Navajo (Horse) Blessing Ceremony

Reconnect. Restore. Renew.

Join us for a sacred three-day gathering where traditional Navajo healing practices meet the powerful spirit of horses in a ceremony designed to restore harmony and balance to our world. Navajo ceremonies are deeply rooted in spiritual beliefs and are essential to maintaining harmony within individuals, communities, and the natural world.

Guided by Traditional Healers

In Navajo culture, the medicine man, or "haatali" (singer), is a spiritual leader who performs healing ceremonies and rituals. They are believed to possess powers to heal illness and balance the body, mind, and spirit. The haatali is a central figure in Navajo healing practices, using chants, prayers, and sometimes herbal remedies to restore harmony and balance.

A Sacred Time

This ceremony takes place during a deeply significant period in the Navajo calendar:

• Cultural Significance: October marks an important transition between seasons and a traditional time for cultural activities and preparations for winter.
• Harvesting and Preparation: This is the time for harvesting summer crops and preparing for winter ceremonies, including storing food for the colder months.
• Navajo New Year: The ceremony coincides with the Navajo New Year, which typically begins after the October new moon (October 21st, 2025) or when there's new snow on the mountains.

Daily Schedule

Day 1: Farm Blessing & Land Healing - 10am to 4pm

A traditional Blessing way ceremony that invokes positive blessings and averts misfortune for the land and all who dwell upon it. The ceremony includes:

• Blessingway for Land: Sacred practices used to bless and heal the land, ensuring its health and abundance.
• Restoring Harmony: Rituals aimed at restoring balance and harmony between the people and the land.
• Deepening Connection: Processes that strengthen our relationship with the environment to promote healing.

This day will include a special session with Excalibur, the Spanish Mustang who serves as gate keeper to Whispering Feather Farm and brings his gifts as a wise spiritual healer.

Day 2: Horse Healing & Human-Horse Relationship - 10am to 4pm

A profound ceremony specifically designed for horses carrying stored experiences that no longer serve them. These sessions help release trauma and restore balance to our equine companions. Learn how horses teach us to relate to each other, the land, and other beings through healing practices and connection.

Special Evening Event: New Moon Fire Ceremony - 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Day 3: Horse/Human Connection - 10am to 4pm

For the Navajo, horses are central to their creation story, land management, and family systems. This day includes our Connection Clinic with our Navajo friends, featuring horse handling and connection practices.

The Horse: The Spirit That Rides the Wind

In Navajo tradition, the horse carries profound spiritual significance that extends far beyond mere transportation or utility. The Diné know the horse as Tsonii—"He Who Rides the Wind"—a being of extraordinary spiritual power and connection.

The horse emerged when "the Earth was quiet and the people's hearts were restless," coming not with a roar but with a gentle gallop that nonetheless carried unmatched strength. The Great Spirit gifted the horse to the Diné as more than a companion; it became a sacred guide to carry dreams across vast plains and through life's journey.

During our three-day ceremony, we will witness and honor this special relationship. As the traditional songs and prayers fill the air, observe how the horses respond—they often sense the spiritual energy that flows through the ceremony, sometimes gathering close during key moments or mirroring the rhythm of the chants.

The connection between horse and human in Navajo culture represents two spirits bound by trust, moving as one across the Earth. This sacred bond reminds us that the journey is not about knowing the destination, but about trusting the ride and following the wisdom of our hearts.

When participating in the Horse Blessing, you may experience firsthand what elders have observed for generations: when ceremonial balance is achieved, the horses display a profound calm and presence, signaling the restoration of harmony (hózhǫ́) that extends to all participants—human and animal alike.

As we walk in beauty during these three sacred days, we honor the horse as both recipient and facilitator of healing, acknowledging their ancient role as keepers of wisdom and spiritual allies in our collective journey toward balance.

"The Horse trusted the rider to follow their heart. Since that time, the Horse is not just a mount, But a spirit, a symbol of freedom, trust, and connection."

What to Bring

An open mind and magical heart. Layers of clothing (for changing weather conditions). Fold-up chairs. Personal refreshments.

A Rare and Sacred Opportunity

The Navajo Horse Blessing is a beautiful and sacred ceremony that is quickly being lost to history. Those who have witnessed previous ceremonies describe the horses' powerful response as deeply moving.

In the words of Gino Antonio, "The horses know the land well and are such an integral link. Horses bring in the spirits with the songs, offerings, and prayers the way strong winds precede a storm and its blessing of sacred rains... It is also our belief that the beauty we all instinctively possess will grow in everyone in attendance at the Horse Blessing Ceremonies."