that all others would fear him,
indicating respect more than terror. They then began the slide down
this terrible road while the daybreak star was rising very dim.
Black Elk then realized that they were looking down on the earth. All
things were afraid, and Black Elk was the chief of all the heavens.
Hail fell to the earth as they passed. They then came to three forks of
the Missouri river. Flames were rising from the river where a blue man
was dying, and then he, eagle wings stretched, attacked the man and
killed him, a task his contemporaries could not accomplish. The blue
man in this scene is symbolic of the white solider. The world then
cheered for Black Elk as he stabbed this being with a sphere,
lightening came from his staff, and all that had withered returned to
life. He then returned to earth in the form of rain, which would end a
long drought. Black Elk heard from his crying people that he should
make haste. Black Elk planted the stick in the middle of the village,
and it became a cottonwood. The people rejoiced and claimed they would
live under its wing. After planting the sacred tree, he saw that he
needed to keep the sacred hoop together and walk the sacred red road.
Looking back, he sees the spirits of all his people walking behind him.
Black Elk was then taken to the center of the earth where he sees the
earth as it is. The black stallion then entered into the picture, which
Black Elk saw as amazing. He saw that everyone's hoops are important.
He was painted red with white joints and had the breath of lightening.
Black Elk then returned to earth, and during the trip two things
happened: He received the morning star herb which all of the creatures
saw the light of, and he received a death herb (omitted from book),
which is called the soldier's weed of destruction. He saw a black
flaming man with horns who was the cause of moaning and crying on
earth. The man is then turned into a gopher (war symbol) and then an
herb. He could use it in war. He saw that there would be a dispute of
nations and he would use the herb to defend his nation. However, he
never did use the herb because he was too young and he did not want to
kill women and children.
Black Elk then returned to the six grandfathers, who turned into geese.
Black Elk responded by making a war cry, and he heard cheering voices
all throughout the universe.
He was sad that his father did not know that he had been so far away.
But soon, he, too, would understand."
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