Black Elk's Vision and The Fourth Way
The Fourth Way acknowledges that the Human Family is at a crossroad facing diverging paths: on one side lies the path of increasing conflict, militarism, economic insecurity, and war; on the other, a sacred path leading to mutual understanding, healing cooperation and sustainable, harmonious prosperity.
We offer The Fourth Way based on the conviction that Indigenous peoples have the vision, the guiding principles, the values, the growing capacity and the collective resources to co-create a peaceful and harmonious future for our children and grandchildren. We submit that Indigenous peoples hold an important key to peace, security and sustainable well-being for all members of the Human Family.
The implementation of the Fourth Way requires each to look at the world in a new way. We are accustomed to seeing the world through a prism uniquely anchored in our background, experience, and to the narrative or founding “story” of our Indigenous territories or groups. We are bound together by religious, cultural and spiritual beliefs and traditions. We must, also, learn to honor and respect the religious, spiritual and cultural differences and beliefs of others. The Fourth Way recognizes all forms of religious and cultural perspectives but also respects freedom of conscience based on ethical and moral foundations. We must learn to widen our prism to see and understand more than we did before, to see ourselves as others see us and to see the issues we face from differing points of view. In the end we must come to understand the true meaning of Black Elk’s vision, that despite our differences, we are in fact all related.
BLACK ELK’S VISION
"Then I was standing on the highest mountain of them all, and round about beneath me was the whole hoop of the world. And while I stood there, I saw more than I can tell and I understood more than I saw; for I was seeing in a sacred manner the shape of all things in the spirit, and the shape of all shapes as they must live together like one being. And I saw that the sacred hoop of my people was one of many hoops that made one circle, wide as daylight and as starlight, and in the center grew one mighty flowering tree to shelter all the children of one mother and one father. And I saw that it was holy."
The Fourth Way is specifically addressed to all members of the Human Family. The Fourth Way invites the participation of all members of the human family who are devoted to fostering economic prosperity, reducing conflict and violence, promoting increased understanding, social justice, diplomacy, partnership building, and the creation of government institutions that are participatory.
With the Sixteen Principles as its strategic and spiritual foundation, The Fourth Way invites everyone to join together to achieve Black Elk's vision of peace through the unity of the human spirit. All those who join in the pursuit of these goals are actualizing of the Fourth Way.
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Comment by Tia Night Eagle on January 26, 2017 at 10:43am
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Earth Day, April 20th - 22nd, 2006: Launching of "The Fourth Way" Daybreak Star Seattle, WA, over 300 Spiritual Relative's from throughout the world gathered for continuous Prayer and Ceremony. 23 minute Video Short was filmed, edited, and sent to the U.N. Working Group of Indigenous Elders, Thank you for allowing "One Spirit Productions" to be a part of this most wondrous event..... We are loved and carried by our Ancestor's, look to your hearts you will hear them whisper on the wind and light a fire within
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Comment by Sylvia Donna Andreozzi on January 8, 2012 at 6:10pm
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Respected Brothers and Sisters ..." Starting from Within" ... These words ,so clear and close to my heart .. Their Truth so important ,for to look within and find the true self will allow one the keys to loose the many ties which have bound the Spirit to singularity and for so long have allowed the darkness of pain and fear the power of illusion and become a source of great distraction ... encouraged by each our own misfortune and munipulated by the need of those who would extinquish the Spiritual Fires which burn Within each person ... Them as well but so dimmed from the many layers of insecurities from lifetimes and decades more of dependence on others to tell them who they are and what they feel and what they must aspire to.... After living in darkness for so long ... The Light becomes but a faded memory ..... So Yes the dust must be cleared and the remnants of past fears must be removed before the Light , the gift from the Creative Force , can once again be tended ....This is where the Journey begins ... with the unfoding of the bloom ....... Even the wildest of bushes works hard to develop and push a single bud from itself ... The bud is the showing or manifestation of the truth within the bush.... In the discovery of the True Nature of our Being ... there we find the connective actuality of the Spirit ... "Working in a circle " and " In a Sacred Manner " around the One Fire that fuels all flames .... Synergy is achieved .... Thank You for allowing me to Share ....
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Comment by Shalahnia Riversong on January 8, 2012 at 9:41am
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"We must learn to widen our prism to see and understand more than we did before, to see ourselves as others see us and to see the issues we face from differing points of view. In the end we must come to understand the true meaning of Black Elk’s vision, that despite our differences, we are in fact all related."
Aho!
Nyah weh skenno (thank you for being well)
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Comment by Susan George on October 18, 2010 at 2:11pm
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I have always loved Black Elk's wisdom and teachings, so thank you so very much for sharing, Chief Phil !! These words of Black Elk and yours together are a double hiaku!! Very powerful!!
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Comment by David Randle on October 8, 2010 at 6:57am
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"I believe that to meet the challenges of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not just for one self, one's own family or one's nation, but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace." - Dalai Lama
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Comment by Naoko Ichijo on October 7, 2010 at 5:17pm
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I would like to be one of many who aspire the unity of the human spirit. In this country, Japan, I will hand on this message to anyone who listen from thier heart!
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Definitely a call for all nations to come home. A true world vision. Thanks for reminding us.
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Comment by Giselle Gianella Gabe on October 7, 2010 at 9:49am
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Brother Phil, this message is SO aligned to Bucky's message in Critical Path! OMG!
lets make this information available to more and more people :)
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Comment by Riva Gordon on October 7, 2010 at 9:06am
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If you are a US citizen, please get out there and VOTE in the MID-TERM elections on November 2nd, 2010. If we want to move towards ecological sustainability, human equality for all and to dis-allow mega corporations from running our country, it's CRUCIAL. The Tea Baggers & Republicans want to put their people in power. It would further destroy our country and turn back all of progress we have made thus far, on the environment, health care, corporate take over...ect The Democratic majority is at stake in the Congress, Senate and House of Representatives!! Please VOTE AGAIN AGAIN 2010!! November 2nd, 2010. Check to see if there is early voting in your community,. Most early voting begins on October 14th, 2010!!
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Comment by Michelle Morning Star Doherty on October 7, 2010 at 8:57am
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Huychka for this dear Chief! Mx
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