| May
the warm winds of heaven blow softly upon your house. May the Great Spirit
bless all who enter there. May your moccasins make happy tracks in many
snows, and may the rainbow always touch your shoulder. |
| Fruit
From The Light by Frank Howell |
| The
use of prayer has always been important to traditional Delawares and to all
the people of Turtle Island. Many Indian nations and tribes have struggled
to embrace themselves in the use of their language in prayer. In some
cases, it has meant to re-learn or learn for the first time, their native
tongue. |
| Normally
we do not say prayers by memory. People pray based on what is on their
heart. However, it is useful to have a typical prayer format in mind.
In the sample below, there is an beginning and closing prayers in Delaware
and English. I would encourage everyone to pray according to what is
on your heart and what your ears tell you. Keep in mind the elders,
the children, those who suffer, those who want to learn, and those who would
prevent our spirituality. Most of all..always, always, give thanks.
It is not only our way but the way. |
| (Niuka)
(Kiselamienkw) (aham)
Kehala Wanishi
talic (Father) or (Creator) or (Grandmother)
truly I am thankful
that |
| Nikiski
yukwe entra kiskwik
I can be be here on this day. |
| Wicaminen
talic nkaski
weli nipainen entra xknithakamika Help us
that we can stand
up well on this earth |
| kenahkihweh
wanishi -- AHO watch over us thank you - Amen or
so let it be. |
| I would
like to pass on to you what I call the Seven Circles of Prayer. |
| SILENCE
-- Finding a quiet place in your heart |
| SPACE
-- Making room for the Creator to speak in your heart and life. |
| SEEING
-- Seeing the Creator's work and creation and being thankful: The Creator
is more than we can see or know. |
| SUFFERING
-- The Creator knows our suffering, troubles and heartaches and will aid
us to learn from them in honesty, respect, and humility. |
| TOUCHING
-- Touched by the Earth and its creatures. Praying for those who touch hearts
in both joy and distress. |
| LISTENING
-- This is a most important aspect of prayer. We are to listen and learn.
The Creator is more willing to speak to us than we are to listen. |
| FACE
TO FACE -- We see the Creator in all that we do and see. We are stewards
of each other and the creation. What we say and do, counts. |
| Prayer
is about generosity, humility and respect. It is great openness to the
Creator's love to us, you and me. We are not to be modeled by the world
around us, but to be continuously growing in our spiritual life. My own
grandmother knew this. She and the elders have passed it on to us.
|
| Elan
Kumankw (We are all related) --- Nan nee le'ketch (So let it be) |
|
