Serious question, When native americans practice the rain dance, does it rain at the end of practice?
Since I’m not a Native Ameican, I can only answer about ritual generally. I doubt if there is such a thing as a “practice” rain dance, any more than a Christian “practices” praying–you just do it as well as you can at the time. The rain dance is probably learned by watching older people do it, so when it’s your turn, you repeat what you saw done before. Like any ritual, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t; sometimes the result is a complete surprise, or more than you wanted, or less. Then there is the fact that prayer is called a spiritual “practice” — something you do on a regular basis without dwelling on the results of any given session.
Hi, A rain dance is spiritual/ceremonial dance that is used not only to invoke rain but to ensure protection of the harvest. In some tribes it was a dance not only for rain and protection but to drive the “evil spirits” from the earth. In answer to the another comment yes there is a Sun Dance as well – The different tribes have different ways of doing this. (this dance still takes place every year in Northern Arizona, and can usually only be seen by invitation) Most Native American Dances are ceremonies of prayer or celebration (or both) Depending on which tribe the ceremony differes for each type of “dance” If you ever get a chance to see Native American’s dance even if it is a Pow Wow you should its an awesome sight and stirs the soul of many people who are non native americans I have seen many of the Native American Ceremonial dances as it is part of my heritage.
