Black Elk and Universal Truth
“You have noticed the truth comes into this world with two faces, one is sad with suffering, the other laughs; yet both come from the same face laughing or weeping” -Quote from Black Elk of the Lakota tribe in the 1800's
“You have noticed the truth comes into this world with two faces, one is sad with suffering, the other laughs; yet both come from the same face, laughing or weeping.”
— Quote from Black Elk of the Lakota tribe in the 1800s
As I've reflected on the history of shamanic and Indigenous traditions, I've found myself particularly moved by the life of Black Elk, he was an elder of the Lakota tribe, who is said to have found universal truth through both Christianity and his Indigenous path. He became a Catholic alongside his own Indigenous practice, and no matter what others felt about this, his recordings of the experience displayed respect for the unity of humanity. He shared lots of insight into finding peace through unity, claiming that we are all living the human experience and connecting to the same aspects of life, no matter our practices. The two faces are the two different people, but connected through the same human growth.
Whilst living in the midst of cultural trauma, his actions might not have been recognised as a bid for peace, but his story reminds me that wisdom often grows through humility, relationship and a commitment to our shared humanity. It also shows me that being united is complex and tough, and that peace is not reached through the process of winning or losing.
The striving for less hierarchy in shamanic practice means developing a circular mind, which means treating everyone with equal respect for the qualities that they bring; like a round table, we cannot hide behind leadership. And much like the battles in our minds, reconciliation and peace can only truly come when we are able to disarm ourselves.
Having Irish heritage myself, I learnt from an early age of the trauma that was experienced by the people of that country. I felt a deep sense of injustice for many years. I still grieve often for that trauma. Why Black Elk’s story touches me is because, once upon a time, I would have been in disbelief that someone would give in. I’d have seen surrender as a weakness, and of course, that is a justified stance, but it was also an expression of my own grief and anger. However, surrendering to my own internal battles and allowing my grief to pour out has led me to new feelings. My respect for peace and dialogue is now stronger than my need to battle. This shapes how I approach life and my practice now, and ultimately it is a quality that has been refined. All of our stories will be different, but over the years I have found that wherever there is anger, there is often great pain, and that compassion can be shaped from this place as we become more aware of the roots of our pain.
I found out about Black Elk totally by accident, and it drew me in as I share my initials that spell ELK. More than that, the elk was revered as sacred in the eyes of the Lakota tribe. They began playing the flute to honour the animal; I also learnt to play the shamanic flute a few years before I learnt this about the tribe. It is these simple moments of awe that inspire my trust in my own intuition and enable me to push through the binary concepts of right and wrong, and to trust the sweetness of mystery
CopyRight 12/08/2026
