--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And when I breathed, my breath was…" description: "\"And when I breathed, my breath was lightning.\" — Black Elk" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/black-elk-6745_breath_and-when-i-breathed-my-breath-was-lightn_3220138.png" --- # And when I breathed, my breath was lightning. ![“And when I breathed, my breath was lightning.” quote by Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/black-elk-6745_breath_and-when-i-breathed-my-breath-was-lightn_3220138.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/black-elk-6745_breath_and-when-i-breathed-my-breath-was-lightn_3220138.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/black-elk-6745_breath_and-when-i-breathed-my-breath-was-lightn_3220138.png) > “And when I breathed, my breath was lightning.” [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes a profound, electrifying spiritual experience that feels as powerful as lightning. **In simple terms:** Spiritual experience felt like lightning. Key Takeaway Seek moments that awaken you. Themes spirituality nature energy Mood awe inspired Type poetic visionary When to use this quote - rituals - personal reflection - nature walks Key Concepts visionary experience indigenous wisdom Questions to Reflect On - What does “lightning” symbolize for you? - How can you cultivate such intensity? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath/) [Breath Lightning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath-lightning-6050474/) [Breathed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathed/) [Breathed Breath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathed-breath-1289120/) [Lightning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightning/) ## Related quotes > [All things pass in time. We are far less significant than we imagine ourselves to be. All that we are, all that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/all-things-pass-in-time-we-are-far-less-significant-than-we-imagine/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [So now, how did God produce this world?... The fable is that he breathed upon us. In his breath, his wind, came moisture and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-resnick/so-now-how-did-god-produce-this-world-the-fable-is-that-he-breathed/) [Milton Resnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-resnick/) > [Is it really sick for me to be happy right now?" I asked. My voice broke twice. He didn't push me away. He pulled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/is-it-really-sick-for-me-to-be-happy-right-now-i-asked-my-voice-broke/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [There's an interesting contrast between born Catholics and converts. Converts are often much more rule-directed. Catholicism isn't something that they breathed in from their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-wills/there-s-an-interesting-contrast-between-born-catholics-and-converts/) [Garry Wills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-wills/) > [Being alive was all right then: he had not breathed like that for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-marmon-silko/being-alive-was-all-right-then-he-had-not-breathed-like-that-for-a/) [Leslie Marmon Silko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-marmon-silko/) > [I'm so sorry for not being there for you.. When you needed someone, the most. At your last time, your breathed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-so-sorry-for-not-being-there-for-you-when-you-needed-someone-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I read the Koran and it appealed to me. At the time I was agnostic and it really breathed spiritually back into me. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/i-read-the-koran-and-it-appealed-to-me-at-the-time-i-was-agnostic-and/) [Q-Tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) > [“In this reality, they breathed together, chests nearly touching on their inhalations, lips slightly parted like they could taste the sweetness of each other’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roan-parrish/in-this-reality-they-breathed-together-chests-nearly-touching-on/) [Roan Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roan-parrish/) > [“I felt I hadn't breathed since early morning, that my heart had not beat-and only now for the first time I took a breath,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yevgeny-zamyatin/i-felt-i-hadn-t-breathed-since-early-morning-that-my-heart-had-not/) [Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yevgeny-zamyatin/) > [“This is perfect." I breathed. "Please tell me it won't end. Promise me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-kobishop/this-is-perfect-i-breathed-please-tell-me-it-won-t-end-promise-me/) [Alicia Kobishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-kobishop/) > [“The night air moved up towards the Downs, washing over sea and orchard. I breathed it in, and thought that henceforth, loneliness would smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-r-king/the-night-air-moved-up-towards-the-downs-washing-over-sea-and-orchard/) [Laurie R. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-r-king/) > [All roads for me lead back to Mozart. In his tragically short life, he breathed new life, fire and meaning into every form of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/all-roads-for-me-lead-back-to-mozart-in-his-tragically-short-life-he/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [“At night, Toby breathed herself in. Her new self. Her skin smelled like honey and salt. And earth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/at-night-toby-breathed-herself-in-her-new-self-her-skin-smelled-like/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“You haven't failed me. You've breathed so much life into my existence. Don't ever be sorry for that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/you-haven-t-failed-me-you-ve-breathed-so-much-life-into-my-existence/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [My mother 'gave teas' the way other mothers breathed. Her own mother 'gave teas.' All of their friends 'gave teas,' each involving butter cookies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/my-mother-gave-teas-the-way-other-mothers-breathed-her-own-mother/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) ## More by Black Elk > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [So I took the bright red stick and at the center of the nation's hoop I thrust it in the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/so-i-took-the-bright-red-stick-and-at-the-center-of-the-nation-s-hoop/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [We should understand well that all things are the work of the Great Spirit. We should know the Great Spirit is within all things:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/we-should-understand-well-that-all-things-are-the-work-of-the-great/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [Hear me, four quarters of the world-a relative I am! Give me the strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/hear-me-four-quarters-of-the-world-a-relative-i-am-give-me-the/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [Everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the power of the world always works in circles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/everything-an-indian-does-is-in-a-circle-and-that-is-because-the/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [Grown men can learn from very little children for the hearts of little children are pure. Therefore, the Great Spirit may show to them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/grown-men-can-learn-from-very-little-children-for-the-hearts-of/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [It's in the darkness of men's eyes that they get lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/it-s-in-the-darkness-of-men-s-eyes-that-they-get-lost/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [“And I can see that something else died there in the bloody mud, and was buried in the blizzard. A people's dream died there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/and-i-can-see-that-something-else-died-there-in-the-bloody-mud-and/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [Everything tries to be round.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/everything-tries-to-be-round/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [Grown men may learn from very little children, for the hearts of little children are pure, and, therefore, the Great Spirit may show to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/grown-men-may-learn-from-very-little-children-for-the-hearts-of/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [The boys of my people began very young to learn the ways of men, and no one taught us; we just learned by doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/the-boys-of-my-people-began-very-young-to-learn-the-ways-of-men-and/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I know now what this meant, that the bison were the gift of a good spirit and were our strength, but we should lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/i-know-now-what-this-meant-that-the-bison-were-the-gift-of-a-good/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [Peace will come to the hearts of men when they realize their oneness with the universe, It is every where.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/peace-will-come-to-the-hearts-of-men-when-they-realize-their-oneness/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I think I have told you, but if I have not, you must have understood, that a man who has a vision is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/i-think-i-have-told-you-but-if-i-have-not-you-must-have-understood/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [You remember that my great vision came to me when I was only nine years old, and you have seen that I was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/you-remember-that-my-great-vision-came-to-me-when-i-was-only-nine/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) [Explore all 97 Black Elk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) ## More Breath quotes > [“The days may last forever, but the years pass by in a blink; the secret to survival is actually remembering to take a deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-smokler/the-days-may-last-forever-but-the-years-pass-by-in-a-blink-the-secret/) [Jill Smokler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-smokler/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [Take a deep breath. It,s just a bad day not a bad life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-a-deep-breath-it-s-just-a-bad-day-not-a-bad-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I stopped loving you today, But OMG..., Seeing your Body takes my breath away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becka-miller/i-stopped-loving-you-today-but-omg-seeing-your-body-takes-my-breath/) [Becka Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becka-miller/) > [So we must do our very best Whatever life may bring And look beyond the winter chill To smell the breath of spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-we-must-do-our-very-best-whatever-life-may-bring-and-look-beyond/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Poetry should be vital--either stirring our blood by its divine movements or snatching our breath by its divine perfection. To do both is supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-birrell/poetry-should-be-vital-either-stirring-our-blood-by-its-divine/) [Augustine Birrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-birrell/) > [“The first step in awareness is to be watchful of your body. Slowly,slowly one becomes alert about each gesture,each movement. And as you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-first-step-in-awareness-is-to-be-watchful-of-your-body-slowly/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Tic Tacs are the maracas of breath mints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/tic-tacs-are-the-maracas-of-breath-mints/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [“To control your life, control your mind. To control your mind, control your breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/to-control-your-life-control-your-mind-to-control-your-mind-control/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“He’s sitting so close, I can feel his breath on my cheek. My stomach flip-flops again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-s-sitting-so-close-i-can-feel-his-breath-on-my-cheek-my-stomach/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My life to yours. My breath beecome yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/my-life-to-yours-my-breath-beecome-yours/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“My heart is your heart," she whispers, and wow that takes my breath away, this line from my childhood that she always used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabel-pitcher/my-heart-is-your-heart-she-whispers-and-wow-that-takes-my-breath-away/) [Annabel Pitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabel-pitcher/) > [Good manners and bad breath will get you nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/good-manners-and-bad-breath-will-get-you-nowhere/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [“Being able to be myself was like being able to exhale for the first time after holding my breath for years. It’s only when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/404-ink/being-able-to-be-myself-was-like-being-able-to-exhale-for-the-first/) [404 Ink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/404-ink/) [Browse all 1,839 Breath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And when I breathed, my breath was lightning.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Black Elk" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/and-when-i-breathed-my-breath-was-lightning/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Breath" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/and-when-i-breathed-my-breath-was-lightning/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/black-elk-6745_breath_and-when-i-breathed-my-breath-was-lightn_3220138.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/black-elk-6745_breath_and-when-i-breathed-my-breath-was-lightn_3220138.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/black-elk-6745_breath_and-when-i-breathed-my-breath-was-lightn_3220138.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And when I breathed, my breath was lightning.” — Black Elk", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Black Elk", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And when I breathed, my breath...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/and-when-i-breathed-my-breath-was-lightning/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/and-when-i-breathed-my-breath-was-lightning/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```