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Over the years, I’ve spent a fair chunk of my vacation time in the Southwest, and I learned a bit along the way about the Native American cultures there — the Hopi, Navajo, Zuni, Havasupai, and others.

I don’t mean I understand them in great detail, but I recognize in broad terms some of their differences, similarities, and defining characteristics.

For example, I know that the Navajo prefer their space, and Navajo families tend to live dispersed. Conversely, the Hopi are more comfortable living together in villages.

I also learned that when Navajo males have a falling-out, an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation is unacceptable; but one of them might express his displeasure by shooting the other’s dog.

Then, of course, there is the element of religion. All native cultures have deep spiritual connections to nature. They believe in the central concept of maintaining harmony and equilibrium among all things.

Many of their religious ceremonies are prayers to a variety of gods, animal spirits, and nature spirits to maintain a proper balance between the tribe and the world around them.

The details vary. It’s interesting that most rituals of the Hopi and Zuni follow strict schedules based on the movement of the sun and stars; the Navajo perform ceremonies when the need is there — for rain, a successful hunt, or a cure to an illness.

To the Navajo, the proper spiritual path is known as the “Beauty Way.” In essence, they believe there is nowhere God is not, so therefore, all is Beauty.

Shil hózhó, the Navajos say — “With me, there is Beauty.”

Shii’ hózhó — “In me, there is Beauty.”

Shaa hózhó — “From me, Beauty radiates.”

Okay, so I’m wandering off into the religious weeds here, but you have to admire this concept for its simplicity, elegance, and positive spirit.

One of the major ceremonies of the Navajo is the Blessingway, which seeks protection from a range of ills, ailments, and mental contaminants (anger, jealousy, etc.). The ceremony is very elaborate and last for days.

The closing prayer/chant of the Blessingway is below. It’s often found on its own as a poem entitled (for reasons that elude me) “Night Way.”

Many variations of Night Way are out there, which is understandable because it’s an English translation. This version is a good one.

—————

In Beauty may I walk.
All day long may I walk.
Through the returning seasons may I walk.
Beautifully will I possess again.
Beautifully birds…
Beautifully joyful birds…
On the trail marked with pollen may I walk.
With grasshoppers about my feet may I walk.
With dew about my feet may I walk.
With Beauty may I walk.
With Beauty before me may I walk.
With Beauty behind me may I walk.
With Beauty above me may I walk.
With Beauty below me may I walk.
With Beauty all around me may I walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of Beauty, lively, may I walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of Beauty, living again, may I walk.
It is finished in Beauty.
It is finished in Beauty.

—————

Awesome. Simple and elegant.

It’s also wonderfully benign and hopeful, which is unusual for our species and quite a positive thing.

It’s a sad fact that most of the violence and atrocities in human history have been committed — are still are being committed — in the name of religion.

The Crusades, the Inquisition, the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust. And religious zealots are still out there today, bombing and beheading non-believers.

Considering the way we humans are, and in light of our sorry history, the Beauty Way strikes me as a breath of fresh air.

The Navajo don’t try to convert you. They don’t send missionaries to proselytize among people of other faiths, trying to convince all those poor, misguided heathens to come over to the True Path.

Instead, the Navajo are doing it right. They have the maturity and good sense to cultivate their own garden.

“Preparing the Sand Painting” by Ira Moskowitz, 1946. The sandpainting ritual is part of the Blessingway and other Navajo ceremonies. The elaborate image thus created is believed to channel the healing power of the Holy People. After the ceremony, the sand is taken outside and returned to the earth. Very cool.