In honour of National Indigenous Day of Prayer, l invite you to engage in the Prayer Honouring the Four Directions with me. We begin by facing East.
Come Great Spirit, as we gather in your name.
We face East: To your symbol colour Red, the hue of revelation; To your animal symbol the Eagle, strong and nurturing; To your lessons calling us to the balance of your Spirit in Harmony with brothers and sisters; To invoke your wisdom and grace, the goodness of the ages, We pray: COME HOLY SPIRIT, COME.
We turn to face South: To your symbol colour Gold for the morning star. To your symbol Brother Sun that enlightens our intellect and brings light on our path to live responsibly; To your lessons calling us to balance of Mind in the Spirit of humility; To invoke your spirit of illumination and far sighted vision; Help us to love you and one another with our whole heart, our whole mind, and our whole soul, We pray: COME HOLY SPIRIT, COME.
We turn to face West: To your symbol colour Black, still and quiet. To your animal symbol the Thunderbird; To your symbol the Thunder mighty and purposeful; To your lessons calling us to balance our emotions in the spirit of Gentleness and Honesty; To invoke your spirit of introspection, seeing within; Give us your strength and the courage to endure, We pray: COME HOLY SPIRIT, COME.
We turn to face North: To your symbol colour white of clarity and brightness. To your animal symbol the swan which brings us in touch with Mother Earth and growing things; To your lessons calling us to balance of our Body in the spirit of a good sense of humor; To invoke your spirit of innocence, trust and love; Help us to open our eyes to the sacredness of every living thing, We pray: COME HOLY SPIRIT, COME.
We turn to complete the circle and to look: To God, our Creator who cleanses our Mother Earth with snow, wind and rain; To Jesus Christ, the Peacemaker who fills us with the wideness of mercy and Lovingly embraces all, and the Holy Spirit who inspires us to action: COME HOLY SPIRIT, COME.
(Note: This resource was prepared for a Day of Prayer for Indigenous Justice, Jan. 11, 2013, when Indigenous and nonp Indigenous leaders gathered in Ottawa to discuss important legislation affecting Indigenous Peoples.)
What was this experience like for you? What thoughts and images came to mind as we did this prayer together? What was it like to think about the four directions?
This prayer is based on the Cree colours of the medicine wheel. The medicine wheel itself is an important teaching tool that has specific significance for each Indigenous culture that references it. One thing that is in common (besides the shape) is that medicine wheels represent the alignment and continuous interaction of the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual realities. The circle shape represents the interconnectivity of all aspects of one’s being, including the connection with the natural world. Medicine wheels are frequently believed to be the circle of awareness of the individual self; the circle of knowledge that provides the power we each have over our own lives. (See: https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/what-is-an-indigenous-medicine-wheel)
What do you think? How did this prayer help us call to mind our interconnectivity and connection with the natural world? What images stay with you from this prayer?
The letter to the Galatians says: There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
The message is an important reminder that human distinctions melt away when we focus on the message of Jesus and the extent to which we are all created in the image and likeness of God. This message is both hopeful and challenging. It is hopeful because it offers the promise of community, of family for which we ought to long. It is challenging because we need to confront the impacts of human distinctions – the truths of how colonisation has sought to silence and belittle the wisdom of all those who are not settlers.
If colonisers had their way, we would not know about the medicine wheel, we would not have the ardent defenders of nature that exist among the Indigenous peoples, we would not remember that all our relations include animals, earth, and waters. Indigenous peoples are not simply a marginalised group to which we are called to minister. They are the first inhabitants of this land. They hold wisdom. They have gifts to share with us if we are willing to humbly listen and learn.
There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
May the hope of oneness give us courage to humbly accept the wisdom God has planted in the hearts of the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples of Canada and beyond so that we can continually seek to build relationships that are respectful and reciprocal. This we pray as we sing: The Dove will Fly on Mended Wing