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Many of the presentday desendents of the Anasazi have conflicting ideas and beleifs, but some of them are the same. In
the picture at the right, the blanket depicts the strong conection (much like other tribes in North America) to nature and
the four directions. The sign represents the four directions.
In some of the Western Peublo tribes they beleive that the spirits can go in and out of the third and fourth world (the
third and fourth world are this world and the world of the dead) through a sipapu found in a kiva. A kiva can be found
in nature or it can be man made. Basicaly, its a holy place that has a doorway to the world of the dead.
Long ago, the sipapu was open to everyone, and the dead could resurect back to the world of the living. When coyote
found that he could not keep the dead in the world of the dead he closed the sipapu witha giant boulder and no only spirits
are aloud to move through the sipapu.
The kachina or katsina dolls (wich ever you prefer) were originally made only by the Hopi. Somewhere along the
line, through "pan Indianism" (tribes copying other tribes when someone likes what the see) the Navajo, the Zuni and many
of the Western Peublos started making the "dolls", despite all of these tribes being at least partially desendents of the
Anasazi, these "dolls" were originally only part of the Hopi culture. The Navajo actually have a whole different concept
pertaining to spirits. The kachinas are actually the spirits inhabiting a talisman. The Navajo call spirits ye'ii.
And while they may beleive in sipapus and kivas, they do not have kachinas. "Navajo kachinas" are likely made in a factory,
just like the ones that come from Korea.
The kachinas were used during certain ceremonies to summon spirits from the sipapu. These ceremonies were usually
performed in a kiva during a soltice or an equinox. During these ceremonies, the men dancing would dress to resemble
theire kachina, and would be beleived to actually become the kachina during the ceremony. Only certain ceremonies were
performed during certain times of the year, determined by the religious calendar. During half of the year, no ceremonies
would be performed.
The picture at the left is a Zuni fetish (it is the white bear which represents medicine, not wester medicine, but indian
medicine, which is not only the ability and knowledge to heal, but the ability and knowledge to communicate with spirits).
A fetish (unlike the absesion) is a replica of an animal or a diety. Each fetish has its own "powers". Sometimes
it can be to protect, to gain good fortune, or just to remind its holders of their wisdom. A fetish is sometimes used
in certain Zuni riuals and ceremonies.
This particular Zuni fetish represents spiritual journey, introspection, and strength.
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