HOPI DIRECTIONS
The Hopi build towns and hold ceremonies with the orientation of important directions incorporated in the architectural layout, dance plazas and the ceremonies. These directions are primarily based on the positions of the sun on the horizon in the Northern hemisphere at sunrise and sunset in conjunction with moonrise/set and constellation and/or planetary movements that generates a celestial analogue calculator that utilized natural geographic features on the horizon and various positional light and shadow features sometimes enhanced with architectural features or rock art. Here are the primary directions of the Hopi:
|
Zenith (Above) |
| Northwest |
Northeast |
|
Center (All) |
| Southwest |
Southeast |
|
Nadir (Below) |
Each direction also has other elements associated with it based upon the myths and reflected in ceremony and costume
|
Northwest sikya,yellow |
Southwest sa'kwa,bl-green |
Southeast pa'la,red |
Northeast ko'tsa,white |
Above ku'mbi,black |
Below ma'si,grey |
|
| stone/shell | naya'wuna,yellow stone | choshmuna, turquoise | wawuna,pink stone | shaatcina,white stone/shell | aiwanga,black stone | tcimotcima,gray stone |
| bird | ta'wa mana, oriole | tco'ro, mt. lion | kyaro, macaw | posi'wu, magpie | pavau'kaiya, swift | toposkwa, can. wren |
| flower | he'si, mariposa lily | tcoro'si, blue larkspur | mansi, Ind. paintbrush | poli'si, even. primrose | akau'wosi, sunflower | so'sosi, many blooms |
| cultivated plant | homiu'yi, corn | moriu'yi, bean | pa'tnau'yi, squash | pi'chinu'yi, cotton | kawaiu'yi, watermelon | so'shuu'yi, many plants |
| corn | takuri, yellow corn | sakwa'pu, blue corn | pavala, red corn | qoyawi, white corn | koko'ma, black corn | tawa'kchi, sweet corn |
| prey animal | to'hoa, mt. lion | ho'nauwu, blk. bear | kwe'wuuh, red wolf | toko'chi, bobcat | kwa'hil, golden eagle | hona'ni, badger |
| game animal | sowi'nwu, deer | pa'nwii, mt. sheep | chu'bio, antelope | chai'zrisa, elk | so'wi, jack rabbit | ta'vo, cottontail |
| bird of prey | hunwikya, Cooper's hawk | kih'sa, prairie falcon | natuyawu, sharp-shinned hawk | sowitoaya, kite | kwa'hil, golden eagle | ma'si kwa'yo, grey hawk |
| tree/scrub | kwi'nvi, mt. oak | kaha'vi, willow | ho'novi, cliff rose | ho'hil, juniper | siva'pi, rabbit brush | tu siva'pi, min. rabbit brush |
In the Kachina and non-Kachina dances the various animals and plants are acknowledged in the costumes, shrines, and offerings that are made. The more intimate details of powers and relationships are derived from the myths and the domain of Hopi practitioners and specialists.