A Native American Sundance Ceremony

Spiritual Practices to Access the Divine

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This morning I unexpectedly woke up humming the Lenten hymn “Lord, who throughout these 40 days, for us didst fast and pray.” It is a small inspiration from God which perfectly captures what is happening here this week – fasting and praying by some people on behalf of the rest of us.

Life is full these days as I have traveled from Virginia last week to South Dakota this week. I am honored to have been invited to be a supporter at the Afraid-of-Bear and American Horse Clans Native American Sundance Ceremony. It is a Lakota ritual. My sister, Tanya Chase, is one of the dancers, and I am here with others of her Native American lodge to be part of the event. There are 60 dancers, or so, who dance for four days around a “Tree of Life” festooned with prayer flags. They do not eat, and they drink only sparingly. The dance is a prayer, as is the whole four days. The theology is too rich for me to explain here, nor am I equipped to do so. I will only share a few simple observations and my sense of some of their connection to Christianity and mysticism.

Photo by Stephanie C. Bradbury

The Tree of Life is a birch tree which is ceremoniously cut down, covered with prayer flags by the people, and then erected in the middle of the Sundance circle. As it was explained to me, a cross bar called the “Eagle’s Nest,” made of other branches, is attached to the tree. The prayers attached to the tree, as well as all the prayers of the people over the four days, are addressed to the tree and carried to the Creator by the eagle.

‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” – Exodus 19:4

The Sundance Ceremony is held entirely outdoors, rain or shine, deeply connected to the earth, the plants, and the animals. In fact, the Native Americans speak of all parts of nature as being their brother and sisters, their family. A common affirmation between Native peoples, or a conclusion to a prayer, is the phrase Aho Mitakuye Oyasin, which means “All my relations.”

“All things of creation are children of the Father and thus brothers of man. ... God wants us to help animals, if they need help. Every creature in distress has the same right to be protected.” – St. Francis of Assisi

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, the birds of the air, and they will tell you; ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you, and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being.” – Job 12:7-10

We, the “audience,” the observers, dance outside the circle in solidarity with the official dancers, to encourage them in their endeavor. We dance four times a day, for an hour at a time, over four days. I found my body, my ears, my heart, all moving in rhythm with the 150 others around me. The energy was high as we embodied language beyond words, in synch with one another. The powerful drumming and singing of the ceremony is a form of chant, and the swaying dance in community calls us to an alternate state in which we can more easily access the Divine. These are tools to help distract the mind so that God can be revealed.

“All that is to be understood or desired is still not God, but where mind and desire end, in that darkness, God shines.”   —Meister Eckhart

I want to be clear that I am not suggesting that Christianity and Native American Spirituality are the same thing, but I am noting that when we approach them both from the mystical level, there are parallels. Nature, music, dancing, and practices to distract and quiet the mind, are part of the human condition. Energy between us can be enhanced and Spirit weaves its way through all. We are created to be in relationship with the Great Mystery, and successful religions offer meaning for these universals and practices to enhance the relationship.

Aho Mitakuye Oyasin!

All Scripture quotes are from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition.