#2 Azee Bee Nahagha (Native American Church)

 #2 Azee Bee Nahagha (Native American Church)

As a young person I really didn't have an interest in any type of religion. My father didn't have a religion he exercise or talked about and my mother was a christian/traditional follower. My grandmother believed in our traditional ways and my grandfather believed in the bible but through revival church. In my younger days it just felt I was a lost individual trying to find my own path to religion. Our traditional beliefs seemed complicated to understand and christianity in my own opinion was a religion that was force onto natives. As a young person I thought of myself as a lost individual with no religious value. 

One summer day while visiting family I noticed a teepee that was set up during the early morning. As curiosity took over I started to ask questions in regards to what I seen. Apparently I had asked enough questions so they invited me to attend the ceremony to get an understanding of what Native American Church was. So I had to ask permission from my mother first to attend due to the use of peyote. 

As I entered the teepee with my family for the first time I was given instructions of how to sit and act during the ceremony. Nervously, I sat on the pillows and blanket that I brought in, as instructed I sat on my knees, not knowing this ceremony lasts from 9pm to the next morning  depending on the what the ceremony was for. Thankfully the first ceremony I attended was for a child's birthday which was to pray the child has a good life. 

As other individuals family and visitors who are looking for comfort and healing came in in to help with chants and prayers for the patient (child). Also, through the child, the visitors could also ask our grandmother peyote for help and guidance for their own struggles in their time of need. The process was  interesting to see for a first time like myself. Every step of the way I was guided on what to do through the night. 

The sound of the fire crackling and the peoples' prayers , the smell of flat cedar burning and the tobacco that is rolled in corn husk fill the air to carry the prayers to Diyin Dine (holy people). The Fire Chief starts off by expressing who he is and ask the patient why the meeting is being held. The patient explains that it's their birthday and would like to sit around the fire place with family. The sound of the drum and the chants has my attention and how the rest of the people within the teepee joins as one to help one another was quite the scene. As the night goes on, we partake in the holy medicine which are peyote buttons which brings clarity and visions to most. Partaking in this medicine opens our mind and heart to the greater divine grandmother peyote. This would give a person that is experiencing hardships within their lives to express themselves through meditation and prayer for guidance from Grandmother peyote. 

Throughout the night peyote is passed in a clockwise direction for everyone to utilize. Water is given only twice at midnight and the early morning. As night turned to morning most of the elderly and older adults are still sitting up with no sleep but in deep meditation for this young child's life to bring positivity. The last few songs of the ceremony are intense and the melody was very soothing to endure. The morning food comes after a prayer that is said by a woman who is asked to pray for the morning water, she  prays for the food that is to be consume after the water. 

It took this one experience to take part in this religion. Through Native American Church it has helped me in my time of need and the hardships I've endured. I prayed with a sincere heart and my all to overcome any obstacles I'd face but only to be helped by Grandmother Peyote and Diyin Dine. 

https://youtu.be/jHiD6PaWnus?t=71