From Old Wisdom to New Knowledge

It is important that a prayer or song is performed once we have cut our hair. In the teaching, it is said that most of the knowledge and wisdom is at the bottom tip of our hair. It is that part that first began to appear right after birth and where the Air people entered the body at birth. This is the part we must protect because it is the first step in purpose of life - our education, thinking, behavior, feeling, thought and observation. This is the reason why in the traditional teachings, we are encouraged to keep our hair long.

It is also said that a woman who has their monthly, should not cut hair. It will effect our mental and physical being in a negative direction. It is even caution not to let stranger touch our hair or cut our hair. When cutting our hair or our children's hair we should always think positively - a song or prayer.

In conclusion, our body is sacred from the bottom of the sole of our feet to the top of our head to the tip of our hands, adorned with sacred songs and prayers. Every part of our body internally and externally is sacred. Prayers and songs are the key to Dine way of thinking, learning, thought, feeling and observation because the Holy People wanted us to be beautiful people. There certainly are many sacred stories or teachings. They are all about the purpose of life. They are all from the Holy Peoples' teaching handed down to our great grandparents. It is the teaching that gives us the power to live it and use it. In this way, we will not rely on others to do our thinking and the doing for us. It will be up to us to think and do for ourselves. There is hope and understanding. This will help us to believe in ourselves and help us maintain and protect our culture and values.

This is only one story. I was told to take what I have learned and build upon it as I go about my life. It was a true challenge for me to learn this story because the Navajo language is a unique value. It was strong and often I was criticized my elders when I had to ask what look like silly questions to them. My mother reminded me that I needed to be patient and understanding. It is a very sacred story to them. In order to understand, you must pray and sing about it. It will come to you easily, were her very words. I now understand why many youths fall short of relearning, valuing, understanding, and appreciating these teachings. They must never been taught a prayer or song to overcome obstacles.

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