K-Tag Ceremony a Poem by Luci Tapahonso

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With this text, the reader becomes aware of how the autochthonous nature of Diné spirituality influences every aspect of their belief system. We see this involvement with nature through several different analytical lenses including sacred narratives, ceremonies and rituals, religious specialists and power. Through sacred narrative ad ceremony and ritual in the novel, we see connection with place and nature during the K-Tag ceremony in the poem entitled “K-Tag Ceremony”. Ceremonies and rituals with ties to nature are also seen in the chapter entitled “Tune Up”. In “Tune Up” we also see the important role of the Medicine Men in Native American spirituality which would be classified under the analytical lens of religious specialists as well as power. Finally, we see the connection with the analytical lens of integration through nature in the poem “The Canyon was Serene”.
In the poem “K-Tag”, we see the use of sacred narrative, or rather, the reference to sacred narrative in the body of the poem. Tapahonso makes references to the Holy Ones or ancestors in the poem. “The Holy Ones named our grandbabies as we presented them to the sun, our father their little arms extended to the south and north…” (Tapahonso 83). It is difficult to pick just one cultural lens to analyze anything in Native American spirituality because if the importance of interconnectedness with the earth and other creatures of the earth. While this poem reflects ceremony, it also reflects the importance of place. In ceremonies, it seems direction plays an important role, especially east, the direction of the rising sun. The child in the K-Tag ceremony being described is facing East and would have to be because its arms are “extended to the south and north” (Tapahons...

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...he power itself is woven into rugs and kept in daily prayers.
It is difficult to choose just one lens to analyze different aspects of Diné spirituality because of the importance of integration and interconnectedness with the earth and all its creatures. They have a profound respect for each other as human beings as well as respect for nature. They feel responsible to care for the earth and its creatures because we all depend on one another for survival. Kinship and community is not just between humans but it is also with the land, with the animals and with the insects. Tapahonso illustrates all of these aspects of Diné spirituality beautifully in her collection of poems and short stories through her personal experiences in everyday life as a Diné woman.

Works Cited

Tapahonso, Luci. A Radiant Curve: Poems and Stories. Tucson: University of Arizona, 2008. Print.

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