Now our minds are one. Amen.

A special Ruah podcast, featuring a prayer led by Beth Downey Sawatzky on Sunday October 3, 2021, following the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Beth based her prayer on a traditional Thanksgiving Address, preserved by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy of Nations. We are grateful for their care in keeping such texts alive and vibrant.

Incorporated in the podcast is a reference to the Canticle of the Sun by St. Francis of Assisi (1182 – 1226), which can be accessed by clicking here.

An additional word of thanks to Steve Bell and Signpost Music, for granting us the permission to use his recording of the "Dakota Hymn," first released on his 1994 album Burning Ember.

On this Sunday following the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, let us be led in prayer by the words and wisdom of Indigenous brothers and sisters, our elder siblings in this land. With deep thanks to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy of Nations for their faithful keeping of this tradition, and for making the words public, I invite the community to join me in the Thanksgiving Address. This prayer is a good teacher; it takes a long time, inviting our concentration, humility and imagination. Please respond to the repeated phrase “now our minds are one” with a simple “Amen” which means “may it be so.”

Now our minds are one.
Amen.

Today we have gathered, and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty and responsibility to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. Let us bring our minds together as one as we give our greetings and thanks to one another as people.

Now our minds are one.
Amen.

We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we move about and walk upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our mother, we send our greetings and our thanks.

Now our minds are one.
Amen.

We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms – waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans, great seasonal storms and floods. With one mind, let us send our greetings and our thanks to the Waters.

Now our minds are one.
Amen.

We turn our minds to all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water, so we turn to the Fish and send our greetings and our thanks.

Now our minds are one.
Amen.

Now we turn toward the Plants. As far as the eye can see, Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. We honour and thank all the Food Plants that we harvest whether from wild or tended places. Since the beginning of time the Food Plants have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We turn and honour the Medicine plants of the world. From the beginning they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind we send our greetings, thanks, and allyship to the Medicines, and Medicine Keepers.

Now our minds are one.
Amen.

We send greetings and thanks as one to all Animal life in the world. The animals have many things to teach us, and we are honored by them when they give up their lives so we may use their bodies as food. We see them near our homes and in the wild places. We are glad they are still here, and we pray that this will always be so.

Now our minds are one.
Amen.

We turn our thoughts and hearts to the Trees. Earth has many families of Trees each with their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty, and other useful things. Many people of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength. In this house of prayer, we recall Calvary’s tree, where the Saviour—a sacrificial leader—laid down his life for the people. With one mind, we send our greetings and our thanks to all Tree life.

Now our minds are one.
Amen.

From the trees we lift our minds as one to thank all Birds who fly over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle, whose gift is vision, was chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds, from the smallest to the largest, we send our joyful greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.
Amen.

We are all thankful to the powers known as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they help to bring the change of seasons, governing weather and climate. From the four directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength. With one mind, one spirit, one God-given Ruach, we send our greetings and our thanks to the Four Winds.

Now our minds are one.
Amen.

We now send greetings to our relatives, the Sun and Moon. Each day without fail our Brother, the Sun, travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. Each night our oldest grandmother, the Moon lights up the dark. She is the leader of women all over the world, governing ocean tides and watching over the arrival of children on earth. By her face we measure time. As one, let us send greetings and thanks to our Relations, Sun and Moon.

Now our minds are one.
Amen.

We look to the Stars, spread across the sky like jewels. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as one, we send our greetings and our thanks for the Stars.

Now our minds are one.
Amen.

We gather our minds together to consider the Wisdom Keepers who have come to help the people throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live. With one mind, we send our greetings and our thanks to these caring teachers.

Now our minds are one.
Amen.

Finally, let us turn our thoughts to the Maker, in deep gratitude for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on Mother Earth. For all the love that is around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of blessing and thanks to Creator God.

Now our minds are one.
Amen.

We have nearly arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things named, it is not our intention to leave anything out. If something has been forgotten, let each individual send their greetings and thanks in their own way. Particularly, let us remember all those for whom our prayers of compassion are asked.


And now our minds are one.
Amen.