4/12/2012 - Hopi: The Hopi Prophecies do not tie in with 2012

Hopi
The Hopi Prophecies do not tie in with 2012



The Hopi are one of America's oldest Indian tribes. They primarily live on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona. The Hopi area according to the 2000 census has a population of 6,946 people. According to Hopi oral tradition, the Hopi are a gathering of diverse groups representing clans from different areas, now identifying culturally as one group of people with a single language1.

Culture and Mythology

The name Hopi is a shortened form of what these Native American people call themselves, Hopituh Shi-nu-mu, "The Peaceful People" or "Peaceful Little Ones"2.

The Hopi religion is anti-war. To be Hopi is to strive toward this concept, which involves a state of total reverence and respect for all things, to be at peace with these things, and to live in accordance with the instructions of Maasaw, the Creator or Caretaker of Earth. The Hopi observe their traditional ceremonies for the benefit of the entire world.

The various Hopi villages have slightly different versions of their mythology, so it becomes difficult to state "what the Hopi believe" with any accuracy.

Major Deities

Most Hopi accounts of creation center around Tawa, the Sun Spirit. Tawa is the Creator, and he formed the First World out of Tokpella, or Endless Space, as well as its original inhabitants. However, other accounts have Tawa, or Taiowa, first create Sotuknang, whom he called his nephew. Taiowa then sent Sotuknang to create the nine universes according to his plan, and it was Sotuknang who created Spider Woman, or Spider Grandmother. Spider Woman served as a messenger for the Creator and was an intercessorary between deity and the people. In some versions of the Hopi creation myth, it is she who creates all life under the direction of Sotuknang. Yet other stories tell that life was created by Hard Being Woman of the West and Hard Being Woman of the East, while the Sun merely observed the process.

Cyclical worlds

The Hopi believe time to be cyclical and made up of a number of worlds. When a world begins it is innocent and pure, but as time goes by the world and its people become corrupted.

Hopi legend tells that the current earth is the Fourth World to be inhabited by Tawa's creations. The story essentially states that in each previous world, the people, though originally happy, became disobedient and lived contrary to Tawa's plan; they engaged in sexual promiscuity, fought one another and would not live in harmony. Thus, the most obedient were led (usually by Spider Woman) to the next higher world, with physical changes occurring both in the people in the course of their journey, and in the environment of the next world. In some stories, these former worlds were then destroyed along with their wicked inhabitants, whereas in others the good people were simply led away from the chaos which had been created by their actions.

At the height of decay the world ends, its people are purified, and everything starts over from the beginning. According to the Hopi lore, we are currently living in the fourth world. Sadly, due to the white man and his insatiable white quest for spiritless technology, we are rapidly approaching the
Great Purification.

Prophecies

Just as there are various versions of the Hopi creation mythology, there are various versions of the prophecy, reported by different authors at different times. Note; According to statements made by the Hopi themselves, none of the currently publicized "Hopi Prophecies" actually originate with the Hopi. The closest to the genuine beliefs of the Hopi themselves would be the statements made by Thomas Banacyca to the United Nations. In this version, the Hopi are warning against continued armament by the great nations, stating that it will lead to another world war.

The Hopi do not discuss their beliefs with outsiders.

Thomas Banacyca version

http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/prophecy/bayanaca.html

http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/prophecy/hopi.html

Frank Waters version

http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/prophecy/hopi1.html

Lee Brown version

http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/prophecy/hopi2.html

Criticism

The so-called "signs of the Hopi Apocalypse" (which are falsely attributed to the Hopi) read like a middle school American History text book with a particular emphasis on the ill-deeds of the white man. Consequently, they seem little more than elements of a curse or an elaborate revenge fantasy. In addition, the 'prophecies' were first published in 1959, and subsequent publications have added more detail.

Conclusion

The publicized "prophecies" are not of Hopi origin, but rather are written by others with only a false or partial understanding of the Hopi. The actual Hopi 'prophecies' were a warning against militarism, and fit with their staunchly pacifist viewpoint.

Footnotes

1. (Schaaf 1996 [1])
2. See Mike Smith's "Four Corners Postcard" site [2]
Bibliography
1. Schaaf, Gregory. 1996. Ancient Ancestors of the Southwest ISBN 1-55868-255-4
2. Smith, Michael L. 2000. Hopi Four Corners Postcard http://www.ausbcomp.com/redman/hopi.htm
3. Smith, Michael L. 2000. Hopi Prophecy Four Corners Postcard. http://www.ausbcomp.com/redman/hopi_prophecy.htm