Introduction
(Use a calm, steady tone and pause briefly between sentences to allow listeners to settle into the moment.)
Welcome, and thank you for joining this space of gratitude and reflection. Today, we will center ourselves through the spirit of Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen (Oh-hen-don Gar-ee-wah-day-gwen), the Thanksgiving Address of the Haudenosaunee (Hoe-deh-no-SHOW-nee) people. These are the “words that come before all else,” spoken to honor and acknowledge the interconnectedness of all life.
The Thanksgiving Address is a traditional expression of gratitude used in ceremonies, gatherings, and meetings among the Haudenosaunee, also known as the Iroquois Confederacy. It is a way to give thanks for the natural world, the elements, and the Creator, reflecting a worldview of harmony and mutual care between humans and the Earth.
As we share this practice today, let us honor its origins and the teachings it carries. Take a moment to close your eyes, settle into your body, and allow yourself to connect with a sense of gratitude.
Meditation Script
(Speak gently, pausing after each sentence to give listeners space to reflect and feel the gratitude. Repeat the gratitude cycle three times, encouraging a deeper connection with each round.)
Let us begin by giving thanks for the people, for the presence of each person here today, and for the peace that surrounds us all.
(Pause)
We give thanks to our Mother, the Earth, who nurtures and sustains all life.
(Pause)
We give thanks to the waters of the Earth, the rivers, lakes, and oceans, which bring life and flow endlessly across the land.
(Pause)
We give thanks for the plant life that grows upon the Earth, providing beauty, food, and shelter.
(Pause)
We give thanks for the medicines, which heal and restore us.
(Pause)
We give thanks for the free, wild animals, who remind us of freedom and harmony with nature.
(Pause)
We give thanks for the trees, whose roots hold the Earth and whose branches reach the sky.
(Pause)
We give thanks for the birds, who sing songs of joy and carry messages across the winds.
(Pause)
We give thanks for the winds, which move the air and bring the breath of life.
(Pause)
We give thanks for the thunderers, who bring the rains that nourish the land.
(Pause)
We give thanks for our elder brother, the sun, who gives warmth and light to all.
(Pause)
We give thanks for our grandmother, the moon, who lights the night and guides the tides.
(Pause)
We give thanks for the stars, who remind us of the vastness and beauty of the universe.
(Pause)
We give thanks to She Who Made Our Bodies, for the gift of life and the ability to experience this world.
(Pause)
Reflection and Closing
(Use a steady and grounding tone to guide listeners back to the present.)
As we conclude this Thanksgiving Address, let us hold these words in our hearts. If there is anything we have forgotten to mention, let us acknowledge it now silently, in our own way. Gratitude is not only an act of speaking but a way of being—let us carry this appreciation into our thoughts, actions, and relationships.
Take a deep breath in, feeling the fullness of this moment. As you exhale, allow the energy of gratitude to flow out into the world.
(Pause for a few breaths)
Now, slowly bring your awareness back to the space around you. Feel the support of the ground beneath you. Wiggle your fingers and toes, and when you feel ready, gently open your eyes.
Thank you for joining this practice of thanksgiving. May our minds and hearts remain grateful in all we do.
Optional Closing Affirmation (in Haudenosaunee and English):
(ask everyone to stand and form a circle and hold hands and ask them to repeat after you three times the following:
“Etho niyohtónhak nonkwa’nikònra.”
(So let us stay grateful in our minds and our actions.)
Pronunciation:
EH-tho nee-yo-TOHN-hak non-kwa-nee-KOHN-rah