Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Native Wisdom






"You have noticed that everything as 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..... 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 nest in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours...."
"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."

-Black Elk Oglala Sioux (Lakota) Holy Man, 1863-1950








Yes, these are Celtic Circle Knots. I just find some of the similarities of the Native Americans and the Celtic cultures to be interesting. Feel free to comment or add, especially if you have knowledge of either cultures. I'm always looking to expand my Circle of knowledge! :)

4 comments:

MrsS said...

HI HGF - I very much enjoyed today's lesson and it reminded me of the WINDMILLS OF YOUR MIND song - which I hope you don't mind me posting here - please feel free to edit or remove it.

Round, like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel.
Never ending or beginning,
On an ever spinning wheel
Like a snowball down a mountain
Or a carnival balloon
Like a carousel that's turning
Running rings around the moon
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
Past the minutes on it's face
And the world is like an apple
Whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind

Like a tunnel that you follow
To a tunnel of its own
Down a hollow to a cavern
Where the sun has never shone
Like a door that keeps revolving
In a half forgotten dream
Or the ripples from a pebble
Someone tosses in a stream.
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
Past the minutes on it's face
And the world is like an apple
Whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind

Keys that jingle in your pocket
Words that jangle your head
Why did summer go so quickly
Was it something that I said
Lovers walking along the shore,
and leave their footprints in the sand
Was the sound of distant drumming
Just the fingers of your hand

Pictures hanging in a hallway
And a fragment of this song
Half remembered names and faces
But to whom do they belong
When you knew that it was over
Were you suddenly aware
That the autumn leaves were turning
To the color of her hair

Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning,
On an ever spinning wheel
As the images unwind
Like the circle that you find
In the windmills of your mind

Pictures hanging in a hallway
And the fragment of this song
Half remembered names and faces
But to whom do they belong
When you knew that it was over
Were you suddenly aware
That the autumn leaves were turning
To the color of her hair

Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning,
On an ever spinning wheel
As the images unwind
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind

SecretWishes said...

Power of the World always works in circles

I didn't know but It sure makes a lot of logic

So many great interesting things from the Native Indian And I love lots of the Celtic stuff

Great sharing HGF :-)

Lovely song MrsS :-)

His Girl Friday said...

Hi Mrs S,
I don't mind you posting the song at all; thank you! :)

Hi SW,
I just find these cultures interesting; and the commonalities including their walking into their homes/teepees, there was a certain direction that you walked in depending who you were. Also, I was watching a game of Hurling one day, and it so reminded me of the game of Lacrosse. It's just a bit of fancy, maybe, but interesting none the less.

storyteller said...

I love this Black Elk quote. It’s one of my favorites and never ceases to life my spirit. I’m sorry it’s been so long since my last visit. Life’s been busy! I did leave some ‘bling’ here however … Enjoy!
http://smallreflections.blogspot.com/2008/03/im-greatful-for-all-this-recognition.html and here
http://smallreflections.blogspot.com/2008/02/haiku-friday-thanks-for-visiting.html
Hugs and blessings,