A study of Navajo symbolism - Free History Ebooks

7° A STUDY OF NAVAJO SYMBOLISMor he may put the costume on wrong or hemay hear a yei (god) at night. 35 If any ofthese things happen, he will get sick and ifthe Yeibichai chant is held over him and itdoes no good, then this song is used.2. Calling God. The same things may happenat the Yeibichai with the man takingCalling God's place. He might also becomeblind for not performing correctly or hismouth might become crooked aspunishmentfor something he did or should not have done.3. Cedar Tree. This represents a youngcedar tree. When you go to a cedar tree topray you use the prayer of the Talking andCalling Gods. The five colored stones are leftas a gift for the favor asked. The reason youdo this is because the young cedar tree isTalking and Calling God.4. Corn Field. This represents a corn field.If there is no cedar tree you can do the sameas above (number 3) in a corn field. As youenter the corn field you can motion with yourhand toward a tree on a distant mountain andthis will bring the tree to the corn field.If aperson were to give away too many things,carry too many things (commit an excess ofany kind) he might get sick and this ceremonywould have to be used. If intercourse were totake place in the corn field, sickness wouldresult. In this last case, in addition to thesongs and prayers, a sand painting must bemade of Pollen Boy and Corn Beetle for acure. 36In all of these ceremonies, a part of the ceremonymay be used on one specific sickness,but all of this portion must be used or theperson will not be cured.a. Tassels.b. Ears of corn.c. Roots.d. Leaves.5. Pollen Boy. This is Pollen Boy with thefour colors beneath. If you were to lose yourpollen bag or if you have intercourse with a36Such mistakes in the Night Chant are believedto cause blindness, warping, crippling, or twistedmouths. Reichard, 1950, p. 94.36Most of Hill's (1938, p. 56) informants believedthat intercourse did no harm to the corn. One informantbelieved such acts to anger the holy beingsand they would cause trouble.87McAUester's (n.d.) informant, has portrayedLong Life as being either a cross or a cross with thewoman and the pollen bag isyou have this ceremony done.in your pocket,Or if you werepraying for a patient and you drop the bag,this ceremony is done.6. Corn Beetle. Beneath her are the fourcolors. She raises all the plants but would notbe able to without Pollen Boy. These two areinseparable and these two are used togetherin ceremonies. The gift of the five stones inthe corn field are for the Corn Pollen Boy andCorn Beetle Girl. In all cases there must befour stanzas as in previous ceremonies. To getpollen from Corn Beetle, pollen is shaken fromher, i.e., corn pollen is placed on a cornbeetle and then used. Pollen Boy representsLong Life and Corn Beetle Girl representsHappiness.Plate XI: Blessing Way orUpward Reaching Way.If a person gets sick and becomes stiff, thisceremony is used. There are rtany songs andprayers used.1. Earth. This represents the earth. Theinformant stated that the green had no specificmeaning. If someone were to get stiffthis song, "Earth," is sung and a massage givento the parts that are stiff.2. Patient and the Singer. This representsthe patient and the singer. "I am the god (anygod) who stands in the earth."3. "He is moving (or rising) with me."4. "He (the god) got up with me."5. "Carry me along and take me home."6. "Coming back soon to my home."7. "He is going back with me. He sitsdown with me. He is starting to tell stories touse (in the ceremony). He has finished tellingthe stories to me."8. "I am Long Life."9. "The Two go together (Long Life andHappiness)." 3710. "I am Happiness."11. Heaven. "I am the god who stands inhorizontal bar the same as the horizontal bar on aswastika, while Happiness is represented by a swastika.It would be interesting to know the motivationbehind the picturing of these concepts in such a manner.Since the completion of the manuscript, Dr. Mc-Allester has informed me that although he did notcheck this point specifically, there was no implicationthat these formed a traditional set of symbols.