Hózhó T-Shirt

Hózhó

Hózhó

Hózhó. an idea related to such concepts as “beauty,” “blessing,” “holy,” and “balanced.” But this middle ground is difficult to maintain and may vanish because of witchcraft or the violation of a taboo.
My symbolism here represents a basic belief in traditional Diné (Navajo) culture. The opening at the top of the design represents East, the sacred direction from which Holy People come in response to a Singer’s chanted request for intercession. Such openings are protected by a variety of creatures or symbols such as Beaver (depicted here), Otter, Bat, Buffalo, Big Snake, Moon, and Sun.
The angular, four-sided motif contains four mountain symbols, each with a symbolic color. These represent the four sacred mountains (although there are actually seven):
White Shell Mountain (Sierra Blanca Peak, Colorado): white-east-dawn;
Turquoise Mountain (Mount Taylor, New Mexico): blue-south-day;
Abalone Shell Mountain (Mount Humphreys, Arizona): yellow-west-twilight;
Coal Mountain (Hesperus Peak, Colorado): black-north-darkness.
Below this are Father Sky and Mother Earth, made into human form. Father Sky displays symbols of the sky – sun, moon, stars, and lightening. Mother Earth contains symbols of the earth – plants and other living things, in particular, Cornstalk.
Finally, surrounding the outside is a Ye’ii Rainbow irit. This is protection against evil spirits. Ye’ii (pronounced “yay”) Spirit, is a depiction of a irit considered by the Navajo to be a go-between between man and the Creator. Ye’iis control natural forces in and on the earth, such as day and night, rain, wind, sun, etc. “Rainbow Man” controls the rainbow and gives beauty to those in harmony.