Kinaaldá

running

                       2

                           sunrise immaculate

                                  rise

                                                  2

                                                        Higher Selves

                                         image of Holy Ones

 

sand gathered

    clay sifted

        fire started

            cake envisioned

                delicacies created

                    K'e' alive and breathing upon us

                                                           thru us

after a year infectious

it is love and joy and ceremony now spreading

isolation the curve flattened

shot in the arm

2 immunize against despair

any symptoms 2day?

Yes

                       joy

Yes

                       soul elation

Yes

                       centered again

This week's inspiration for writing was my daughter, Nizhoni. She made a big leap toward womanhood this past week, celebrated in a 4-day Navajo ceremony known as Kinaalda. It honors the sacred moment of first menstruation, of leaving childhood and becoming a woman. Doing Kinaalda in the pandemic was different - Zoom for people to join the ceremony virtually, COVID protocols meshed with ceremonial protocols. This piece was written on day 2 of the Kinaalda as we prepared for the Navajo cake to be made using an urban modification - didn't want to hit underground gas lines using the traditional fire pit in the ground. 

The picture shows Nizhoni after one of her 13 runs that are a central part of the Kinaalda, with running used as a prayerful, spiritual exercise. The runs are meant to strengthen her as she moves from girl to woman. Snow was gifted to us during the ceremony and was a beautiful part of that morning's run.

May we keep ceremony, in all of its forms/languages/rituals/religions as part of our days and weeks!!! Today, this week, next week, and beyond. Doctor's orders.