Walking In Beauty
My ideal way of being in the world is best expressed by the Navajo concept of Beauty, or hozho, which encompasses beauty, order, balance, peace, and harmony.
This is the most beautiful expression of hozho I've found:
Navajo Blessing Way Prayer
Today I will walk out, today everything evil 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.
What are your inspirations for right living? Please share in the comments area below!
– Jack
The Navajo Blessing Way is indeed magnificent.
I’ve worn out more copies than I can count of one small book over the years, the Tao Te Ching. Here’s one small snippet:
The people are busy with purpose,
Where I am impractical and rough;
I do not share the peoples’ cares
But I am fed at nature’s breast.
–Lao Tze
That’s a true classic, pj, and deservedly so! I must confess I haven’t read it since I was a teen, but it’s truly timeless… I really should revisit it, thanks for the reminder!
– Jack