Field Notes #4 Prayer before Mountain Trek

Title: Preemptive Prayer

Date: 06/23/2019

Observer: Patrick Morgan

Setting: The base of the mountain ‘lapanugamzhur’ on the island piklatisenja

Act Sequence(loose):

1.) At the base of the mountain with a collection of miners, gathering early in the morning to climb the mountain, in order to harvest silver from a vein near the peak

2.) Gathered in a loose circle at the base of the mountain, before anybody sets foot on the rocky ground proper, the leader of the expedition, named Klaina organizes and verbally performs a prayer, asking for the sea to extend her influence far enough from her banks for their safety in the sky

3.) After every line, which acted as a single request of sorts, the entire group would say at varying volumes  “fun yogin hefshanut” which means either “ocean fly to us” or simply “ocean fly us”

4.) The vocabulary in the prayer made many direct references to water-based things, such as asking the sea to “cry on this expedition” as a way to express blessings

5.) Words ended, and the group sat down and listened as one of the members pulled out a small instrument, resembling a pan flute, and played a very short, but obviously important tune

6.) Heads were not bowed, and instead were focused intently on the performance

7.) The serious and dour mood disappeared immediately upon completion of the prayer, and a few of the miners went to compliment their colleagues playing

Reflections:

The prayer itself was quite barebones and vulnerable, asking very piously for protection and guidance. There seems to be faith in the sea’s strength but never did it seem like there was confidence that their prayers would be answered. This would mesh with the general feeling of the oktip theology; that the ocean does what IT wants, and will answers prayers on its own discretion. Still the prayer was thankful as well, and never sounded fearful.

The use of imagery related to crying has stuck with me, and makes me curious if perhaps crying is seen in a different light entirely as a culture? Maybe not, but it was certainly prevalent enough to be noticeable. 

The incorporation of music is common, and it makes sense here. In other situations of prayer I have briefly witnessed, it was not uncommon for it to end on a sort of chant, or song. Music appears to be a core facet of expressing faith.