According to the "emergence" myth of the Arizona hopis, at the beginning of the universe there were four worlds, ours and three below, located in caves, and the first beings lived in the lower world.
Two twins came down from the sky with all the plants, hoping that some of them would have enough strength and height for beings to climb through it to the upper world, and when it came to be too crowded and dirty, they discovered that the cane was the best.
After a while, the second cave was overpopulated and the beings climbed up the cave to the third cave. There, the two brother gods discovered fire and, with its light, people built houses and could travel. However, a difficult period came and the population moved to the fourth world, ours, under the leadership of the twins.
The knife story of creation refers to an ascending migration across three worlds. The first and darkest place was the home of Begochiddy, the first man, first woman, salt woman, god of fire and coyote. The son of the sun, Begochiddy, created insects, plants and five mountains.
The six beings were tired of this world and ascended to the second by the stem of a junction. There, Begochiddy generated more mountains, clouds, other plants and different forms of life. The sextet was forced to climb the juncture to the third world, where there was light, rivers, springs and abundant life due to conflicts with other beings.
Although Begochiddy created human beings, malicious magic arts caused conflicts between men and women, and Coyote stole the monster's son of water, which, furiously, caused a terrible flood. Although the group tried to climb the juncture again, they failed to reach the next world. With the help of the spider town and Langosta, Begochiddy managed to reach the fourth world, that is, this one, and discovered that it was an island in a great sea. The retreat of the waters was caused by four gods, and the winds dried the ground. At that time, Begochiddy created the world as Navajoes know it.
Native American Cultures: Myths and magic
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This book challenges deep-seated stereotypes and offers an enriching perspective that contributes to a more comprehensive and respectful appreciation of the indigenous peoples of North America. Through an understanding of their myths and beliefs, we are taking an important step toward cultural reconciliation and the recognition of the diversity that has enriched the history of this continent.
These mythical stories, many of them linked to the literary genre of fantasy, reveal a world where the divine and the human intertwine in narratives that explain the cosmic order, creation, and the fundamental structure of the universe. Discover how these sacred tales bear witness to the deep connection of the natives with nature and spirituality.
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