Rites of passage of a native woman

by Kara   Nov 14, 2006


Sun covering the western mountains
Little girl sitting at her doorsteps
Dreaming of the slayer of monsters
The god of power looking into her eyes
Singing the songs of beauty and goodness
She kneels down to the ground
Her gleaming eyes stare into the eyes of the god
Praying for happiness, love, and desire
â??God of power! Why me?
No words spoken

All alone she dances a changing woman
She stops sitting back down
Tears fall from her face
She faces towards the sun awaiting instructions
Her eyes looking into the golden light as it disappears
She awaits her instructions
Slayer of monsters I am not ready to become a changing woman

One morning no night
Young girl awakes
Lying next to a basket of food
Today she is to become a woman
Her family prepares her

Today is the night befor dance
Lying down
Dressed in a calico paint dress
Yellow flowers
Black and white trim
Moccasins made of leather
Eight Phases

All alone she dances
Sitting
Lying
Cane set out for her
She runs around it
Candy is poured around
Gods of power and slayer blessing her
Blankets are put around her, but she through them off

Four holy days
She can perform miracles
Shaman gives the sacred Datura
She sips the tea
Her mouth tastes the branched Calalve

She has danced for the gods
She has become a woman
The young child has left the young body
To become no more than a spirt
Chants sing to the night gods
The spirits raise and rise
Through the flames of the del Diablo
She is no more a child
She is a dzán naadleeshé.
(She is a changing woman).

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