Native American Spirituality and Religion
Water and religion are central to the spirituality of Native American and their beliefs. However, the water was not always the type that is flowing or contained in lakes.
One ritual practiced by all tribes was the Sweat Lodge ritual which caused water to leave the human body via perspiration and was a cleansing and detoxifying process
Upon entering a Sweat Lodge, which is nothing but a small structure of branches covered with hides or furs, hot rocks were moistened with life-giving liquid to create a sauna-like environment. Here, the tribes people of all the Nations across the land sought contact with the spirit of their belief system. This method was also used for healing the sick and seeking enlightenment in troubled times.
The Cherokee religion, common to the Central United States, taught that in the beginning there was just water. All the creatures lived in the sky but it had become too crowded. Water beetle volunteered to explore below the water and dove down to find mud. He then began to spread the mud which became Earth. Earth was attached to Sky by four strings and the animals could not see Earth in the dark and created Sun to shine on the newly formed land.
The Navajo religion, Dine, was common to the Southwestern United States. The people heard a great voice calling and then four mysterious spirits appeared: Blue Body, Yellow Body, White Body and Black Body. They left, promising to return in 12 days. On the morning of the twelfth day, the people washed themselves thoroughly in preparation of the gods' return. They returned and as a result First Man and First Woman were created to blow the wind that still blows on this planet today. The wind, they believed, gave life and when that wind stops forever, so will life on Earth.
The Apache religion focuses on gods known as Gahe or Ga'an. These gods live inside mountains and can be heard dancing and beating their drums. They were worshipped because they could heal the sick. Ritual dances performed by masked dancers painted different colors for each point of the compass represent the greatest Gahe, the Grey One.
Water and religion are closely related in both ancient and modern religions. All Native American beliefs tie into the idea that great spirits combined with Mother Earth created life, the air, life-giving water, and all creatures.
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