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Native American Prayer For The Deceased

Native American Prayer For The Deceased to help with healing the spirit of the person who passed away. Native American Prayer for the Deceased is a beautiful prayer for the loved ones that have crossed over into spirit, or passed away through death. This sacred prayer invokes the healing powers of Creator for those who have passed away.

Dear Great Spirit, We thank you for the gift of life. We thank you for the blessing of this body, mind and spirit. We ask that you bless our loved one who has passed away with the same gifts. Protect them in their journey to the other side. Allow them to be free from any pain or suffering they may have endured in their lifetime so that they may live in peace and happiness with you forever. We ask that you allow our loved one’s soul to rest peacefully until it is time for them to return to Earth again. We thank you for all that you have given us and ask for your blessing on the next steps of our lives as we move forward without our loved one here physically with us on Earth.

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Native American Prayer For The Deceased

A Native American Prayer For The Dead

A Prayer is a request for a blessing. It can be to anyone or anything, but most often it’s to the Creator. When we pray, we don’t ask the Creator for something He doesn’t already have; rather, we tell Him what we want and thank Him in advance for giving it to us. Prayers are best done with sweet grass or tobacco because these plants are able to carry our prayers up to the Creator just like smoke from a pipe.

From you comes the sun which brings life to us all; I ask that you have the sun shine on my friends here, and bring a new life to them — a life without the pain and sadness of the world; and to their families, bring your sun for they also need your light for their lives.

My eyes see You, Creator. You are everywhere. You are all that is.

My eyes see You, Creator. You are everywhere. You are all that is.

The sun, the moon and the stars are yours;

The clouds above and the earth below belong to you;

The fish in the sea, the animals on land, and the birds in the sky are yours;

Even my own two eyes are yours;

My heart feels your presence with every breath I take.

Short Native American Prayer For The Deceased

The sun, the moon and the stars are yours. The clouds above and the earth below belong to you.

Native American Prayer For The Dead

The sun, the moon and the stars are yours. The clouds above and the earth below belong to you. You are our father who art in heaven.

You are our mother who art on earth. We give thanks that you have taken away from us our little one and given it to yourself in peace, because we know that now it is with you forevermore in love, light, joy and happiness. Amen

All the fish in the sea, all the animals on land, all the birds in the sky—I know that these are yours, Creator.

All the fish in the sea, all the animals on land, all the birds in the sky–I know that these are yours, Creator.

All the trees of this world and all their fruit–I know that these are yours, Creator.

All of your people and their descendants forever–I know that these are yours, Creator.

Even my own two eyes are yours, for I am part of your creation.

Even my own two eyes are yours, for I am part of your creation.

The eyes are part of the body, and the body is part of the earth, so it goes without saying that we must honor both. But there’s something deeper in this prayer: our eyes are also a reflection of the sky and its many colors, and thus they can remind us of the Creator who made it all possible.

My heart feels Your presence, Creator. Your spirit is within me.

The Creator is within all things. The Creator is within you, and the Creator is within me. The Creator is in all of us.

The Creator’s spirit is present in every aspect of life, from birth to death and beyond it into eternity. The spirit of the Great Mystery has given us this gift: We can feel His presence when we open ourselves up to receive Him.

I seek Your guidance as I move through my day, directing my mind toward Your wisdom, asking for a peaceful heart and mind so that I may walk with an open heart toward those around me, seeking the good in all things and seeing no evil in any person or situation

The warmth I feel from life’s fire is one with Your love for me. This love fills me with peace.

The warmth I feel from life’s fire is one of Your love for me. This love fills me with peace. I am part of your creation and Your spirit is within me.

I know that any pain or suffering I feel is only temporary and cannot destroy my inner peace forever.

I know that any pain or suffering I feel is only temporary and cannot destroy my inner peace forever.

Pain and suffering are temporary. They will pass, like clouds in the sky.

Pain and suffering cannot destroy your inner peace forever. Your inner peace is eternal because it comes from God and can never be lost, no matter what happens in life.

This peace comes from knowing that my spirit is immortal and will live forever with you in the Sky World.

This peace comes from knowing that my spirit is immortal and will live forever with you in the Sky World.

We are all members of one family. We are all brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, grandparents, cousins, and friends—and we always will be. When one of us dies, it’s not like losing just an individual; it’s like losing part of yourself or someone very close to you. It hurts because our spirits are connected.

The Native Americans believe that after death they go to another world where they can live again as they did on Earth but better than before because there is no sickness or suffering there. People who have passed away may come back as birds or animals—sometimes even rocks or sand—to visit their loved ones on Earth while they still remember them (which is why many Indians bury small gifts with their dead).

My thoughts are with you, Creator. Within me, they become prayers which flow to you like sweet smoke from a pipe.

Prayer is a way to connect with the Creator. It’s a way to bring our thoughts and ideas into the world, so they can become more than just thoughts—they become prayers.

You can pray in any language you speak, but if your native tongue is not English, it might be easier for you to pray in English. You may also want to sing your prayer as a song because singing helps us remember our ancestors who sang before us and carry their songs forward into our own lives. These are some of my favorite ways I connect with my Creator through prayer:

  • To call upon the Great Spirit, ask for guidance on how best to help someone who has passed on from this earthly plane of existence; perhaps you’ve found yourself asking questions about death that were difficult for even your doctor or psychologist. You may have gone through many different stages of grief over losing someone close; maybe even years later, there’s still pain associated with his or her passing. Asking these questions aloud will provide answers within yourself that lead back towards healing the mind & body after suffering loss.”

In this way we can be close to one another in Spirit even when we are far away in body..

Many religions have used prayer as a powerful tool throughout history. Prayer can help us connect with the Divine, our ancestors, and those we love. In this way, prayer can be used as a bridge to bring people together even when they are physically separated.

In ancient times, when people were separated from each other by distance or time, they would pray to their ancestors to send messages back and forth across the skies so that they could communicate with one another despite being far apart in body (or perhaps because of it). I’ve heard some historians say that this kind of “sky writing” is what gave rise to some of our most enduring stories: tales about heroic warriors who travel across the heavens on winged steeds like Pegasus; or about wise wizards who use their magic wands as pens to write spells onto scrolls containing instructions for how others can make themselves invisible at will; or about brave heroes who cross oceans in wooden ships made from trees planted from seeds carried across vast expanses by migrating birds.

Thank you for everything you have given me, Creator–for this Earth on which I walk; for all the plants and animals that share it with me; for all my relatives who surround me with their love; and most of all for giving me life itself so that I might experience all these gifts of Creation.

Thank you for everything you have given me, Creator–for this Earth on which I walk; for all the plants and animals that share it with me; for all my relatives who surround me with their love; and most of all for giving me life itself so that I might experience all these gifts of Creation.

Thank you also for my family and friends, who are part of each other’s lives through mutual love and respect. We share joys as well as sorrows, but we always remember that there is great beauty in life even when things are difficult or uncertain.

Now please help us remember those who have died: our ancestors whose spirits still walk among us; our friends who were taken too soon before they were ready to go; strangers whom we barely knew but had an impact on our lives nonetheless; animals who gave their lives freely so we could live better ones ourselves…

Native American Prayer For The Deceased Funeral

Native Americans are known for their appreciation of both life and what comes after. Sharing funeral poems written by Native Americans or related to life in a tribe can be a beautiful way to honor a loved one.


After all, death in different cultures is often experienced and dealt with in unique ways. No matter what a family’s culture and traditions are, though, planning or attending a funeral is hard. (If you’d like some help and guidance through the process, check out our post-loss checklist.)

Poetry can share themes and messages related to your late loved one’s Native American heritage. Native American funeral poems are appropriate for a parent or grandparent’s funeral, a spouse or partner’s funeral, or a child’s funeral.

Native American Poems for a Parent or Grandparent’s Funeral
Poems about death that occur late in life often describe the richness the older person experienced as well as the lessons they learned.

This can be helpful for younger family members attending the funeral or memorial who may not have a full understanding of death yet. These poems can also provide motivation and support for loved ones to carry on despite their grief.

  1. “A Cherokee Prayer” by Kelly Spiritwind Wood
    This poem is a powerful response to the death and destruction of the Cherokee tribe. Though this suggests death occurred in a malicious manner, it is likely still appropriate to share among family members in the Cherokee tribe, especially the elderly. The message of this poem is to want to be strong even when others are leaving the world and the world itself is crumbling.
  2. “Death Song” by David Lee Yellowmoon Rose
    “Death Song” discusses the author’s relationship to the earth and its animals and how they’re both dying together. He also talks about how he’ll return to the earth at times that once provided him with “a robe of life.”
  3. “Each Time” by Wayne Scott
    This poem describes lives as stories and men as histories that write the past. It discusses the act of mourning as well as moving on, bringing us all closer to death ourselves.
  4. “Life Givers” by Katherine Raborn
    This poem is written to an audience of younger people or children. It details the sacrifices and tears shed by their ancestors and elders. This would be appropriate to share to honor a late grandmother or grandfather.
  5. “Death” by Crisosto Apache
    “Death” is a somber poem in response to the dread that comes along with it. The author explains that you shouldn’t repeat the names of the dead, as it causes death itself to linger.

Native American Poems for a Spouse or Partner’s Funeral
Of course, sentiments of love are common at all funerals and memorials, but love holds particular weight at funerals for a spouse or a partner. Some of the Native American poems suggested below can be appropriate in other settings as well, while others have a strong theme of romance.

  1. “Back in the Day” by David Kaw
    This poem describes a courtship and the love between great-grandparents. It’s a nice choice for a wife to share about a late husband or vice versa. The tone of this poem is uplifting and full of gratitude for how things used to be.
  2. “Cherokee Women” by Katherine Raborn
    “Cherokee Women” details times when warriors do not return home. It also talks about how Cherokee women are dedicated to supporting warriors as well as praying for no more battles or tears. You may also be interested in these funeral poems for a husband.
  3. “My Nakota Woman” by Ray
    This poem describes a man’s love for his woman. It would be a great poem to share about a late wife.
  4. “Star” by Jack Scoltock
    “Star” discusses Manitou, the spiritual and fundamental life force of Algonquian tribes. The author hopes that Manitou will bring him home, as he is old and tired.
  5. “Going Home” by Ray
    For many, death is viewed as a way of returning home. The author describes returning to land and “the one” he loves, so it’s appropriate to share at a spouse’s funeral.
  6. “You Are Part of Me” by Lloyd Carl Owle
    An intimate poem titled “You Are Part of Me” talks about how love and kindness can affect one. It would be great to share at a spouse’s funeral among close friends. This poem also has a nice message, as it suggests that because we have experienced life and love with those we care about, they never truly leave us.


Native American Poems for a Child’s Funeral
Finding poems for a child’s funeral can be especially difficult, as losing a child is one of the most painful experiences anyone can go through. However, the following poems lend a bit of joy that’s most likely needed. They also describe the dreams and the freedom from pain that a late child can experience through death.

  1. “Dream Catcher” by Jack Scoltock
    “Dream Catcher” describes a sweet relationship between a child and a father who made a dream catcher to keep evil spirits away. This is a nice sentiment to share as you lay a child to rest.
  2. “Eagle Feathers” by Dinah Serritelli
    Though not about death, this poem is a beautiful sentiment to share from a father to a son, as it’s written from the point of view of a father giving advice. He describes the difficult journey it took for him to transform from a little boy into a man that made his own father proud. Now, as a father himself, he gently encourages his own son and says that he believes in him.
  3. “Pale and Small” by Melissa Fry Beasley
    “Pale and Small” describes a granddaughter wanting to dance forever to the beat of her grandmother’s drum. It’s a beautiful poem with an uplifting sentiment. After all, it suggests that a child who has passed away is simply dancing into eternity with a grandparent who may have also died. You may also be interested in these other funeral poems for a daughter.
  4. “Sister Moon” by Dara Heller
    This poem describes the love we receive from children and how it’s what parents want the most. It does not have a theme of death, but it can be fitting to share for a child who left the earth too early. After all, the parents were given a chance to receive their child’s love for a time, still making it powerful.
  5. “The Lord’s Prayer in Choctaw” by Mike Davis
    As you may know, the Lord’s Prayer is a fundamental prayer in Christianity. It’s common to share at Christian services — either a regular service or for a memorial. Reciting this prayer in Choctaw can provide another level of cultural depth to a funeral, as long as you can find someone who can do so correctly. Sharing a more general prayer with everyone may be more fitting than one written specifically for a child. It may be too difficult to do so.

Poems Help You Honor Loved Ones
You may not be the most confident writer or know too much about Native American culture. However, Native American funeral poems are a great way to capture spirit and wisdom — especially in dealing with death. Native American writings are profound and filled with love, too, as well as an appreciation for the earth that we must someday leave behind.

Not only is Native American poetry powerful in its messaging, but it is also powerful in its quiet confidence. You may find further solace in reading more Native American poems as you grieve. The collection of poems we suggested is just the beginning, as you’re free to use them as inspiration to write your own or conduct more research on the writings of specific tribes, for example.

Native American Prayer For Dead Animal

We pray for many reasons. During times of loss, such as when a beloved pet dies, prayer can offer comfort and help us on the path toward healing.

For some, private prayer offers the best solace. For others, joining with others who shared our pet’s life to offer prayer, provides a valuable shared expression of spirituality.

There are many appropriate prayers for the loss of a pet. We have collected some that we think can offer particular comfort. They can be used for solitary reflection or be incorporated into a ceremony to honor your pet.

Make Me An Instrument of Thy Peace

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned.
And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

—St. Francis of Assisi (Patron Saint of Animals)

Prayer for the Death of a Pet

O Lord our God, we come before You this day in sadness. (Pet’s name), who brought us so much joy in life, has now died. (His/Her) happy times in our family’s embrace have come to an end. We miss (pet’s name) already.

Help us, O God, to remember the good times with (pet’s name). Remind us to rejoice in the happy times (he/she) brought to our home. Let us be thankful for the good life we were blessed to give to (him/her).

We are grateful to You, God, for creating (pet’s name), for entrusting (him/her) to our care, and for sustaining (him/her) in our love for a measure of time. We understand that all that lives must die. We knew that this day would come. And yet, O God, we would have wanted one more day of play, one more evening of love with (pet’s name).

O God, as we have taken care of (pet’s name) in life, we ask that You watch over (him/her) in death. You entrusted (pet’s name) to our care; now, we give (him/her) back to You. May (pet’s name) find a happy new home in Your loving embrace.

As we remember (pet’s name), may we love each other more dearly. May we care for all Your creatures, for every living thing, as we protected the blessed life of (pet’s name). May (his/her) memory bless our lives with love and caring forever. Amen.

—Rabbi Barry H. Block

Catholic Prayer for the Animals

Heavenly Father, our human ties with our friends of other species is a wonderful and special gift from You. We now ask You to grant our special animal companions your Fatherly care and healing power to take away any suffering they have. Give us, their human friends, a new understanding of our responsibilities to these creatures of yours. They have trust in us as we have trust in You; We are on this earth together to give one another friendship, affection and caring. Take our heartfelt prayers and fill Your ill or suffering animals with healing Light and strength to overcome whatever weakness of body they have. ( Here mention the names of the animals needing prayer ) Your goodness is turned upon every living thing and Your grace flows to all Your creatures. Grant to our special animal companions long and healthy lives. Give them good relationships with and if You see fit to take them from us, help us to understand that they are not gone from us, but only drawing closer to You. Grant our petitions through the intercession of good St. Francis of Assisi, who honored You through all Your creatures.

—Author Unknown 

Prayer for Pets

Heavenly Father, Creator of all things, thank you for having entrusted us with such a loyal friend. Thank you for letting this beautiful animal teach us unselfish love. Thank you for the memories we can recall to brighten our days for the rest of our lives. Finally, in gratitude, we return our cherished companion to you. Amen.

—Author Unknown

A Pet’s Prayer

My people are so precious, Lord;
I know You think so too…
And I believe You put me here
To love them just for You!

They take such gentle care of me
And have such tender hearts…
Please use me, Lord, to comfort them
Whenever teardrops start.

They face a lot of battles
As they live & work each day…
they need me, Lord.
To make them smile
And show them how to play!

The world is full of people.
But sometimes real friends are few…
Please let my love & loyalty
Remind them, Lord, of You.

And when my final moment comes,
Lord, tell them as we part…
I was a made-to-order gift
From Your great, loving heart!

—Hope Harrington Kolb

A Parting Prayer

Dear Lord, please open your gates
And call St. Francis
To come escort this beloved companion
Across the Rainbow Bridge.

Assign her to a place of honor,
For she has been a faithful servant
And has always done her best to please me.

Bless the hands that send her to you,
For they are doing so in love and compassion,
Freeing her from pain and suffering.

Grant me the strength not to dwell on my loss
Help me remember the details of her life
With the love she has shown me
And grant me the courage to honor her
By sharing those memories with others.

Let her remember me as well
And let her know that I will always love her.
And when it’s my time to pass over into your paradise,
Please allow her to accompany those
Who will bring me home.

Thank you, Lord,
For the gift of her companionship
And for the time we’ve had together.
And thank you, Lord,
For granting me the strength
To give her to you now.
Amen.

—Brandy Duckworth

Prayer for Lost Pets

Blessed are you, Lord God, for all living creatures you have made. You keep them in your
care and not one of them is lost without you knowing. They glorify you, each in its own
way, and speak to us of your beauty and love. Bless them and keep them from harm.
They unquestionably accept their place in the rhythm of your creation. May we respect
them and cherish them for they are your gift to us; through them may we come to know
you better and praise you, their Creator. Blessed be the love and joy that they bring to
us. Amen.

—Author Unknown

Good-bye Prayer of a Beloved Pet

We gather today joining hearts as we honor the loss of our beloved pet (pet’s name) who made our days and our lives more enjoyable. Someday we hope to meet with you again (pet’s name) in eternity with hugs, kisses, and tears. We miss your daily presence and unending love in our daily lives. Death ends a life but our relationship still lives on in my heart and in my memory of times we spent together. You are now free running the fields where we will meet again. You are restored to complete health. You are in God’s loving care forever. Amen

—Author Unknown

A Prayer for Animals

Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends the animals, especially for animals who are suffering;
for any that are hunted or lost or deserted or frightened or hungry; for all that must be put to death.
We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity, and for those who deal with them,
we ask a heart of compassion and gentle hands and kindly words.
Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals and so to share the blessings of the merciful.

—Albert Schweitzer

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