heavenly stems: "The history of the creation of the Heavenly Stem (Stem) and Earthly Branch (Root) goes all the way back to 4000 years ago, at the time of Huang Di. At that point of time, words were not invented." http://www.hiakz.com/establishment.asp

singing to: "All being is song, and I sing as I draw breath…Songs are thoughts, sung out with the breath when people are moved by great forces and ordinary speech no longer suffices." In, K. Rasmussen, The Netsilik Eskimos: Social Life and Spiritual Culture. New York, 1976.

the whole question: G. Townsley, "'Twisted Language,' A Technique for Knowing." In, J. Narby & F. Huxley, Editors, Shamans Through Time. New York, 2001.

I am this creek: E.O. Wilson. From: "The Eremozoic Era: the Age of Loneliness."

rough-soul tradition: "I am trying to get back to the ‘rough-soul’ tradition of the samurai warrior stories from the medieval age,” he said. “Since World War II, the feminine tradition has been emphasized to the exclusion of the masculine. We wanted to cover our consciences. So we gave great publicity to the fact that we are peace-loving people who love flower arranging and gardens and that sort of thing." Y. Mishima. www.pondblogger.com/Articles/Yukio_Mishima'_ Death.htm

the Eskimo language: E. Carpenter, Eskimo Realities. New York, 1973

no one knows: M. Prechtel. "Saving the Indigenous Soul: An Interview With Martin Prechtel by Derrick Jensen." The Sun, April 2001.