Part of the attitude of the Navajo culture is the concept of Hozro, which is to Live in Beauty, Walk in Beauty Always.
Walking in Beauty: Closing Prayer from the Navajo Way Blessing
In beauty I walk
With beauty before me I walk
With beauty behind me I walk
With beauty above me I walk
With beauty around me I walk
It has become beauty again
Hózhóogo naasháa dooShitsijí’ hózhóogo naasháa dooShikéédéé hózhóogo naasháa dooShideigi hózhóogo naasháa dooT’áá altso shinaagóó hózhóogo naasháa dooHózhó náhásdlíí’Hózhó náhásdlíí’Hózhó náhásdlíí’Hózhó náhásdlíí’
Today I will walk out, today everything negative will leave me
I will be as I was before, I will have a cool breeze over my body.
I will have a light body, I will be happy forever, nothing will hinder me.
I walk with beauty before me. I walk with beauty behind me.
I walk with beauty below me. I walk with beauty above me.
I walk with beauty around me. My words will be beautiful.
In beauty all day long may I walk.
Through the returning seasons, may I walk.
On the trail marked with pollen may I walk.
With dew about my feet, may I walk.
With beauty before me may I walk.
With beauty behind me may I walk.
With beauty below me may I walk.
With beauty above me may I walk.
With beauty all around me may I walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, lively, may I walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk.
My words will be beautiful…
Click to hear the prayer spoken in Navajo by Wanye Wilson, a Navajo member.
Linguistic Note: The word “Hozho” in Dine’ (roughly translated) Concept of Balance and Beauty. Consideration of the nature of the universe, the world, and man, and the nature of time and space, creation, growth, motion, order, control, and the life cycle includes all these other Navajo concepts expressed in terms quite impossible to translate into English. Some Navajos might prefer the term: “Nizhoni” meaning ‘just beauty.”
If you are reading this right now, you have an internet connection, a computer or phone to read it on, or even access to a public library computer… You have more resources than millions of people around the world.
That’s not to make you feel guilty but think about it… how powerful is that shift in mindset? When we are able to be truly grateful for what we have, “fear disappears and abundance appears.” (as Tony Robbins)
Just stop for a minute and think of three things you’re grateful for in your life, in this moment. Really picture them in your mind. How does it feel to be focused completely on gratitude?
When you live in gratitude, you have so much more to give – to your family, your work, yourself, and your world. The Walking with Beauty is part of that same type of concept of being appreciative of the things around you and doing your part to make the world a balanced and beautiful place.
The Teachings of Don Juan has some really interesting information from the other side of the Sonora, give it a try for more information along these same lines. The short takeaway is that life will have storms, but try to remember:
And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, in fact, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm you won’t be the same person who walked in.
