A Quick Run Through Navajo Mythology

Around the globe, mythologies talk about gods that came from the sky and their extraordinary feats. Navajo mythology also falls under this context. In the present day, Navajo Indians are in a population of approximately 150,000 individuals who live in a large desert reservation that spans the American states Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado, forming the most significant Native American tribe in the US. Impressively, the Navajo Indian reservation is larger than France and Navajo mythology offers numerous fascinating insights into their culture.

It is said that, in the distant past, when humans and animals had a common language, there was a dark first world illuminated by fires which burned inside incandescent craters. From here, the insect people started towards other worlds such as that of birds and locusts. Therefore, this narrative involves travels to unknown worlds, via portals and through other dimensions, and their fascinating cosmic evolution.

In the fourth world the first humans of the Navajo people were created, a myth which explains the mysterious origins of this people. The crossing of the worlds by the first beings represents the journey towards the “Shining World from the Surface." As for the other worlds, these were destroyed because of the disrespect of the laws given by the gods regarding coexistence with others, with those from the same people, as well as with those from other peoples and other civilizations. Just like in other origin mythologies, the rules given by the gods must be respected to avoid destruction, but there is also forgiveness which allows for a new beginning in a new world.

Navajo mythology origin stories begin with the first world of darkness. It had four corners, and over these appeared four clouds. These four clouds contained within themselves the elements of the first world. The four corners were colored black, white, blue, and yellow. (Navajo People)

Navajo Mythology Talks About Several Worlds

The origin stories of Navajo mythology begin in the first world, a world of darkness with four colored corners—black, white, blue, and yellow—marked by four clouds representing the elements. Navajo mythology describes the existence of multiple worlds long before the discovery of other planets, showcasing an acceptance of life beyond Earth.

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In the first world, beings such as bees, ants, dragonflies, scarabs, and crickets lived. The legend of the dragonfly explains the concept of flight as it created wings and began to rise into the sky. The inhabitants of this world, seeking to escape the harsh environment of glowing craters, followed its example, eventually discovering a portal to the second world. Its inhabitants flew until they reached the highest part of their world looking for an exit out of the sky. Still, the sky was solid at that point, and they had to search until they saw a blue light from which a blue head came out, which was a crossing point or a portal to another dimension. In this way, the inhabitants of the Navajo first world succeeded in crossing over to the second world where the war against the birds began.

This second world was blue and inhabited by birds. However, the bird people refused to let the insect peoples to settle, and after a war and famine, the insect people were forced to flee to the third world. In this yellow-colored world, they lived peacefully with the locust people until a conflict led them to once again seek another world.

Again, they found a portal in the sky, and they reached the third world where everything was yellow and where the locust people lived. Here, the people lived in peace and harmony, by accepting each other and getting along. However, eventually a conflict made the locusts send away the newcomers. Accompanied by four locusts, they left, again through a portal, to the fourth world.

In the fourth world, which was white and black, they encountered new beings, including the stag, wild turkey, and Kisani, strange humans skilled in agriculture and construction. This world was vast and filled with mysteries.

Navajo mythology describes numerous transitions between worlds, wars between their inhabitants, and journeys through dimensions, themes that resonate with modern scientific topics. The arrival in the fourth world marks the beginning of humanity.

Navajo Yebichai dancers by Edward S. Curtis, 1900, signifying the arrival of the Navajo fourth world and human beings. (Edward S. Curtis / Public domain)

The Creation of Man in Navajo Mythology

In Navajo mythology, gods have a human body. Among them there are White Body, Blue Body, Yellow Body and Black Body. These sacred beings revealed themselves to the insect people, but in an incomprehensible sign language. Therefore, the language of the gods was based on signs that were different from the sign language of the insect people. Finally, seeing that they were not understood, the gods addressed the insect people through spoken language.

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They announced to the insect peoples that they were soon going to create humans who would look exactly like the gods themselves. According to the promise, the gods were to return in 12 days. The insect peoples prepared themselves and the gods returned. On a stag skin the gods placed two corn cobs with their tops facing east. After the action of the winds, from the yellow corn cob the first woman appeared and from the white corn cob the first man appeared.

After the creation of humans by the gods, in time more people were born, and the Navajo civilization developed.

Therefore, according to the Navajo mythology, man was created by a much more advanced civilization, namely that of the gods. However, the catastrophe of the flood would hit the fourth world and humans would have to leave for the fifth world.

Ancient hogan dwellings at Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park: a hogan is the primary, traditional dwelling of the Navajo people. (Dsdugan / CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Fifth World of the Navajo Mythology

As the myth continues, a flood destroyed the fourth world, prompting the people to ascend to the fifth world. This new world was reached through a portal, and the gods sculpted the land it to make it habitable for humans.

The Blue Body god used sacred stones to drain the waters, allowing humans to settle and modify the land using materials from the previous world. Arriving safely in the fifth world, the first peoples were packed closely on an island located in the middle of a big lake. Surrounding the lake was land, but they could not get there. Then, the Blue Body god, who had brought along four sacred stones from the fourth world, threw the stones in the four directions. The waters of the lake drained through the holes made by the stones until a muddy road linking the island to the land emerged. 

The road was muddy, but the wind came to help dry it. Then, humans together with Blue Body and Black Body modeled the mountains by using soil taken from the sacred mountains of the fourth world. So, by using materials brought from the fourth world, the fifth world was prepared and modified to be habitable by humans.

The dangerous mountain of fire plays a key role in Navajo mythology in dealing with the challenges of the fifth world. (Microstocker / Adobe Stock)

The Mountain of Fire

A critical element in Navajo mythology is the mountain of fire, where the Coyote and other creatures sought warmth during the first winter. The Coyote, aided by birds, tricked the monstrous guardians of the fire and managed to steal flames for the people. This story reflects common mythological themes of fire mountains, often linked to advanced civilizations hidden within.

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Navajo mythology is woven into the Navajo culture and its legendary rugs. (PHOTOFLY / Adobe Stock)

This piece of Navajo mythology is interesting because many mythologies talk about mountains of fire or mountains of metal. In general, it is said that inside mountains metal gods dwell, when they have come to the human world. These mountains are guarded by monstrous beings, the guardians of the gods, and at the time when the gods wish to leave, they disappear along with their mountains of iron.

As for the mountain of fire from Navajo mythology, this could have been just a simple volcano, but it could have also been even more than that. It could have been a place where another more advanced civilization unknown to humans lay hidden and which had as guardians the two monsters. Only one thing is certain, the truth can never be known exactly in the worlds of origin mythologies.

These rich narratives offer a glimpse into the Navajo's cosmic and mythological beliefs, weaving together stories of survival, coexistence, and creation across multiple worlds.

Top image: Navajo mythology is woven into the Navajo culture and its legendary rugs. Source: Oscar Ghost / Adobe Stock

By Ancient Origins

References

Clyde Kluckhohn. 1992. The Navaho. Harvard University Press.

James Kale McNeley. 1981. Holy Wind in Navajo Philosophy. University of Arizona Press.

Franc Johnson Newcomb. 1990. Navajo Folk Tales. University of New Mexico Press.

Leigh Sauerwein. 2008. Mitologia Navaja. Blume Editorial.