The Hopi believe that every element of nature has a spirit and a personality which manifest in certain ways. These representations of nature are called Katsinas (kachinas.) They can represent anything from the sun, to thunderstorms and also plants and animals. The Corn Mother, very similar to the Earth Mother, was thought to have created the Katsinas.
Katsinas are meant to be mediators between the Hopi people and the Creator, bringing them blessings and messages. They are believed to be very powerful and are welcomed into the villages with dancing and festivals. The katsinas in the images above represent two different elements of corn. The katsina on the bottom, Hemis, represents the germinating spirit of corn, while the one on the top, Kokoshori, blesses the harvest.
No comments:
Post a Comment