About

MEXICA HALF MOON CEREMONY

Guide

KEY PEOPLE IN THE CEREMONY

Road Man: Guides the Ceremony

Fire Keeper: Person who works the fire all night

Door person: Person in charge of helping the fire keeper and helping everyone in the Teepee.

Water drummer: Drummer for the singing- the carrier of the heart beat of the ceremony

Cedar person: Person that puts cedar as an offering each time the Road Man directs.

Water Prayer: Takes place around midnight and the Road Man or a person chosen by him does it.

Sacred Women: These are the chosen women that will prepare the sacreds (water, corn, deer meat and fruit). This will come into the Teepee after sunrise.

 All ladies should be wearing long skirts and all participants should be wearing light colours.

1.   Main prayer will be presented at the beginning. The main prayer is the “purpose” of the meeting. It is tradition to chose the reason why we are doing this ceremony.  

2.   Ceremony starts at 10pm. 

3.   You will be sitting up all night looking into the grandfather fire. It is recommended that you bring a small cushion or backrest to sit on and that is all you will need. Please leave all additional bags up in the designated area.

 4.   We move inside the Teepee in a clockwise direction. This includes the singing, the medicine and walking out of the Teepee to the toilet.

5.   Move in clockwise direction when leaving, do not pass behind the fire keeper, do not cross the medicine or the water drum at any point. If in doubt, please wait for the doorman who will be there to assist you.

6.   You will not need a water bottle during ceremony. There will be no water consumed until the Water Prayer -little after midnight - Please do not drink your own drinks during ceremony. During the Water Prayer everybody should focus in the prayer in that specific moment. After the prayer is finished the water will be passed person to person and we will each pour a small cup to drink, there is no need to hold the water and pray anymore, time is of the essence, drink quickly so as not to become stagnant.

7.   Midnight water and water prayer- at midnight the water enters the room. When the sacred water enters in the room it is important to get up onto your knees or kneel for the water. One person will pray for the water. As the water comes around in the bucket/glass bottle, simply lift it and move it across, do not turn the bucket. Pour the water and drink it quickly. Again, at this time please don’t hold onto the water or pray anymore. The water has already been prayed for and this will allow the ceremony to flow better and bring the power of the collective prayer.

8.   Singing: 4 songs per person each round- please try to sing to all the elements equally to keep the energy balanced and strong. Singing in front of a group of people may feel a bit challenging for many people. Please don’t feel any pressure to sing. We sing only to connect to the creator and to the elements. Singing should come from the heart, it is our way to say: Hey creator, Hey Great Spirit, I am here! You can sing in your mother tongue and something as an offering to creation. It will be great if you can sing songs from the Native American tradition, especially because they were created for these specific rituals. But we know this can take some time for some people to learn, so no pressure.

9.   Singing will be accompanied by the water drum. The water drum is one of the most important elements in the ceremony as it carries the heartbeat of the ceremony. You will start singing only once the rattle and staff have been passed to you and the water drummer is beside you ready to go. Do not play the rattle too hard it is delicate.  Once you finish you will pass the rattle and the staff to the person on the left of you. If you are not singing just pass the rattle and the staff to the person next to you.

10. During the ceremony sacred Tobacco will be lit and may be passed around for everyone to pray. You will hold the Tobacco with your left hand with the lit part pointing to your heart. Please don’t inhale the Tobacco.  Tobacco is not to be inhaled; it is to pray. Only ever think good thoughts when a Tobacco is lit as it is a very very powerful medicine, which manifests anything you are thinking in that moment.

11. There will be moments when the “Cedar Person” will put Cedar in the fire for everybody to bless. Sometimes the Cedar will be for the water or for another reason. Please try to be mindful and only bless yourself when the Cedar is for you or for the group. The roadman will let us know what the Cedar will be for. You can simply use your hands to draw the smoke from the fire and pat your body where it is needed.

12. Please do not interrupt the ceremony or stand up while someone is singing or when the Road Man is talking. If you need to go outside ask permission and the Road man will indicate you the right moment to leave the Teepee.

13. The Sacred Offering: In the morning when the sacred water and food’s come around (water, corn, deer meat and fruit) please keep each of the bowls together, take a few pieces and pass it on quickly don’t hold onto the bowl. Eat what you take, remember it is an offering.

14. Always wait until the singing stops before getting up to go to the toilet. If you go outside to the toilet, please do not use wet wipes as they are banned, due to someone leaving them around the farm, they are not biodegradable.

15. If you need to get well, please do so by the grandfather fire or as directed by the roadman, can sometimes be outside or in wellness bucket.

16. Throughout the night always pray for what you want always rather than what you don’t want.

17.  Bring an open loving heart.

18. Please do not mix any other medicines during this retreat it is dangerous and you will be asked to leave immediately

OMETEOTL !