The Blessing Way is one half of the Navajo song ceremonial complexes, the other half being the Enemy Way. The rites and prayers in the Blessing Way are concerned with healing, creation, harmony and peace. The song cycles recount the elaborate Navajo mythology related to the rites contained within the Blessing Way.

[edit] Rite of passage

Perhaps the most important of all these rituals is the Kinaaldá ceremony, in which a young girl makes the transition to womanhood upon her menarche. During the course of the ceremony, the girl enacts the part of Changing Woman, the deity responsible for fertility entering the world.

Ceremonies regarding expectant mothers are also part of the Blessing Way. However, these are not to be confused with some ceremonies held by other cultures for expectant mothers, which may also be called Blessing Way ceremonies regardless of their actual connection with the Navajo Blessing Way.

[edit] See also

• The red road

[edit] External links

• The Blessing Way