After a wonderful stay at the Desert Rose Inn, thanks to the generosity of Cindy and Amer Tumeh, we headed out of Bluff, Utah, knowing that the most incredible and unique vistas lie not too far ahead of us.

Having been through Monument Valley many times myself in the past, I was more excited for the rest of the team members who have not yet experienced this almost unearthly place which is nearly impossible to describe. I was fortunate to have been able to run some of the section going into Monument Valley, and I enjoyed every minute of it even though most of those minutes were spent struggling up the long hills.

Just before entering what I would call a geographical wonder of the world, we were met by Phil Zahne, Communty Involvement Coordinator and Donna Leno from Kayenta and others from the Navajo Nation. They had arranged for us a blessing from a local ‘Medicine Man’, Lee Joe Gambler, down one of the banks of the San Juan River in the tiny town of Mexican Hat. It was a powerful ceremony conducted mostly in the native Navajo language. As we stood there with our new Native American friends being blessed for our safe journey, the harmony of the river and mother Earth itself seemed to bless us for the long miles ahead in the months to come.

With a multi-vehicle police and fire department escort into Monument Valley, I ran up the hills preceding the Valley with vast and colorful vistas of ancient rock formations revealing the ageless wonders of earthly time. It was a difficult run made easy by the life-giving energy of this ethereal place. With so much support from the Navajo Nation escorting us through their sacred lands, we felt the very essence of harmony and oneness as we made our way to Kayenta.

At the town limits, we were again met by escorts and runners alike, including Phil and Donna and her lovely daughter Dana. After a two mile slow jog into town, we were heartily welcomed by many of the townspeople of Kayenta and the Navajo Nation. More prayers and blessings were offered mostly in Navajo native language, and we were transported by the wonderful comments made by people like Gary Nelson, Town Manager and Alice Yazzie, Kayenta Chapter Vice President and others.

The ceremony was both traditional and modern. We had a fire ceremony along with blessings with white Eagle feathers which was a very soulful and powerful experience. The speeches were very moving, reflecting a deep understanding by the Navajo people of the harmony and oneness that is needed in the world today. There was also a moment of silence for those who offered their services and even their lives for their country. Many Navajo were in the service for the U.S. and are being remembered and respected on Memorial Day. We were offered water and drinks and watermelon to make this day in Kayenta a very enjoyable and memorable one.

The incredible oneness and friendship did not stop there though. In the evening we were offered a big dinner of traditional Indian fry bread with beans and vegetables. We were able to mix with the local Navajo who had worked so hard to get the welcoming ceremony for us together. We are so grateful to all of them including Andre Reville and all the great guys of the Volunteer Fire Department, Sgt. Phillip Clah and the Police Department did a superb job escorting us and taking care of all the traffic details. Dana Lee helped her mother Donna organize all the details of the event including printing out the beautiful flyers for the event. The radio station KTNN, Voice of the Navajo Nation, was there doing live interviews with many of the runners and some of the Navajo organizers. We also would like to thank Kristine from the Wells Fargo Bank who offered the parking lot for the ceremony and Geraldine with the Shelter Home for having volunteers to do so much work. So many other locals who were there that we may not have had the opportunity to meet all made this event for us very special.

After the dinner, Phillip, Donna, Dana, and Gary Nelson, the Town Manager and his lovely wife met with us in a traditional Navajo circular meeting structure built with an intricate design of logs covered with earth. They talked about the Navajo traditions and culture and taught us much about their way of life. I was particularly interested in the fact that they are against gambling and alcohol on the reservation. This seems to me to be very important in keeping the close knit extended family structure which is very important to the Navajo.

At the end of the meeting they offered us a traditional Navajo basket woven from real native grasses. The intricate design of various colors represented different aspects of our life on earth, including sky, clouds, mountains and earth. The patterns ended in a line that should always face east. Also the doorways on the Hogans should always face east to open to the new day and light of the rising sun.

It was a long and exciting day full of natural wonders and amazing local native people, all who made today’s running to share harmony with the earth and its people a truly rewarding and memorable one.

With Gratitude, Harmony and Oneness,

Arpan and Team Harmony

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