Cherokee Prayers

I simply thought it would be intersting to share something from the area in which I inhabit. Currently, I live near the Cherokee Nation and thusly I have had several oppurtunities to explore a bit of the culture. I find their literature/oral stories to be exceedingly beautiful and I thrive in their mythology.

These are two of my favorite prayers.


Purification Prayer:
Great Spirit (U-ne-qua), whose voice I hear in the wind,
Whose breath gives life to all the world. Hear me;
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever
behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made
and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand the things
you have taught my people.
Help me to remain calm and strong in the face of
all that comes towards me.
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden
in every leaf and rock.
Help me seek pure thoughts and act
with the intention of helping others.
Help me find compassion without empathy overwhelming me.
I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy-myself.
Make me always ready to come to you with
clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset,
my spirit may come to you without shame.


Serenity Prayer

God Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

u-ne-la-na-hi s-gv-si nv-wa-do-hi-ya-di o-s-da

a-yi-li-di ni-ga-di gv-gi-ne-tli-yv-s-di

ni-ge-s-sv-na ge-sv-i

The courage to change the things I can,

a-le u-tla-ni-gi-da a-quu-da-na-da-di-s-di

a-gi-ne-tli-yv-s-di na gv-gi-ne-tli-yv-s-di

ge-sv-i

and the wisdom to know the difference.

a-le a-ga-do-hv-ne-s-di a-quu-nv-da