A study of Navajo symbolism - Free History Ebooks

NAVAJO SYMBOLS IN SAND PAINTINGS AND RITUAL OBJECTS: NEWCOMBnested on the peak of Shiprock and broughtsmall children as food for the two fledglingsThe sun and the moon are twinin the nest.powers in the sky and, although both are consideredmasculine in gender, the sun plays thedominant role, while the moon, although ofequal importance, is less aggressive. FatherSky and Mother Earth are twin creations and,when placed in the same sand painting, are alwaysshown as being the same size and thesame shape, but bearing different colors, designs,and potentials.There are two guards placed before thedoor when a ceremonial lodge is symbolizedin sand, and two guardians at the east of manysand paintings. There are two "talking kehtahns"and two "spirit givers." Estsan-ahtlehay,the Earth Woman, and Yolthkai-estsan,the White Shell Woman who representswater. These are a few of the instances whichemphasize the importance of the number "2"in Navajo ceremony and sand painting.More difficult to evaluate "1" is as a symbolicnumeral. Many lone figures which maybe used for complete sand paintings are stillassociated with companions or with groups ofsimilar symbols. The blue-faced sun is oftenused in a minor ceremony, but the white-facedmoon is considered its companion. MotherEarth may be used as the design for a healingor blessing ceremony, but Father Sky isneeded to complete the symbology, as onedoes not exist without the other.There is one great coiled serpent whichrepresents the latent powers of the underworld,but because of his twelve coils and histwelve house markings, he becomes a sum offour. There is one large whirling wind symbolthat has no companion which is edged withforty-eight knives which promise death to allwho venture near; and there is one evil blackstar which foretells illness and misfortune toall who chance into its influence. There isalso a monster serpent who "swallows hisvictim alive" or so surrounds him with evilthat misfortune follows his every act.A very unusual ceremony is sometimes heldfor a person who has been bitten by a snakeor is thought to be the victim of snake magic.The sand painting for this ceremony depicts alarge blue serpent about six feet long and threefeet wide. The patient, liberally sprinkledFigs. 12-13. I2a - Static cloud giving nourishment totree. 12b. Three sprigs of tree carried by sand paintingfigures.13. Cloud dropping rain on earth.with blue sand, lies on this huge symbol whilethe prayer chant and the rites take place.Then the medicine man actually drags thevictim away from the monster and the paintingis destroyed.Many of the legendary monsters vanquishedby Enemy Slayer were solitary evil doers, andwhen one was destroyed there were no othersAmongto trouble the inhabitants of the earth.these were the great giant on Mt. Taylor,whose blood ran down the valleys and turnedinto lava rock; the monster Elk at Black Lake,the Rolling Stone, the Eyes-that-kill and theKicking Rock. From these and other instances,it would seem that "1" is a numbermore often connected with evil forces thanwith those of a beneficent nature. It may bethat, in Navajo myth and symbolism, a loneobject or force such as the cyclone representssomething abnormal, or perhaps a rebel suchas the black star who became an enemy ofsociety and is greatly feared. The tornado isshown singly with lightning arrows, and whenin milder form carrying wild plants.As a set and unvarying number for manythings "3" (figs. 12, 13) is used in various ritesand sand paintings. Triangles are active,