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Black Elk speaks – as told through John G Neihardt

My body did not move at all, but I looked ahead and floated fast toward where I looked.

There was a ridge right in front of me, and I thought I was going to run into it, but I went right over it.  On the other side of the ridge I could see a beautiful land where many, many people were camping in a great circle.  I could see that they were happy and had plenty.  Everywhere there were drying racks full of meat.  The air was clear and beautiful with a living light that was everywhere.  All around the circle, feeding on the green, green, grass were fat and happy horses; and animals of all kinds were scattered all over the green hills and singing hunters were returning with their meat.

I floated over the tepees and began to come down feet first at the centre of the hoop where I could see a beautiful tree all green and full of flowers.  When I touched the ground, two men were coming toward me, and they wore holy shirts made and painted in a certain way.

They came to me and said “It is not yet time to see your father [his father was dead], who is happy.  You have work to do.  We will give you something that you shall carry back to your people, and with it they shall come to see their loved ones”…..

They told me to return at once, and then I was out in the air again, floating fast as before.  When I came right over the dancing place, the people were still dancing, but it seemed they were not making any sound.  …...  Then I fell back into my body………..