The Navajo House Blessing Ceremony

Today, I thought I would describe one of the many ceremonies I continue to read about, The Navajo House Blessing Ceremony. In the Navajo faith, the first man and first woman came from the underworld to the fifth world (our world, on the surface of the earth). They created the first human man and woman. This couple was told by First Man that while the first man and woman were the source of life they would never return to the fifth world. The First Man put the fifth world woman and man in his medicine bundle and created the first Hogan (the traditional Navajo dwelling). The First Man taught the fifth world first man and woman that each new Hogan must be blessed.

The Navajo House Blessing Ceremony was given to the surface people by the underworld or holy people to prevent misfortune, evil from manifesting and any property damage. Ceremonies can privately be conducted for a home or publicly be conducted for schools and hospitals. They can last anywhere from one to four days. The ceremony involves marking the house, praying, and the public ceremony can employ the use of dance, sand painting, and formal ceremonial dress (feathers included).

The purpose of a ritual like this comes from the belief that a Navajo house is a living entity that needs to be loved and taken care.

Source Paper: http://www.jammed.com/~mlb/hogan.html

CG