Indian Art: Navajo Sand Painting
Navajo sand painting is traditional Indian art.
Navajo sand painting integrates art and life and it also has spiritual value.
In Navajo culture, the shaman, or hataali is one of the persons responsible for spiritual healing. For the hataali, art is not just an object; it also has spiritual value and can bring healing to a person or a people.
A Seri Shaman-Image via Wikipedia
Conversely, some spiritual events are beautiful, carry tremendous significance and are thought of as art. Sometimes acts of spiritual significance are separated from their original source, and used only in the context of their beauty. Does that mean that they lose their spiritual power? In some schools of thought, it is believed that they don’t, and that we have to be careful of how we use beautiful objects or acts that have spiritual significance.
An Altay Shaman-Image via Wikipedia
The process of Navajo sand painting as well as the object produced through Navajo sand painting have equal value. They are both beautiful and carry tremendous spiritual significance. The creation of the art is regarded as a sacred work.
The hataali creates the sand painting. During the process of creating the sand painting, the hataali invokes spiritual power, in order to bless or heal a person who is ill.
After the hataali, who is appointed as a Navajo religious singer, chants a Navajo legend, he then makes the sand painting by sifting colored sand through his fingers and onto the floor. The painting acts as an altar and the person who is ill sits in the center of it when it is completed.
Mayan Priest Performing a Healing Ceremony-Image via Wikipedia
The hataali transfers the illness from the sick person to the painting. After the process is complete, the painting is swept up into a blanket, and disposed of where it can do no harm to anyone with the sickness it has taken on.
Follow me on Twitter to get updates on my latest articles: @ecorica
You may also like these articles:
Ikebana Vases
Tattoo Ideas and Tattoo Designs
Move Over T-Shirts: Women in Tanzania Say What They Want With a Kanga
Upcoming Film Festivals 2011
Movies 2011-Upcoming Movies in Theaters
Gambling Addiction: The Personality Traits of Compulsive Gamblers
Brain Tumor Survival: How to Starve a Brain Tumor
Digital Camera Reviews: Taking Digital Pictures with Sony
Japanese Samurai Culture Lives on Through the Arts
Tall Ikebana Designs and Full Moon Ikebana Containers
Liked it
Interesting way of dealing with illness. I like their culture, it reveals many interesting stories. Thanks for the share!
Thanks for the share.
very cool post
Interesting! Thanks!
So much faith put into the painting, a unique work of art.
Interesting, in our country we have someone who does paint/draw using sand. He’s not a shaman though but his works are really beautiful and amazing.
That’s a fascinating culture,indeed!
It is interesting Neo
You’re welcome Mph
Thanks Dreamy
@ Marco
Hi Wonder
It is one of a kind
You should share those with us one day Cris
Hi Sebastian
where is the sand painting there?
Navajo sand painting is a sacred practice JR. No photographs are allowed to be taken.
Very interesting. Never heard of this type of art before.
Like it cheers
Hi Michal
Cheers Matt
Fascinating post. Thumbs up Sharifa!
