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Traditional Navajo Prayer
Dark young pine, at the center of the earth originating,
I have made your sacrifice.
Whiteshell, turquoise, abalone beautiful,
Jet beautiful, fool’s gold beautiful, blue pollen beautiful,
reed pollen, pollen beautiful, your sacrifice I have made.
This day your child I have become, I say.Watch over me.
Hold your hand before me in protection
Stand guard for me, speak in defense ofme.
As I speak for you, speak for me.
As you speak for me, so will I speak for you. May it be beautiful before me,
May it be beautiful behind me,
May it be beautiful below me,
May it be beautiful above me,
May it be beautiful all around me.I am restored in beauty.
I am restored in beauty.
I am restored in beauty.
I am restored in beauty.
Translated by Gladys A. Reichard. From Women in Praise of the Sacred, edited by Jane Hirshfield (New York: HarperPerennial, 1994). Used by arrangement with HarperPerennial, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
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