Native American water ceremony for women

Native American water ceremony for women

Find living water. By “living” I mean that it contains living things such as healing minerals and water spirits. This water is best found in a mountain stream, river or natural spring. If you cannot perform the ceremony in one of these locations, get plenty of living water and carry it back in a container for use elsewhere.

This ceremony is most powerful at night, just after sunset or even more powerful after midnight but before 3 a.m. This is the time of spirits. During the day there are far too many distractions and disturbances for the spirits to have much influence or communication.

Have everyone stand in a circle. Sing a song or prayer that invokes the helping spirits (Tunkasilas) or angels, or whatever type of spirit you are used to or comfortable with. Then go to each person with burning sage, cedar, sweat grass or other medicinal herbs and allow the smoke to cover their body to cleanse and remove any negative energies. Meanwhile, some people receive messages for the person to be cleaned. This gives the ceremony a special meaning.

A song or prayer for healing of physical, mental, spiritual and heart matters is appropriate at this time. After the song/prayer, people go around in a circle and say their individual prayers and wishes.

Then everyone lies down or sits in the water. Or the water can be gently poured over each one. As the water runs down our body, it takes the impurities with it and sends them back to Mother Earth for purification and reuse.

A final song or prayer to thank the spirits, angels, helpers, etc. concludes the ceremony. It's always good to share food afterward.

As a note, this is another water ceremony, but much simpler and can be used daily. Pour water (this can be regular tap water) into a container. I use a pumpkin or wooden bowl, but a simple jar would suffice. Go outside and sing a song or say a prayer. Then pour some of the water into the soil four times. Drink the remaining water to allow the prayers to enter your being. When you pour the water into the ground, the life blood (water) of Mother Earth is returned to her. This water, once poured into the ground, travels in underground waterways around the planet and perhaps even to the sea, depending on where you live. I would suggest if you feel the urge to pray for peace or environmental concerns, this is the ultimate way to send those prayers.