Sacred Four Directions, Colors, and Mountains
The number four is important in Navajo
thought and ceremonialism where it symbolizes completeness and totality. The
Navajo people came through four worlds: The black, blue, yellow, and glittering
(white). They live within four mountains standing as the corner posts of their
land. Corn comes in the four colors, each with its own special uses. The year
contains four seasons. To traverse the four directions is to complete the
cycle. Life consists of four stages: Childhood, youth, adulthood, and old age
or second childhood. Thus, in many ways the concept of four integrates life
and the cyclical perception of nature.
The Navajo people have designated many
sacred places in and near the Navajo Reservation, areas of special meaning to
them, as individuals and as a people. These sacred places are preserved and
protected because of their importance to and in religious ceremonies. They
are blessed, holy places. Navajo medicine men visit these sacred places, singing
sacred songs and chanting prayers while they gather herbs and plants needed for
their ceremonies.
The holiest places are the Four Sacred Mountains, which give
the boundaries to the Navajo Nation. Each sacred mountain is associated
with a specific color and a precious stone. The Navajo people believe
that the sacred mountains protect their lands and assure them power,
strength, and blessings from the land.
The first sacred mountain is "Blanca Peak" or
"Blackened Belt" (Sisnaajin í; elevation 14,390 feet) to the east
(Ha’a’aah) in south central Colorado near Alamosa and Fort Garland.
The sacred stone for this direction is white shell (Yoo l gaii) and the color
is white, symbolizing the dawn (Hayoo l káál).
The second sacred mountain is Mount Taylor (Tsoo dzil; elevation
11,389 feet) to the south (Shádi’ á á h) in northwestern New
Mexico between Albuquerque and Gallup. The sacred stone for this
direction is turquoise (Doot l’i zhii) and the color is blue,
symbolizing the sky (Nohodeet l’iizh).
The third sacred mountain is the "San Francisco Peaks"
or "High Top Melted Off" (Dook’o’ooslííd; elevation
12,670 feet) to the west (E’e’ ah) in central Arizona
near Flagstaff. The sacred stone for this direction is abalone shell
(Diichi lí) and the color is yellow, symbolizing the evening twilight
(Nohootsoii).
The fourth sacred mountain is "Hesperus Peak" or
"Big Sheep" (Dibé Nitsaa) to the north (Ná hoo k o s)
in the La Plata or Obsidian Mountains in southwestern Colorado.
The sacred stone for this direction is black jet (Bááshzhinni) and
the color is black, symbolizing darkness (Chahe l ee l).
Gobernador Knob (Ch'ool'i'L) is the sacred Mountain on
which Changing Woman was found as a baby. It is located in New Mexico near
Navajo Dam. Huerfano Mesa (Dzif na'ooditii) is located in the "checkerboard
area" of the reservation in New Mexico between Crown Point
and Farmington.
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