Luther Standing Bear

He loved the earth and all things of the earth.. He knew that man's heart away from nature becomes hard, he knew the lack of respect for growing, living things soon led to the lack of respect for humans too.

"We were taught to sit still and enjoy the
silence. We were taught to use our organs
of smell, to look when apparently there was
nothing to see, and to listen intently when
all was seemingly quiet."                      
                        

Civilization has been thrust upon me... and it has not added one whit to my love for truth, honesty, and generosity.

The old people came literally to love the soil and they sat or reclined on the ground with a feeling of being close to a mothering power. It was good for the skin to touch the earth and the old people liked to remove their moccasins and walk with bare feet on the sacred earth. Their tipis were built upon the earth and their altars were made of earth. The birds that flew into the air came to rest upon the earth and it was the final abiding place of all things that lived and grew. The soil was soothing, strengthening, cleansing and healing.