https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=24&v=gYWyIISAMGs&feature=emb_logo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=24&v=gYWyIISAMGs&feature=emb_logo
After the creation of the Earth, sky, and the atmosphere, the Holy people realized that the whole universe was entirely dark. There was no form of light to illuminate the universe. So the Holy people reconvened to discuss how to remedy this situation. Since there was no source of light, there was no order and direction, and no measurement of time. (similar to the dreaming - Aborigine legend) Once they had a means of measuring time and having light to see with, they would set about organizing the rest of the world. They gathered all different types of materials that they thought would be good as a light source. While they were debating on an adequate instrument that could give out light, a certain young man came forward and pulled out a turquoise spherical object from his cloak. “This will be the instrument that will be the container of light. The ‘First Fire’ will be the source to energize it with light and heat. We will put this fire in the turquoise sphere,” he announced. “But you must place all your prized possessions of gems and other valuable items on the buckskin.”
The people did not know who this young man was or why he wanted their precious possessions, but they did as he instructed. They brought forth turquoise, and many other precious gems. They also brought forth other beautiful and prized material possessions. They piled these on the buckskin as they were instructed. They were all curious and awed by his assumption of authority in the matter. This young man seemed to know what he was doing. At length, the quiet young man came forth again. He said, “These precious gems and other belongings that you have brought forth will be placed within the turquoise sphere and it will be known as ‘One That Travels During the Daytime’ or Sun. It will send its rays to the Earth and these rays will embody all these valuables that you have given, the Sun will give wealth and goodness to the Earth and all its inhabitants.” The people placed features on the face of the sphere. They also placed arms, legs and torso on it. The young man was instructed to place emotions in the sphere so that it would feel compassion, anger, sadness, and happiness. The Sun must be like Earth people so he could understand their needs and be forgiving when they neglected to do their duties. The young man took a portion of First Fire, and ignited the sphere with it. Immediately the sphere burst into flames. The heat and light from it was so hot and bright that many shrank from it and shielded themselves. The ground beneath and around the Sun burned from the great heat it radiated. It was clear to the People that the Sun could not remain on or near Earth as they had originally planned. Another alternative had to be found before the whole Earth was burned to a crisp. Suggestions were given quickly due to the urgency. Some said the Sun should be hung from the sky, others thought that placing it on a high mountain would solve the problem. Still others suggested that the wind could blow it in the sky and retain it there. The most practical ideas were tried. There was great confusion and panic as they tried to solve the problem as quickly as possible. As others ran about in a state of frenzy, the young man came forward again. Very calmly he said, “Perhaps someone should carry the Sun above the Earth. In this way the whole sky could be filled with light and warmth rather than having small portions being filled at a time.” The young man instructed that someone with great power should have to enter the Sun and ascend above the Earth and remain in the sky. Once more there was a scramble as volunteers came forward. Each of the volunteers tried using all his powers and strength to carry the Sun, but none was successful. Even Coyote entered the sphere as the others had done. Summoning every ounce of strength in his body, straining every muscle, he heaved and heaved pulling tendons and ligaments, but even he could not lift the Sun. After several heroic tries, even Coyote had to admit that he could not lift the burning Sun. Exhausted, he went to the sidelines and waited with the others. The young man came forth again and announced that he would carry the Sun. But he decreed that for every day he carried the Sun, a life on Earth would be taken. “This will be my payment,” he said. The people gathered and had to agree for there was no other way. The young man entered the Sun and ascended into the sky. He did not have to struggle as the others had because he was the only one that possessed the power and knowledge to exert influence and great force to make it function properly. It was also declared by the people that the Sun would rise from the east and set in the west. This set the four cardinal directions for the people. He must travel in a circle in a counter clock direction, Shábik’ehgo. This would induce and require complete cycles for all life on Earth. Another order to everything was made.
<aside> 💡 Traditionally and historically Navajos refer to themselves as the Diné, meaning “the People.” Sacred stories passed down from generation to generation tell of earthly and cosmological origins and relationships with continuous historical evolution through four worlds.
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The creation story → forward to star birth: (long version @ bottom of page | creation of universe)
First Man, First Woman, Great Coyote, and the Holy People next planned stars for the night sky. They gathered as many pieces of tsésǫʼ, rock-star mica, as they could find, and put them on a blanket. Then First Man made a drawing in the dirt to plan the location of all the stars seeking to make the sky like a woven rug, orderly and balanced. Haashchʼééshzhiní, Black Yéʼii, placed the Sǫʼtsoh (North Star). First Man placed the Náhookǫs [bikąʼí] (Big Dipper) while First Woman put the Náhookǫs [baʼáádí] (Little Dipper) into the sky. First Man also placed the Dilyéhé (Seven Stars, the Pleiades) which Black Yéʼii claimed represented parts of his body. They placed Áłtséʼétsoh, the Big First One. They placed Áłtséʼétsʼósí, Coyote's Feather, or the Slender One (the belt and sword of Orion). They placed Baʼáłchíní, the children of Dilyéhé and Áłtséʼétsʼósí; and Hastiin Sikʼaiʼí, The-Old-Man-with Feet Apart; and the Rabbit Tracks, Gah Atʼéʼii; and Yikáí Sidáhí Moving-toward-the-Dawn; and Náhookǫs Bakąʼí, The-Revolving-Male-Warrior-with-His-Bow-and-Arrow; and his wife, Náhookǫs Baʼáádí, Who-Carries-the-Fire-in-Her-Basket.[20] The Coyote named First Angry returned to see what was going on. He took a piece of rock-star mica and placed it on the sky, and it became Mąʼii bizǫʼ, known by Bilagáana as Canopus. He placed another piece in the south, Sǫʼ Doo Nidisidí, Morning Star. Then Coyote said, "This is too long. I have a better way." He then snapped the blanket and the rest of the rock-star mica was scattered across the sky. - WIKI
Coyote was a trickster, and would often use this to get what he wanted. In one story, Coyote turned a hero into a coyote, and in turn became the man. He went to the hero's home and slept with his wife. Coyote smelled very bad. When the wife visited her mother, she smelled the Coyote on the wife. They then knew that Coyote had tricked them. - https://www.windows2universe.org/mythology/coyote_milkyway.html
According to Navajo mythology, the milky way was created by the mischievous behavior of the god, Coyote. When the world was created, the Holy People gathered around Black God to place the stars in the sky. Coyote grew annoyed at the slowness of this process.
In his anger, he chose to place a red star, called Ma'iio, in the south. Ma'iio means 'the one who roams'. This star symbolizes Coyote and appears for only a short time during the year. To the Navajo, it is a symbol of trouble. Coyote continued to be displeased with the Holy People's progress and threw the bag of stars over his head, forming the Milky Way.
Sǫʼ = star in Navajo (sphere of plasma held together by gravity, undergoing fusion; type of astronomical object consisting of a luminous spheroid of plasma held together by its own gravity.)
storytelling - "Navajo astronomy, as taught in a traditional setting, would take place in a hogan or home, among the family. A most knowledgeable elder would generally tell the stories as part of a legacy of traditional knowledge transmission. Today much of this knowledge has been forgotten or lost. It lives on in the realm of the esoteric, with pieces of the whole story held by different clans, different families and different knowledge holders. There is no one “correct” way to tell these stories. Each version holds its own integrity and lineage. Traditionally these stories were told in an eloquent manner as oral stories, with the storyteller infusing enhanced meaning through voice, movement and sound." "Winter is considered to be a time of rest and reflection. The bears and reptiles are hibernating under the ground or in caves. The plants are gathering their strength to begin growing again in the spring. Traditionally families would gather in the Hogan and tell winter stories, including star stories and coyote stories." -https://www.raritanval.edu/sites/default/files/aa_PDF Files/6.x Community Resources/6.4.5_SD.10.NavajoSkies.pdf
Geography - Navajos have organized their star knowledge from their central location surrounded by the four sacred mountains. The order of the stars is associated with the geographical information provided from the cardinal directions of the sacred mountains. The cardinal directions, east, south, west and north, are directly connected to the cosmic stellar process as observed from this position of centrality in the area of the four corners of the American southwest. For example, east is associated with the place where the sun comes up, as evidenced by the equinox and solstice travels of the sun. Likewise in the evening, as the Navajo language clearly articulates, the area in which the sun goes down provides location and directionality. Embedded in the Navajo language all directions have a clear relationship with cosmic processes. Ha’aa’aah (east) means “where the sun comes up.” Shádi’ááh (south) means “as the sun travels with and for me.” E’e’aah (west) means “where the sun goes down.” Náhookòs (north) refers to the North Star (Náhookòs Bikò‘), and Náhookòs Bikà’ (Big Dipper) and Náhookòs Bi’áád (Cassiopeia) as they always rotate and revolve in the northern direction of the night sky