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The Sacred Pipe: Black Elk's Account of the Seven Rites of the Oglala Sioux
Black Elk of the Sioux has been recognized as one of the truly remarkable men of his time in the matter of religious belief and practice. Shortly before his death in August, 1950, when he was the "keeper of the sacred pipe," he said, "It is my prayer that, through our sacred pipe, and through this book in which I shall explain what our pipe really is, peace may come to those peoples who can understand, and understanding which must be of the heart and not of the head alone. Then they will realize that we Indians know the One true God, and that we pray to Him continually."
Black Elk was the only qualified priest of the older Oglala Sioux still living when The Sacred Pipe was written. This is his he gave it orally to Joseph Epes Brown during the latter's eight month's residence on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, where Black Elk lived. Beginning with the story of White Buffalo Cow Woman's first visit to the Sioux to give them the sacred pip~, Black Elk describes and discusses the details and meanings of the seven rites, which were disclosed, one by one, to the Sioux through visions. He takes the reader through the sun dance, the purification rite, the "keeping of the soul," and other rites, showing how the Sioux have come to terms with God and nature and their fellow men through a rare spirit of sacrifice and determination.
The wakan Mysteries of the Siouan peoples have been a subject of interest and study by explorers and scholars from the period of earliest contact between whites and Indians in North America, but Black Elk's account is without doubt the most highly developed on this religion and cosmography. The Sacred Pipe, published as volume thirty-six in the Civilization of the American Indian Series, will be greeted enthusiastically by students of comparative religion, ethnologists, historians, philosophers, and everyone interested in American Indian life.
Black Elk was the only qualified priest of the older Oglala Sioux still living when The Sacred Pipe was written. This is his he gave it orally to Joseph Epes Brown during the latter's eight month's residence on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, where Black Elk lived. Beginning with the story of White Buffalo Cow Woman's first visit to the Sioux to give them the sacred pip~, Black Elk describes and discusses the details and meanings of the seven rites, which were disclosed, one by one, to the Sioux through visions. He takes the reader through the sun dance, the purification rite, the "keeping of the soul," and other rites, showing how the Sioux have come to terms with God and nature and their fellow men through a rare spirit of sacrifice and determination.
The wakan Mysteries of the Siouan peoples have been a subject of interest and study by explorers and scholars from the period of earliest contact between whites and Indians in North America, but Black Elk's account is without doubt the most highly developed on this religion and cosmography. The Sacred Pipe, published as volume thirty-six in the Civilization of the American Indian Series, will be greeted enthusiastically by students of comparative religion, ethnologists, historians, philosophers, and everyone interested in American Indian life.
143 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1953
About the author
Black Elk
16 books71 followersHeȟáka Sápa (Black Elk) (December 1863 – August 19, 1950) was a famous wičháša wakȟáŋ (medicine man and holy man) of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux). He was Heyoka and a second cousin of Crazy Horse.
Since the 1970s the book Black Elk Speaks has become an important source for studying Native spirituality, sparking a renewal of interest in Native religions. Black Elk worked with John Neihardt to give a first-hand account of his experiences and that of the Lakota people. His son Ben would translate Black Elk's stories, which were then recorded by Neihardt's daughter Enid, who would then put them in chronological order for Neihardt's use. Within the American Indian Movement Black Elk Speaks became an important source for those seeking religious and spiritual inspiration. They also sought Black Elk nephew and medicine man, Frank Fools Crow, for information on Native traditions.
(from Wikipedia)
Since the 1970s the book Black Elk Speaks has become an important source for studying Native spirituality, sparking a renewal of interest in Native religions. Black Elk worked with John Neihardt to give a first-hand account of his experiences and that of the Lakota people. His son Ben would translate Black Elk's stories, which were then recorded by Neihardt's daughter Enid, who would then put them in chronological order for Neihardt's use. Within the American Indian Movement Black Elk Speaks became an important source for those seeking religious and spiritual inspiration. They also sought Black Elk nephew and medicine man, Frank Fools Crow, for information on Native traditions.
(from Wikipedia)
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April 23, 2020
در ابتدا خیلی برام جالب و بدیع بود، خصوصا نمادگرایی‌هاش و ارتباط‌هایی که در پانویس بین جهان‌نگری‌های مختلف هندو، بودایی و ... با جهان‌نگری قوم سو اشاره شده بود. ولی به مرور تکراری شد و جزئیات زیادش حوصله‌م رو سر برد
فقط می‌تونم بگم کاش انسان سفید، از سر مدارا و نوع‌دوستی، جای بیشتری برای «راه نیک سرخ» مردمان سرخ باقی می‌گذاشت
فقط می‌تونم بگم کاش انسان سفید، از سر مدارا و نوع‌دوستی، جای بیشتری برای «راه نیک سرخ» مردمان سرخ باقی می‌گذاشت
December 6, 2019
در پیشگفتار این کتاب آمده که قبل از این کتاب تنها اثر شایسته درباره سرخپوستان آمریکای شمالی، کتاب فاجعه سرخپوستان آمریکا بوده، در حالیکه کتابهای کارلوس کاستاندا در مورد شمن های سرخپوست یا به قول خودش جادوگران قبل از اینها به فارسی برگردانده شده و شامل اطلاعات زیادی در خصوص تفکرات و مردم شناسی سرخپوستی است. اگر چه این کتابها روی بخش خاصی یعنی جادوگری تمرکز دارد.
آشنایی من با تفکرات و جهان بینی سرخپوستی هم به این کتابها بر میگردد که با "تعلیمات دون خوان" و "هنر خوب بینی" شروع شد. از نظر محتوایی کتابهای کاستاندا خیلی بهتر از این کتاب است.
این کتاب پر است از جزئیات برگزاری مراسم سرخپوستی. تنها نکته مثبت کتاب به نظر من شرح نمادهای مختلف (رنگها، اشیا و حرکات) در این مراسم است. این کتاب میتوانست بسیار مختصرتر نوشته شود و در عین حال هیچ موضوع مهمی را از دست ندهد.
از ویژگیهای آزاردهنده متن کتاب تکرار بسیار زیاد کلمه "مقدس" در متن بود که همچون ضربه های دارکوب در زمان مطالعه کتاب بی انقطاع ادامه داشت (بماند که این روزها نسبت به این واژه حس منفی زیادی دارم)
شاید این هم بخشی از واقعیت باشد که وقتی مرد مقدس در شهود خود گاومیشی را می بیند که از سمت واکان تانکا (خدا) به او آئینی می آموزد، این ها همه حاصل از مصرف گیاهان روان گردان باشد (شاید هم روح القدس سرخپوستان در شکل گاومیش یا چهارپایان و بالداران دیگر ظاهر می شود)..
اگر مراسم و آئینهای سرخپوستی و صحبت با جانوران به نظرتان خیلی عجیب رسید یادتان باشد این موضوع مشترکی در فرهنگهای مختلف است:
دعای رفع عقرب: تیز نظر کند به ستاره سهی و آن ستاره کوچکی است نزدیک به ستاره وسطی از ستارگان بنات نعش (دب اکبر) و سه مرتبه بگوید .... (مفاتیح الجنان)
آشنایی من با تفکرات و جهان بینی سرخپوستی هم به این کتابها بر میگردد که با "تعلیمات دون خوان" و "هنر خوب بینی" شروع شد. از نظر محتوایی کتابهای کاستاندا خیلی بهتر از این کتاب است.
این کتاب پر است از جزئیات برگزاری مراسم سرخپوستی. تنها نکته مثبت کتاب به نظر من شرح نمادهای مختلف (رنگها، اشیا و حرکات) در این مراسم است. این کتاب میتوانست بسیار مختصرتر نوشته شود و در عین حال هیچ موضوع مهمی را از دست ندهد.
از ویژگیهای آزاردهنده متن کتاب تکرار بسیار زیاد کلمه "مقدس" در متن بود که همچون ضربه های دارکوب در زمان مطالعه کتاب بی انقطاع ادامه داشت (بماند که این روزها نسبت به این واژه حس منفی زیادی دارم)
شاید این هم بخشی از واقعیت باشد که وقتی مرد مقدس در شهود خود گاومیشی را می بیند که از سمت واکان تانکا (خدا) به او آئینی می آموزد، این ها همه حاصل از مصرف گیاهان روان گردان باشد (شاید هم روح القدس سرخپوستان در شکل گاومیش یا چهارپایان و بالداران دیگر ظاهر می شود)..
اگر مراسم و آئینهای سرخپوستی و صحبت با جانوران به نظرتان خیلی عجیب رسید یادتان باشد این موضوع مشترکی در فرهنگهای مختلف است:
دعای رفع عقرب: تیز نظر کند به ستاره سهی و آن ستاره کوچکی است نزدیک به ستاره وسطی از ستارگان بنات نعش (دب اکبر) و سه مرتبه بگوید .... (مفاتیح الجنان)
November 8, 2019
کتاب شامل دعاها و مناسک تکراری زیادیه که اگرچه خسته‌کننده بودند ولی جهان‌بینی عمیق و در عین حال ساده‌ای رو منتقل می‌کردند. مادر (زمین) و مادربزرگ (روح زمین) و پدر (کائنات) و همه فرزندان زمین از قبیل ملت ایستاده (درختان) و ملت چارپا (بیشتر به گاومیش اشاره داشت) و ملت بالدار (پرندگان) و ملت دوپا (انسان‌ها) و همه و همه تجلی پدربزرگ یا واکان‌تان‌کا (چیزی شبیه به مفهوم حق در عرفان ابن‌عربی) هستند و از این جهت همه چیز در این دنیا مقدس و یکیه (وحدت وجود). پس همه اعمال ملت دوپا هم باید مقدس باشند. به هنگام راه رفتن آگاه باشند که روی زمین مقدسی قدم برمی‌دارند و به هنگام غذا خوردن و حرف زدن و گوش دادن و هر عملی آگاه باشند که چه اتفاق مقدسی در حال رخ دادنه. و حتی در جایی دیگه می‌گه که ما به هنگام جنگ صورت و بدن‌مون رو رنگ می‌کنیم چون از واکان‌تان‌کا خجالت می‌کشیم که در این عالم مقدس ما رو در حال چنین عمل ناپسندی ببینه. چپق مقدس‌ترین بخش تمام آیین‌هاست. توتون‌های مختلف رو که نماد همه عالم‌اند توی کاسه چپق که نماد واکان‌تان‌کاست می‌‌گذارند و چپق رو به ۶ جهت پیشکش می‌کنند و هربار دعایی می‌خونند و می‌کشند و این به آتش کشیدن یعنی همه عالم فدای واکان‌تان‌کا. تمام اهمیت آیین‌ها به آگاهی از معانی و چرایی‌شونه چون طوطی‌وار انجام دادن‌شون از نظر گوزن سیاه هیچ فایده‌ای نداره (چندان به مرجع تقلید اعتقادی ندارند). عموما درون تی‌پی (چادر سرخپوست‌ها) نماد دنیا و بیرون اون نماد عالم غیبه و اینکه در تی‌پی رو باز و بسته می‌کنند و برای لحظه‌ای نور از بیرون به درون تی‌پی سرازیر می‌شه یا از تی‌پی خارج می‌شن و بر می‌گردند، در همه این کارهای به ظاهر بی‌معنی معنایی هست (برای آنها که می‌اندیشند ;) )
یکی از آیین‌ها که خیلی شبیه به چله‌نشینی خودمونه «زاری برای شهود» هست. منتها وقتی شخصی به شهودی می‌رسه و اون رو بازگو می‌کنه بقیه هم از اون شهود استفاده می‌کنند، انگار که شهود خودشون بوده. در واقع اعتقاد بر اینه که راهنمایی‌های واکان‌تان‌کا از راه‌های مختلف به انسان‌های مختلف الهام می‌شه و ما باید از تمام این الهامات استفاده کنیم. چون همه چیز به شخص ما یا بدتر از اون به یک شخص خاص و تاکید می‌کنم به یک شخص خاص الهام نمی‌شه.
به امید بازگشت همه انسان‌ها به راه واکان‌تان‌کا که صورت‌ها و اسامیش به بی‌کرانی خودشه...
یکی از آیین‌ها که خیلی شبیه به چله‌نشینی خودمونه «زاری برای شهود» هست. منتها وقتی شخصی به شهودی می‌رسه و اون رو بازگو می‌کنه بقیه هم از اون شهود استفاده می‌کنند، انگار که شهود خودشون بوده. در واقع اعتقاد بر اینه که راهنمایی‌های واکان‌تان‌کا از راه‌های مختلف به انسان‌های مختلف الهام می‌شه و ما باید از تمام این الهامات استفاده کنیم. چون همه چیز به شخص ما یا بدتر از اون به یک شخص خاص و تاکید می‌کنم به یک شخص خاص الهام نمی‌شه.
به امید بازگشت همه انسان‌ها به راه واکان‌تان‌کا که صورت‌ها و اسامیش به بی‌کرانی خودشه...
January 27, 2016
In his book The Sacred Pipe: Black Elk's Account of the Seven Rites of the Oglala Sioux, Black Elk indeed rescued from oblivion the only known complete record of the seven central sacraments of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) religion.
It is a priceless document for theology scholars, and for all those interested in Native American spirituality. An important companion piece to his autobiogarphy Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux
It is a priceless document for theology scholars, and for all those interested in Native American spirituality. An important companion piece to his autobiogarphy Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux
November 15, 2021
this is a book about philosophy and rituals. only known complete record of the seven central sacraments of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) religion.
May 6, 2024
I admittedly listened to this on audiobook and I think the material would come across better if I was reading it. The Lakota terms would be easier to look back and remember what they were. I did enjoy the mythological roots of the rites.
November 6, 2024
Really well written. Goes into great detail about rituals. Would love to experience a sweat lodge like they mention in the book. Can see alot of ways the masonic lodge used these methods into their rituals.
March 19, 2019
Not very interesting but certainly informative.
January 22, 2023
Excellent for Siouxan people who want to know more about ceremony of the Lakota people
February 26, 2020
Black Elk is one of my heroes. From Black Elk Speaks to The Sacred Pipe I have always loved the teachings and wisdom of Black Elk. He should be required reading if you truly want to understand the sacred ways of the Sioux Nation.
October 14, 2017
Really helped me understand the cultural differences that lead to the problems in the mid-1800s. This one is a keeper. I will read it again.
July 29, 2019
Must read for ALL Americans and anyone interested in the history of the United States.
December 10, 2023
A important teaching for those who walk the red road.
October 10, 2026
This is an account of the Sioux people's seven religious rites, including preparing a girl for womanhood, the purification rite, the keeping of the soul and others. It reads like an instruction manual, what to do, when and how. This makes the book a little dry but at the same time very authentic. Everything is based on interviews made in 1947 with Black Elk, who was then the only qualified "priest" still alive. (Apparently, he had converted to Catholicism by then?)
It is a world of ideas that inspire respect. All living beings were "peoples", the two-legged, the four-legged, the winged, and even the trees. Everyone and everything should be respected and everyone belongs together; everyone is part of a larger whole because we are dependent on each other.
They offered the pipe and other sacrifices to the gods who lived in the four cardinal directions, as well as to gods above us and Mother Earth below. Even the gods were part of one and the same god, the Great Spirit. The basis for these rites – I guess – was the great dependence on hunting, the weather and good relationships within the community. Every day, all year round. At the same time, I wonder if I have even begun to understand the true meaning of this religion and culture, there are so many impressions to digest. They seemed to feel so small and powerless in relation to their gods – and I feel even smaller – and have gained the deepest respect for these people.
It is fantastic that this is written down for posterity, although it would have been good if the scribe Joseph Epes Brown had supplemented the book with a chapter of his own in which he put these rites in a larger context.
I bought this book 40 years ago, in 1986. I had had the privilege, as a visiting European, of participating in a sweat lodge (rite of purification) with Ojibway people outside of Sudbury, Ontario. I asked about the sweat lodge rite and was recommended this book. An important part of a sweat lodge is to create and maintain good relationships within a community, and it turned out to be a very personal experience for all participants. Now I have finally read the book. That I had the opportunity to participate in this sweat lodge is something that has stayed with me all this time, now even more so after reconnecting by reading this book. My deepest gratitude.
It is a world of ideas that inspire respect. All living beings were "peoples", the two-legged, the four-legged, the winged, and even the trees. Everyone and everything should be respected and everyone belongs together; everyone is part of a larger whole because we are dependent on each other.
They offered the pipe and other sacrifices to the gods who lived in the four cardinal directions, as well as to gods above us and Mother Earth below. Even the gods were part of one and the same god, the Great Spirit. The basis for these rites – I guess – was the great dependence on hunting, the weather and good relationships within the community. Every day, all year round. At the same time, I wonder if I have even begun to understand the true meaning of this religion and culture, there are so many impressions to digest. They seemed to feel so small and powerless in relation to their gods – and I feel even smaller – and have gained the deepest respect for these people.
It is fantastic that this is written down for posterity, although it would have been good if the scribe Joseph Epes Brown had supplemented the book with a chapter of his own in which he put these rites in a larger context.
I bought this book 40 years ago, in 1986. I had had the privilege, as a visiting European, of participating in a sweat lodge (rite of purification) with Ojibway people outside of Sudbury, Ontario. I asked about the sweat lodge rite and was recommended this book. An important part of a sweat lodge is to create and maintain good relationships within a community, and it turned out to be a very personal experience for all participants. Now I have finally read the book. That I had the opportunity to participate in this sweat lodge is something that has stayed with me all this time, now even more so after reconnecting by reading this book. My deepest gratitude.
November 8, 2023
Having just finished reading "Turtle Lung Woman" which was an account of a female contemporary of Black Elk, I did not feel that this book was an accurate account of the Oglala/Lakota religion and did not finish this book.
In the first few pages, supposedly and possibly truly [as he was a Catholic], Black Elk prays to Wakan Tanka using the pronoun "Thy". Since when is there a Quaker pronoun in the Lakota language? And this continues throughout the book - at least until the middle when I put it down.
Espes, the author, had a degree in comparative religion and too often compares the Oglala/Lakota religion to Christianity, Hinduism, etc. Why? Is this to justify the Black Elk's religion, as though it needs to be more familiar, less "heathen?" Black Elk refers to man in terms that imply a sinner - which would come from Black Elk's conversion to Catholicism [he's being considered for sainthood by the catholic church]- but is the Oglala/Lakota religion actually concerned with "sin" and redemption?
When Black Elk is supposedly relating the story of the White White Buffalo Cow Woman, he says the people were told to put on their "best buckskin clothes" before meeting her Really? They had a wardrobe - best buckskin, everyday buckskin?
Parts of the book, the rituals and their steps, rang true, but Black Elk was a showman who traveled with the Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and this book struck me as a showman's version of practicing Oglala/Lakota religion - something "white people" would relate to in 1947. After all, it was only a few years later that "Tonto" appeared on TV.
NOTE: Eighteenth Century French fur trappers traveling with an Ojibwe scout first used the word Sioux to describe Lakota-speaking people. Sioux is the Ojibwe word for "enemy." I doubt that Lakota-speaking people would use this word about their religion.
In the first few pages, supposedly and possibly truly [as he was a Catholic], Black Elk prays to Wakan Tanka using the pronoun "Thy". Since when is there a Quaker pronoun in the Lakota language? And this continues throughout the book - at least until the middle when I put it down.
Espes, the author, had a degree in comparative religion and too often compares the Oglala/Lakota religion to Christianity, Hinduism, etc. Why? Is this to justify the Black Elk's religion, as though it needs to be more familiar, less "heathen?" Black Elk refers to man in terms that imply a sinner - which would come from Black Elk's conversion to Catholicism [he's being considered for sainthood by the catholic church]- but is the Oglala/Lakota religion actually concerned with "sin" and redemption?
When Black Elk is supposedly relating the story of the White White Buffalo Cow Woman, he says the people were told to put on their "best buckskin clothes" before meeting her Really? They had a wardrobe - best buckskin, everyday buckskin?
Parts of the book, the rituals and their steps, rang true, but Black Elk was a showman who traveled with the Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and this book struck me as a showman's version of practicing Oglala/Lakota religion - something "white people" would relate to in 1947. After all, it was only a few years later that "Tonto" appeared on TV.
NOTE: Eighteenth Century French fur trappers traveling with an Ojibwe scout first used the word Sioux to describe Lakota-speaking people. Sioux is the Ojibwe word for "enemy." I doubt that Lakota-speaking people would use this word about their religion.
August 12, 2025
On my roadtrip west last month, spending a decent amount of time in South Dakota for the first time in my life, I was interested in learning more about the indigenous people of the area. I realized how limited my knowledge of the Oglala Lakota was. Most of what still remains of native culture in the state is relegated far from the interstate to the north and south. While I saw much more of it closer up in Montana, I was curious about learning more about those farther east. A week or so after getting home I came across this book at my local used books store and decided I’d start here.
The Sacred Pipe is the recollections of Black Elk, a spiritual leader who lived through many notable events of history; particularly the Battle of Little Bighorn and Wounded Knee. Towards the end of his life he recounted the rituals and practices around pipe tobacco to author Joseph Epes Brown, who recounts them here. First published in 1950 this has been a pivotal record of these practices.
This short book recounts the practices and actions associated with inter tribe communication and coming of age in the tribe. Highly descriptive and meticulously detailed this is a great resource for learning these rituals as they were practiced traditionally.
While informative, I did find it to be a bit of a harder read. My lack of background knowledge left me wanting more from this, which ultimately isn’t the intention of this book. I would love to have learned more about tribal life beyond this as well as the life of Black Elk, topics of interest to explore in further reading.
The Sacred Pipe is the recollections of Black Elk, a spiritual leader who lived through many notable events of history; particularly the Battle of Little Bighorn and Wounded Knee. Towards the end of his life he recounted the rituals and practices around pipe tobacco to author Joseph Epes Brown, who recounts them here. First published in 1950 this has been a pivotal record of these practices.
This short book recounts the practices and actions associated with inter tribe communication and coming of age in the tribe. Highly descriptive and meticulously detailed this is a great resource for learning these rituals as they were practiced traditionally.
While informative, I did find it to be a bit of a harder read. My lack of background knowledge left me wanting more from this, which ultimately isn’t the intention of this book. I would love to have learned more about tribal life beyond this as well as the life of Black Elk, topics of interest to explore in further reading.
May 18, 2021
Excellent detail & thoroughly written out, but a little hard to read if you're not into reading about multiple rituals. I'd be intrigued to witness it in person, what an amazing and enlightening experience it must've been for the author.
June 14, 2024
Unknown
Learned many things that I had no idea existed or was even thought of. Biggest issue was trying to pronounce a lot of the Lakota words. All in all I enjoyed the book and learned where a lot of the sacredness comes from.
Thanks, Jim
Learned many things that I had no idea existed or was even thought of. Biggest issue was trying to pronounce a lot of the Lakota words. All in all I enjoyed the book and learned where a lot of the sacredness comes from.
Thanks, Jim
November 3, 2024
It was very informative, but in terms of maintaining interest, it wasn't the most captivating. It's hard to describe. I simply had trouble staying focused all the time, but I did learn some things that I will never forget.
October 8, 2018
Not a favourite of mine even from an anthropological POV, a little dry of a read. Informative though.
May 8, 2019
So much wisdom of this world and the next gleaned from this book.
January 21, 2020
Very interesting. Read this for my philosophy class.
April 3, 2020
Very interesting history about Native American Traditions
December 19, 2021
Surprising gem that’s been sitting in my library for years. Putting together a coherent review that does it justice is what I’m chipping away at takes here and there.
May 15, 2023
It's an anthropology book for sure. I'm glad the content is in print, just not my speed for casual reading
April 4, 2024
Cool to see the various rites of the Lakota, I think I was expecting more around some of the beliefs.
Read
October 18, 2024Interesting, more of an instruction manual on Sioux rituals than anything. A small glimpse into some Native American beliefs and customs.
October 26, 2024
“Any man who is attached to the senses and to the things of this world is one who lives in ignorance and is being consumed by the snakes, which represent his own passions.” –Black Elk
April 1, 2026
A hidden gem of an underestimated and noble people.
October 11, 2026
Only here for The Gift of the Sacred Pie
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