It’s been a while since I’ve posted Native American quotes, so here are a few more for the collection … The last one is particularly profound, I think.

Cheyenne Indian Chief

When you lose the rhythm of the drumbeat of spirit, you are lost from the peace and rhythm of life. ~ Cheyenne

When you are in doubt, be still and wait;

When doubt no longer exists for you, then go forward with courage.

So long as mists envelop you, be still;

Be still until the sunlight pours through and dispels the mists, as it surely will:

Then act with courage. ~ White Eagle (Ponca Chief)

Chief White Eagle

If you listen close at night, you will hear the creatures of the dark, all of them sacred – the owls, the crickets, the frogs, the night birds – and you will hear beautiful songs, songs you have never heard before. Listen with your heart. Never stop listening. ~ Henry Quick Bear, Lakota

Life is not separate from death; it only looks that way. ~ Blackfoot proverb

Blackfoot Indian (photo by Edward S Curtis, 1900)

When the Great Spirit created the Universe, He placed his hand on the whole thing … so everything is spiritual. He never told us to separate anything but to look upon everything that he has made as holy and sacred, and act accordingly with respect. Whatever you take from Mother Earth, replace it, because nothing is for nothing. ~ Native American Thoughts

Abuse no one and nothing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision. ~ Tecumseh

Tecumseh (sculpture by Hamilton MacCarthy, 1896)

Love is something you and I must have … we must have it because our spirit feeds upon it, we must have it because without it, we become weak and faint. Without love our self-esteem weakens. Without it, our courage fails. Without love, we can no longer look out confidently at the world … we turn inward and begin to feed upon our own personalities, and little by little we destroy ourselves … With love we are creative, with it, we march tirelessly, with it and with it alone, we are able to sacrifice for others. ~ Chief Dan George

Chief Dan George

When all the trees have been cut down,

when all the animals have been hunted,

when all the waters are polluted,

when all the air is unsafe to breathe,

only then will you discover you cannot eat money. ~ Cree Prophecy

Cree Indian (photo by GE Fleming, 1903)

Favourites on Friday - Native American Quotes III