Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Explanation
Most Native Americans believed that life would continue after death. However, ideas of exactly what the afterlife were like varied greatly from one tribe to another. Through the exploration of this topic, I will create a visual explanation of these beliefs.
Native American culture has always been a big part of my life. I was very close to my Grandmother, who was full-blooded Cherokee, so I have always felt drawn to that side of my heritage. I have dreamed of reincarnation and possible afterlives since I was young, so it has definitely been inspiring for me to further explore and research the topic. I have started gathering textures and other visual imagery to further help the design process.
Native American culture has always been a big part of my life. I was very close to my Grandmother, who was full-blooded Cherokee, so I have always felt drawn to that side of my heritage. I have dreamed of reincarnation and possible afterlives since I was young, so it has definitely been inspiring for me to further explore and research the topic. I have started gathering textures and other visual imagery to further help the design process.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Native American Views on Death and The Afterlife
The Maya of Southeastern Mexico believed that the spirit of the dead made a journey, but during the journey the soul was tested by the rulers of the underworld. If the tests were passed, the spirit gained a carefree eternal life. Failure condemned the spirit to wonder forever through the underworld, which was thought to be a dangerous place from which the soul could never escape. The Underworld was ruled by the Lords of Xibalba (Shi bal ba), who controlled harmful and infectious diseases.
Hunapa (wan a pwa), and Xbalanque (SHi BA lan KAY) traveled to the underworld and used trickery to pass the cruel tests. They killed One-Death and Seven-Death, two of the Lords of Xibalba (Shi bal ba), and because of their bravery were put in control of human fate. Hunapa became the sun, the symbol of life and heavenly power. Xbalanque, (SHi BA lan KAY) however became the jaguar (symbolized by the star of Venus) and was put in charge of the underworld and death.
Aztec Men that were killed in war, were believed to have gained a special place in the afterlife. They escorted the sun as it made it’s way across the sky, then after four years they found eternal life as hummingbirds drinking nectar from flowers. The flower was a symbol of war, representing the heart of a slain enemy, while the nectar was his blood.
Another means of pleasing the souls of the dead was to insure they were adequately provided for on their journey from this world to the next. Food, water, moccasins, and items necessary for a long journey were buried with the body.
The Hopi believed in reincarnation, that the soul of a dead person would come back to life in another form or body. However, reincarnation did not happen for everyone. Those who were most likely to be reincarnated were very young children who had died. It was said that their death occurred because they were not ready to live in the present and would be better suited for a future, more peaceful life.
While death ended life in this world, it was only an introduction to existence on another plane, which in turn would end with reincarnation. Those who died a natural death journeyed through a thorny forest and crossed a river to the Town of the Dead, (the cemetery with grave houses). They would warm themselves by the cremation fires, subsisting on the food and drink put into the fire by their relatives, or consumed in their memory at Potlatches. Those who died by violence went to a “heaven,” or land above the sky. The very wicked (liars, thieves, witches) went instead to “Raven’s home” or “Dog Heaven.”
At death, the deceased individual was transported by canoe to the land of souls. Relatives blackened their faces, cut their hair short, dressed poorly, ate little, and walked with a staff as if very weak. Large painted sculptures could form a leading Chief’s memorial.
A chief upon losing a close relative such as an eldest son would make death companions for the lost one by killing slaves or sending warriors against one another tribe.
Native Americans Volume 1 and 3.
2000 Grolier Educational
Handbook of Native American Indians Volume 7 and 8. Smithsonian Institution
Encyclopedia of Afterlife Beliefs and Phenomena
1994. Lewis, James R. 133.903 L674e
Book of the Hopi
1963. Waters, Frank
Mythology of the North American Indian and Inuit Nations
2003. Molyneaux, Brian L.
The World of the American Indian
1974. National Geographic Society
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-transmig.html
http://nativeamericanfirstnationshistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_afterlife
http://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/world/america/my-moff5.htm
http://www.esalenctr.org/display/confpage.cfm?confid=9&pageid=93&pgtype=1
Hunapa (wan a pwa), and Xbalanque (SHi BA lan KAY) traveled to the underworld and used trickery to pass the cruel tests. They killed One-Death and Seven-Death, two of the Lords of Xibalba (Shi bal ba), and because of their bravery were put in control of human fate. Hunapa became the sun, the symbol of life and heavenly power. Xbalanque, (SHi BA lan KAY) however became the jaguar (symbolized by the star of Venus) and was put in charge of the underworld and death.
Aztec Men that were killed in war, were believed to have gained a special place in the afterlife. They escorted the sun as it made it’s way across the sky, then after four years they found eternal life as hummingbirds drinking nectar from flowers. The flower was a symbol of war, representing the heart of a slain enemy, while the nectar was his blood.
Another means of pleasing the souls of the dead was to insure they were adequately provided for on their journey from this world to the next. Food, water, moccasins, and items necessary for a long journey were buried with the body.
The Hopi believed in reincarnation, that the soul of a dead person would come back to life in another form or body. However, reincarnation did not happen for everyone. Those who were most likely to be reincarnated were very young children who had died. It was said that their death occurred because they were not ready to live in the present and would be better suited for a future, more peaceful life.
While death ended life in this world, it was only an introduction to existence on another plane, which in turn would end with reincarnation. Those who died a natural death journeyed through a thorny forest and crossed a river to the Town of the Dead, (the cemetery with grave houses). They would warm themselves by the cremation fires, subsisting on the food and drink put into the fire by their relatives, or consumed in their memory at Potlatches. Those who died by violence went to a “heaven,” or land above the sky. The very wicked (liars, thieves, witches) went instead to “Raven’s home” or “Dog Heaven.”
At death, the deceased individual was transported by canoe to the land of souls. Relatives blackened their faces, cut their hair short, dressed poorly, ate little, and walked with a staff as if very weak. Large painted sculptures could form a leading Chief’s memorial.
A chief upon losing a close relative such as an eldest son would make death companions for the lost one by killing slaves or sending warriors against one another tribe.
Native Americans Volume 1 and 3.
2000 Grolier Educational
Handbook of Native American Indians Volume 7 and 8. Smithsonian Institution
Encyclopedia of Afterlife Beliefs and Phenomena
1994. Lewis, James R. 133.903 L674e
Book of the Hopi
1963. Waters, Frank
Mythology of the North American Indian and Inuit Nations
2003. Molyneaux, Brian L.
The World of the American Indian
1974. National Geographic Society
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-transmig.html
http://nativeamericanfirstnationshistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_afterlife
http://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/world/america/my-moff5.htm
http://www.esalenctr.org/display/confpage.cfm?confid=9&pageid=93&pgtype=1
40 similar and opposite words
1Underworld Serenity
2Reincarnation Judaism
3Death Living
4Life Dead
5Fate Choice
6Heaven Hell
7Eternal Brief
8Journey Stay
9Soul Blood
10Spirit Flesh
11Buried Burned
12Form Liquid
13Body Mind
14Earth Mars
15Existence Apocalypse
16Natural Processed
17Disposal Urn
18Grave Surface
19Cremation Coffin
20Relatives Stranger
21Sky Ground
22Transport Unmoved
23Uncertain Positive
24Mythology Fact
25Culture Uncultured
26Reconnect Disconnect
27Power Fear
28Human Robot
29Animal Insect
30Plant Manmade
31Soil Stone
32Wind Rain
33Peace War
34God Evil
35Satan God
36Ghost Alive
37Force Weak
38Permit Unaccepted
39Approved Disapprove
40Universe Locality
2Reincarnation Judaism
3Death Living
4Life Dead
5Fate Choice
6Heaven Hell
7Eternal Brief
8Journey Stay
9Soul Blood
10Spirit Flesh
11Buried Burned
12Form Liquid
13Body Mind
14Earth Mars
15Existence Apocalypse
16Natural Processed
17Disposal Urn
18Grave Surface
19Cremation Coffin
20Relatives Stranger
21Sky Ground
22Transport Unmoved
23Uncertain Positive
24Mythology Fact
25Culture Uncultured
26Reconnect Disconnect
27Power Fear
28Human Robot
29Animal Insect
30Plant Manmade
31Soil Stone
32Wind Rain
33Peace War
34God Evil
35Satan God
36Ghost Alive
37Force Weak
38Permit Unaccepted
39Approved Disapprove
40Universe Locality
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Lately I have envisioned myself in a fantasy world. I have been studying a lot of Brian Froud, I might add. Although, I have an overwhelming desire to consistently create something completely new, Froud's influence never leaves my mind. I want to construct a world that I can further build, however I wish and put myself smack in the middle of it.
I love the mundane aspect of me in an every day conversation, while the world behind me is going nuts. Is that not what really happens every day? To me it is, I mean I am mostly aware of my surroundings, but I'm sure I have missed a lot. This will be my interpretation of what it feels like is going on in the world around me and my life. I was also referred to Tod Lockwood, a fantasy concept artist who turned out to be fantastic and extremely helpful to my conceptual designs.
I love the mundane aspect of me in an every day conversation, while the world behind me is going nuts. Is that not what really happens every day? To me it is, I mean I am mostly aware of my surroundings, but I'm sure I have missed a lot. This will be my interpretation of what it feels like is going on in the world around me and my life. I was also referred to Tod Lockwood, a fantasy concept artist who turned out to be fantastic and extremely helpful to my conceptual designs.
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