Whispering Wind Moon: Journey to the Ancient Ones

Full Moon Ritual March 2009

By Lady Annabelle

Items Needed: Flat rocks and chalk or sharpies for creating pictographs; Candles and holders for the procession; drums and rattles; flute or recorder; notebooks and pencils; any jewelry for consecrating; beading supplies; hot tea and cups; Cakes and Ale.

  1. Personal cleansing and readiness by the silent drinking of tea.
  2. Consecrating the circle by the elements.
  3. Casting the circle
  4. Calling of the quarters using the drum and/or rattles
  5. Invocation of the Goddess and God, using First Americans’ God: use the flute and words to call The Kokopeli God and singing and words to call Spider Woman Goddess
  6. Body of Ritual

The Anasazi people left behind significant ruins in the four corners area, cliff dwellers, they inhabited the canyons such as Canyon de Chelly in northeastern Arizona, and ChacoCanyon in northwestern New Mexico. I experienced Canyon de Chelly last week. The name Anasazi is a Navajo word meaning “Ancient Ones.” The Navajo people believe that the abandoned dwellings and ritual structures, as well as the granaries of the Anasazi people indicated that they fled due to severe drought, but no one knows for certain. It is believed by the Navajo that the Anasazi became what is known now as the Hopi people. The Hopis have similar ceremonial structures as the Anasazi; they both have rounded ceremonial kivas, for example. The Anasazi left behind images on their buildings and on the canyon walls. These are pictographs, usually created by blowing mud out of the mouth around a shape, such as the hand, and petroglyphs, which were etched or incised upon the rock using a tool.

These symbols and messages have great meaning to the Navajo people and the Navajo have added their own striking symbols alongside the markings of the ancient ones. Tonight we will explore and meditate upon these symbols and make one of our own.

Five thousand years ago, these ancient people inhabited the beautiful and often forbidding canyons of the southwest.

In the spirit of those whom the Anasazi became, March for the Hopi tribe is known as Whispering Wind Moon. This is also what we celebrate tonight.

We will also have a blessing and consecration for all of our special and ritual jewelry, and we will spend time beading our own sacred bracelets to wear to commemorate this special ritual.

First, I ask you to become very still and quiet. Tense then release the tension and let go of any worries or concerns as I take you on a journey into the canyon, to experience the images and places of Canyon de Chelly. Canyon de Chelly is now a National Monument. It is located in the heart of the Navajo Nation. The Navajo have a different word for this canyon. They call it Tsaiye, (Say –yay) meaning “in the rock.”

You enter Tsiaye by crossing the wash, which is flowing after the winter melt. You will cross the water again and again to enter the floor of the canyon. The sandstone rocks plunge up 800 feet above you. As you look up the sky is bright blue. The first petroglyph you see is the kokopelli, playing his flute, with his back hunched. This is Kokopelli cave, and this marking is left by the Anasazi people, the ancient ones. Nearby is the dancing figure that you will see all over this canyon. There are also handprints. Your Navajo guide tells you that the Anasazi people raised their hands upward in honor of their gods. The handprints may be the symbol of such reverence. The Kokopelli is considered a god as well. What may he represent? The dancers signify religious dances; there is a pregnant woman among them.

Once again you cross the river, onto land and onto the river again; on land you stop again. The rocks and caves surround you, you look up into a town of the ancient ones precariously perched in a cave opening. It is in ruins. Above you, you notice some symbols, these are two double circular spirals; your guide tells you they may mark time. What do they mean to you?

Again you follow along the river. In and out and always back into the river. You come to another series of buildings in ruins this time on the ground, there is an underground kiva for the tribe’s rituals. There is a circle that is filled and one that is empty. It becomes clear to you that these people worshiped the sun and moon. There is the ancient symbol that looks like the swastika, but here it symbolizes what to these ancient people?

Again into the river, and out, and you find yourself another ruin of the ancient ones, the Anasazi. Here the wind is extremely powerful causing erosion of the sandstone structures around and above you. This ruin high up has different marks, a four armed petroglyph, is it a symbol of the wild winds, or of the four directions? Also the circle with the dot in it-- standing for the abundant creatures of the river? Or what?

Now find yourself crossing the water again, and standing soaring above you is Spider Rock. One of the most striking rock formations of this gorgeous and varying landscape of the canyon. Why do they call it Spider Rock?

Now cross the water again and again, and find yourself right in this room.

Take out your notebooks and write down the significance of the symbols to you.

Now let us take out our rocks and begin to make your own symbol. I’ll show you what I sketched from visiting Canyon de Chelly. Choose one that has meaning for you.

Lady Annabelle drums and sings while they make their symbols.

“The River.”

Tess sings her song.

Next we bead with turquoise and aventurine, making our own healing bracelets.

Once we have made them and tied them, we join in a circle with our braceleted hands in the middle and charge them for healing, chanting the witches’ rune.

Then we bring all other jewelry to be consecrated and we pass it over the smoking bowl of white sage.

  1. Cakes and Ale
  2. Devoke Quarters
  3. Thank Goddess and God
  4. Open Circle.

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