I found this Native American prayer, a Navajo Night Chant. Spoken aloud, it reads like poetry so I am sharing it on Thursday, my usual day for poetry on this blog. I thought my friend Robbin, especially, would appreciate the beauty of these words, as she walks through difficult days. And perhaps my friend Rapunzel might pray this with or for her mom.
Navajo Night Chant
O you who dwell
In the house made of the dawn,
In the house made of the evening twilight ...
Where the dark mist curtains the doorway,
The path to which is on the rainbow ...
I have made your sacrifice.
I have prepared a smoke for you.
My feet restore for me.
My limbs restore for me.
My body restore for me.
My mind restore for me.
My voice restore for me.
Today, take away your spell from me.
Away from me you have taken it.
Far Off from me you have taken it.
Happily I recover.
Happily my interior becomes cool.
Happily my eyes regain their power.
Happily my head becomes cool.
Happily my limbs regain their power.
Happily I hear again.
Happily for me the spell is taken Off.
Happily I walk.
Impervious to pain, I walk.
Feeling light within, I walk ...
In beauty I walk.
With beauty before me, I walk.
With beauty behind me, I walk.
With beauty below me, I walk.
With beauty all around me, I walk.
It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
If only healing were this simple... but I believe that a spirit receptive to beauty and healing, and to prayers spoken in earnest is an important part of the equation. I first read the line, "Feeling light within, I walk" in an Alexandra Stoddard book. The entire chant, in many slightly different versions, appears many places on line. This version was found here.
photos by Aisling, July 3, 2008 a rainbow of blooms in the garden 1) Orange butterfly weed 2) Pink Yarrow 3) Yellow Black-Eyed Susan