Native American

It was the wind that gave them life.

It is the wind that comes out of our mouths now that gives us life.

When this ceases to blow we die.

In the skin at the tips of our fingers

we see the trail of the wind;

it shows us the wind blew

when our ancestors were created.

~ Native American - Navajo

We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us.

We return thanks to the rivers and streams which supply us with water.

We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases.

We return thanks to the corn, and to her sisters,the beans and squashes, which give us life.

We return thanks to the bushes and trees, which provide us with fruit.

We return thanks to the wind, which, moving the air, has banished diseases.

We return thanks to the moon and the stars, which have given us their light when the sun was gone.

We return thanks to our grandfather He-no, that he has protected his grandchildren from witches and reptiles, and has given us his rain.

We return thanks to the sun, that he has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye.

Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit, in whom is embodied all goodness, and who directs all things for the good of his children.

~ Native American - Iroquois

Cover my earth mother four times with many flowers.

Let the heavens be covered with the banked-up clouds.

Let the earth be covered with fog;

cover the earth with rains.

Great waters, rains, cover the earth.

Lightning cover the earth.

Let thunder be heard over the earth;

Let thunder be heard;

Let thunder be heard over the six regions of the earth.

~ Native American - Zuni

In the house made of dawn.

In the story made of dawn.

On the trail of dawn.

O, Talking God.

His feet, my feet, restore.

His limbs, my limbs, restore.

His body, my body, restore.

His voice, my voice, restore.

His plumes, my plumes, restore.

With beauty before him, with beauty before me.

With beauty behind him, with beauty behind me.

With beauty above him, with beauty above me.

With beauty below him, with beauty below me.

With beauty around him, with beauty around me.

With pollen beautiful in his voice,

with pollen beautiful in my voice.

It is finished in beauty.

It is finished in beauty.

In the house of evening light.

From the story made of evening light.

On the trail of evening light.

~ Native American - Navajo

Oh, Great Spirit,

whose voice I hear in the winds

and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me.

I am small and weak.

I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes

ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Make my hands respect the things you have made

and my ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make me wise so that I may understand

the things you have taught my people.

Let me learn the lessons you have hidden

in every leaf and rock.

I seek strength, not to be superior to my brother,

but to fight my greatest enemy - myself.

Make me always ready to come to you

with clean hands and straight eyes,

so when life fades, as the fading sunset,

my spirit will come to you

without shame.

~ Native American -Lakota - Chief Yellow Lark

Bringing the Sacred Pipe

With visible breath I am walking.

A voice I am sending as I walk.

In a sacred manner I am walking.

With visible tracks I am walking.

In a sacred manner I walk.

~ White Buffalo Maiden