Earth Is My Mother, Sky Is My Father:Space, Time, and Astronomy in Navajo Sandpainting

Description

To the Navajo| sandpaintings are sacred| living entities that reflect the interconnectedness of all living beings – humans| plants| stars| animals| and mountains. This book explores the circularity of Navajo thought in analyses of sandpaintings| Navajo chantway myths| and stories reflected in the celestial constellations. Beginning with an introduction to Navajo history and ethnography| the author explores the spiritual world of the Navajo| their ceremonial practices| and their conceptions of time and stellar motion. The Navajo depict the heavens in a group of sacred sandpaintings| and Griffin-Pierce shows how these images not only communicate the temporal and spatial dimensions of the Navajo universe but also present| in visual form| Navajo ideas about relationships among nature| self| and society. Beautifully illustrated by the author| this well-documented book is based on six years of fieldwork with Navajo chanters and on the author’s twenty-year friendship with a Navajo family. Earth Is My Mother| Sky Is My Father is an engaging study for anyone who wants to better understand modern Navajo philosophy and sacred practices.