Spirituality

 Literary Blog Entry 4

    A person’s relationship with nature, largely depends upon culture, upbringing, and perception. Many Native Americans are thought to have a love for nature. In “The Night Chant,” a Navajo ceremony for healing, it becomes evident how important nature was to this group of people. “With beauty before me I walk, with beauty behind me I walk, with beauty all around me I walk.” Nature was a huge influence on Native Americans in their worship and spirituality. Another piece written by Leslie Silko, “Yellow Woman,” seems to hold nature in high regard as a woman who finds herself in a Navajo camp of old, seems to be taken aback by all the beauty that is engulfed around her. Perhaps it changed the way she viewed nature as a result.

     Teaching spirituality in nature could be challenging for some teachers. It is important that everyone have a set of values, ethics, and beliefs. A Prezi presentation on “The Night Chant,” could be helpful in teaching students about nature and spirituality. Teachers could poll students and ask questions like What morals are important? Why should we have ethics? Do our values define who we are as individuals? Students could also write a paragraph about why basic goodness from within is important, or how they view spirituality.

    One way to reach high school students is through music. Taking time to understand lyrics instead of trashing them can go a long way. Rapper Kanye West, has recently put out a new album devoted to God and spirituality.

Works Cited

Bing. (2020). Retrieved from: https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.F5w-xNF54Rzo_de4nTF8hwAAAA?pid=Api&rs=1

Biography. (2020). Retrieved from: https://www.biography.com/musician/kanye-west

National Catholic Reporter. (2020). Retrieved from: https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/walking-good-red-road-takes-intriguing-look-nicholas-black-elk

Navajo Ceremony (2014). The Night Chant. Contemporary World Literature. The Norton Anthology World Literature. Second Edition- Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner

Prezi. (2020). Retrieved from:https://prezi.com/dashboard/next/#/library/view/ldNNvSh5RcmJ-7IQg5kvuw/3579096

Silko, L. (2014). Yellow Woman. . Contemporary World Literature. The Norton Anthology World Literature. Second Edition- Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner

Unsplash. (2020). Retrieved from: https://unsplash.com/s/photos/native-american