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Book of the Hopi

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Frank Waters' excellent BOOK OF THE HOPI is probably the most complete collection of Hopi stories, language, rituals, and photographs in one place. Waters wrote this book with assistance from thirty-two Hopi elders back in 1963. Much time has passed since then, and while the way of the Hopi remains mostly unchanged, access to their sacred ceremonies and rituals has been greatly reduced in the last several decades.

While BOOK OF THE HOPI was written through the eyes and ears of an outsider, it contains much of the spirit of the Hopi, and countless fascinating insights. One such example is the explanation of how one sacred ceremony (the Ya Ya) was profaned and is no longer performed, since much of its powers were taken for evil. "When you receive a wonderful power and use it for evil you lose the power. You have to use it for good to keep it."

I love the richness of information contained in this little book: symbols, the tablets of the clans, a glossary of Hopi words, thrilling tales about the creation of the worlds, and detailed descriptions of sacred objects such as the Paho (prayer-feather). This attention to detail is marvelous, but it's the heart of BOOK OF THE HOPI that makes me feel at home with the Hopi and at one with their spirit.

I give this book my highest recommendation.

*** Michael Johnson *** Ever since my first visit to the mesas I have wanted to know more about the Hopi people, their culture and their beliefs. On of the best books I have found (coming from a non-Hopi) is "Book of the Hopi" by Frank Waters and published by Penguin Books, 1963. This book covers the origin of the Hopi, the four migrations, the origin of the clans, ceremonies etc. It is a book for anyone interested in learning more about the Hopi people. Thought you might wish to include it in your book list.

This book is my first exposure to the historical, spiritual and cultural history of the Hopi, both prehistoric and modern. A must read for anyone interested in the honorable traditions of the first American inhabitants whose history predates that of European biblical history, and how the introduction of the European has completely altered their ritualistic practices. This book has opened my eyes to a people whose lives are rich in dedication to the preservation of peace for all living entities on this planet and throughout the cosmos.

Who this book is not for is the UFOlogist, Hollow-Earth and Alien-Conspiracy theorists who believe the Hopi people have come from the purported middle-earth where an evil alien civilization still exist to this day. However, who this book is for are those who respect life as the Hopi respect life and who want to these peoples through the early migrations. From this book you will see that the Hopi have traveled throughout all of the Northern and Southern Americas, as well as Canada and the Artic polar regions long before the European traveled to these parts of the globe, and whose religious practices are older than that of any religion in the world. Where the Christian religion (through the teachings and historical records of the Bible) only know of two worlds the Hopi civilization have memories of four worlds, but both have records of the exact same destruction of the last world, i.e., its destruction by water. Also the Hopi are privy to the knowledge that we will face three more worlds.

I rate this book wonderful, enlightening, educational and spiritually edifying.

The primary informant on Hopi beliefs consulted by Frank Waters was Oswald "White Bear" Fredericks. Oswald was married to a white woman, had been converted to Christianity, and was not a fully initiated Hopi Indian. Thus, as one might expect, many of the traditions reported in this book are inaccurate. See: McLeod, Roxie. Dreams and rumors: a history of "Book of the Hopi". Thesis (M.A.)--Univ. of Colorado, 1994. Pp. 330. MLA. For a more accurate version of Hopi beliefs, try "The Fourth World of the Hopis" by Harold Courlander.

Chapter 2 - North to the Back Door (pp. 37-38) Hay-ya, hay-ya, mel-lo ... So the people began their migrations, climbing up a high mountain. They were accompanied by two insect people resembling the katydid or locust, the máhu [insect which has the heat power]. On top they met a great bird, the eagle. One of the máhus, acting as a spokesman for the people, asked the eagle, "Have you been living here very long?" "Yes," replied the eagle, "since the creation of this Fourth world." "We have traveled a long way to reach this new land," said the máhu. "Will you permit us to live here with you?" "Perhaps," answered the eagle. "But I must test you first." Drawing out one of his arrows he was holding in his claws, he ordered the two máhus to step closer. To one he said, "I am going to poke this arrow into your eyes. If you do not close them, you and all the people who follow you may remain here." Whereupon he poked the point of the arrow so close to the máhu's eye it almost touched, but the máhu did not blink. "You are a people of great strength," observed the eagle. "But the second test is much harder and I don't believe you will pass it." "We are ready for the second test," said the two máhus. The eagle pulled out a bow, cocked an arrow, and shot the first máhu through the body. The máhu, with the arrow sticking out one side of him, lifted the flute he had brought with him and began to play a sweet and tender melody. "Well!" said the eagle. "You have more power than I thought!" So he shot the other máhu with a second arrow. The two máhus, both pierced with arrows, played their flutes still more tenderly and sweetly, producing a soothing vibration and an uplift of spirit which healed their pierced bodies. The eagle, of course, then gave the people permission to occupy the land, saying, "Now that you have stood both tests you may use my feather any time you want to talk to our Father Sun, the Creator, and I will deliver your message because I am the conqueror of air and master of height. I am the only one who has the power of space above, for I represent the loftiness of the spirit and can deliver your prayers to the Creator." Ever since then the people have used the feathers of an eagle for their prayer-feathers or páhos, and sing to a sick child, knowing that the sweet power of music will help to heal him.

The book of Hopi is an amazing and beautiful book, revealing the story of this ancient tribe as told by the Hopi elders to John Walters, who spent years to research the traditions and myths of the people living in the dry and hot Southwest.
The book begins with the creation myths and the believes of Hopi for the seven worlds, three past, forth - the present one and three more to come.
It introduces us to their deities, nature spirits and mysterious cachinas - star people who descend to Earth when Hopi need them most. This enchanting story describes their constant migrations in North and South America, petrogliphs and arthefacts they left along their trails, the origin of their rituals and traditions, their connection to the nature and the animal world, the stories of the lost white brother, their cosmology and even their prophesies. Finally the book deals with the present misfortune of the Hopi confined in a small piece of inhospitable and bare land and the problems they have with the neighboring Navajo indians. Book of the hopi has gathered the wisdom of the Ancient America and is an excellent book for people interested in native American traditions.

I've walked many miles with The Book of the Hopi in my backpack.

What is here in this old paperback for a nomad like me?

Well, it presents a compelling vision. It's just beautiful; the Big Picture rattles around and echoes in the mind. While I'm no expert on Native American culture or customs (read: I can't vouch for this document's literal authenticity), I can offer my humble appreciation for the book's humanity, my gratitude for the positive influence it's had on me personally, and an assurance that this is very likely not a syncretic make-it-up like Carlos Castaneda's books.

I don't think the conspicuous similarities between this vision and that of Tantric Buddhism are coincidental or accidental (but I don't think they're a function of any kind of Jungian mechanism either). These similarities are real, and really, Frank Waters goes a bit overboard with his now-dated commentary. Incidentally, this text has played a role in guiding me into the company of a very dear group of friends, Karma Thegsum Choling (yes, Buddhists, and of the first order) of Tempe, Arizona. My point with this tangentiality is simply to suggest some of the potential latent in this plastic and vast vision. Things happen...real things.

May you find your way. Homage to those who know it!

This book is truly a unique text, in that it relates to the reader the more esoteric religious oral traditions of a culture that is quickly vanishing. In fact, I was amazed at the length to which the Hopis views were restored for this book. Admittedly, some parts of the book seem to become lost in detail (in the more literal portions of the book), but even these are quite interesting when accompanied by the more 'philosophical' world view of the Hopis. A worthwhile read...highly recommended.

In the beginning Taiowa created his Nephew to lay out the the universes in proper order. And so begins Frank Waters' book of the Hopi.

Fully a third of the book is dedicated to telling the lore of this tribe, and through the saga you learn of a tradition that explains why this small group of people have been living in the same area for a millenia. As Waters moves to discussing recorded history and the shameful exploitation of a people by the American Government, you discover how unique and special it is that they are still there. How they have avoided the attempts to change their religion by those of other faiths. How they have refused the good graces of the American Government's attempts to 'normalize' their society. And here they remain, living what the rest of us on the continent wold consider to be a sustenance existence as they have for almost a thousand years.

This is an easy-flowing readable social history, and it's well worth the time. Though Waters' book you'll gain an understanding of how these principled people have continued in this area as they have for centuries. I only wish there was a supplement to cover these last few decades as the book was written in the early 1960's, and I can't figure out why he would not include an index. But ... again, well worth the time.

The descriptions of Hopi religious practice and folklore are beautiful. Read this book before visiting ANY native American community.